Sanders moves Phoenix rally to bigger venue

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is relocating his upcoming rally in Phoenix to a bigger location amid overwhelming demand.

Sanders’s presidential campaign announced on Tuesday that it is moving this weekend’s event to the Phoenix Convention Center for more seating, according to the Phoenix New Times.

{mosads}The New Times said that the Democratic presidential candidate now plans on speaking at the Phoenix Convention Center’s North building, a room spanning 123,500 square feet.

Sanders’s campaign website said he is addressing wealthy special interests, income inequality, combating climate change and affordable college tuition during the event on Saturday.

The New Times added that it is unclear how many guests the Sanders campaign expects besides a huge turnout in general.

The Vermont lawmaker’s venue upgrade comes as he chases former secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination next year.

Clinton, the heavy favorite on the Democratic side, leads her party’s 2016 field with 62.8 percent support, according to the RealClearPolitics average of national polls taken last month. Sanders holds 14.3 percent support.

GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump also changed venues in Phoenix last weekend after surging demand for his July 11 rally there.

Trump initially planned on speaking at Phoenix’s Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa before announcing the shift on July 10. He then held a gathering of thousands of supporters at the Phoenix Convention Center instead.