Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders Campaign Ahead Of Pa. Primary
PITTSBURGH (KDKA)-- Two Democratic presidential candidates rallied for votes on Monday in Pittsburgh.
Bernie Sanders
It all started with a rally at the University of Pittsburgh by Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Sanders held the Pittsburgh Future to Believe In GOTV Rally at the Fitzgerald Field House at Pitt.
The doors opened at 11 a.m. and the line wrapped around the building. The event started around 2:30 p.m.
Though it was not the massive crowd he typically attracts, supporters were passionate. Sanders' message was aimed at young people, and he urged them to vote.
"I believe if there is a high voter turn out tomorrow, we are going to win Pennsylvania," he said.
Jon Delano spoke one-on-one with the presidential candidate.
Jon Delano: When you think of Pittsburgh, what do you think of?
Bernie Sanders: I think you think of a dynamic city, a city in transition, you think of a city going from steel into other areas.
He said he believes that trade issues have affected the Pittsburgh economy.
"I think the evidence is overwhelming that it has hit Pittsburgh, that it has hit Pennsylvania, that it has hit the whole country we have lost millions of decent-paying jobs when companies shut down here, move to China, move to Mexico, pay people very low wages and bring products back. I think we need to rethink our trade policies and demand corporate America invest in this country and not just low-wage countries," he said.
Sanders has enjoyed the support of younger voters throughout the campaign and he's hoping for more of the same in tomorrow's primary.
"He's a very honest candidate, he isn't afraid to say what he thinks and how he feels, and the truth about the state of America," Halle Powell said.
Wage inequality was another sticking point for Sanders supporters.
"Income inequality has been a big pet peeve of mine for ten years, and finally a politician is standing up and talking about it. I think if we solve that problem a lot of other things will fall in line," said Dwayne Bauknight.
Free education was something that supporters hoped to see with a Sanders presidency as well.
"I think that's a basic right for everybody, because the world has changed, in such a way that as he said, presently a college education is just as high school in those days," said Elvis Bilba of Shadyside.
Hillary Clinton
While most polls show that Hillary Clinton is leading in Pennsylvania, it's not by a wide margin and that is encouraging to Sanders and his supporters.
However, Pennsylvania has been kind to Clinton in the past.
In 2008, she defeated President Barack Obama in 60 of the 67 counties, including every single one in Western Pennsylvania.
Clinton spoke at a rally at Westmoreland Community College in Youngwood.
Doors opened at 12:45 p.m. and the event began around 2:45 p.m. Hundreds waited for Clinton to speak.
She said 23 million new jobs were created and incomes went up under the Clinton administration. She promised to create more of the same, should she be elected.
"I want us to have more jobs in infrastructure, our roads, our bridges, our tunnels, our ports, our airports, our water system. [These are] all of the ways we will put people to work, and these are not jobs that can be exported," Clinton said.
She also touched on drug addiction.
"We need more treatment options and recovery options because we are losing too many lives to overdoses right now," Clinton said.
One supporter said her message on equality mattered to them.
"Equal pay for women, that's an important thing," Bryan Scott said.
Over the weekend, Clinton picked up an endorsement from Pittsburgh Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney.
KDKA political editor Jon Delano has learned that, following Clinton's appearance outside Primanti's in Market Square late Friday, she visited with Dan, Patricia Rooney and some members of the Rooney family at their North Side home for about 35 minutes.
On the Republican side, Pittsburgh-native John Kasich held a town hall meeting at Montour High School on Monday night.
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