If his recent rally is used as a benchmark, Bernie Sanders is right when he declares that his campaign has the momentum. In a mammoth rally in Washington Park on Wednesday, almost 30,000 people crammed themselves in the area to show their support for the Democratic presidential hopeful.
In fact, the impressive figures are a rather conservative estimate, since there were far more people who were not able to go into the park. Indeed, during the event, rumors were circulating that the candidate's supporters inside and outside the park numbered far beyond 30,000.
The outpouring of support has appeared to give the 74-year-old candidate a massive boost in spirit and confidence. Standing in front of the iconic Washington Square Arch, Sanders expressed his gratitude to his supporters.
"When I look at an unbelievable crowd like this, I believe we're going to win here in New York," he said.
A win in New York is very important for Sanders, who has gained ground against Hillary Clinton, the current Democratic front-runner. Despite his consecutive wins in several states, Sanders still lags by about 300 pledge delegates. Thus, with 247 delegates at stake, New York has become a must-win state for Sanders.
Sanders' speech was appreciated by the crowd, who cheered for the candidate as he outlined his plans and attacked his political enemies. Speaking about the state of the nation's economy, Sanders assured his supporters that he would promote a better standard of living for the average American.
"I grew up in Brooklyn. The American dream was alive and well. My father and my mother, their dream was for my brother and I to have a better standard of living than them. Together we will not allow that American dream to die. Together, we are going to create an economy that works for all of us, not just the 1 percent," he said.
For many of those who attended the massive rally, their stance on the elections is set, with their support solely for Sanders. Isabel Madden, a 68-year-old writer, stated that among the current candidates, Bernie Sanders is the only viable choice.
"I think Bernie Sanders is a national treasure. I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton. I would write in Bernie Sanders. I don't trust her, plain and simple. And I'm 68, so I'm a Baby Boomer just like she is. And it's not true that Bernie Sanders is supported only by young people. Look around here," she said.
Indeed, there were a lot of older people in the crowd, as well as a lot of young people and middle-aged people. On Wednesday night, Bernie Sanders' supporters made their presence felt.
