Sanders optimistic on future of ‘revolution’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Monday stressed to hundreds of his supporters in Philadelphia that his “political revolution” is larger than just one election cycle.

“This campaign is not just about electing a president. … It is building a movement to transform this country,” Sanders said at a delegate meeting.

{mosads}Sanders stressed in his speech, which was frequently interrupted with chants of “We love you” and “Bernie,” that his presidential campaign had changed American politics and the Democratic Party.

While Sanders is expected to back party unity during his speech on Monday evening at the Democratic National Convention, he touted the success of his campaign, including 23 primary victories, in his afternoon remarks.

“We showed that the American people want a more progressive agenda that takes on the billionaire class,” he said.

When Sanders pivoted to discuss Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, his supporters booed and chanted, “We want Bernie.”

“We have got to beat [GOP presidential nominee] Donald Trump. We have got to elect Hillary Clinton and [Sen.] Tim Kaine [D-Va.],” the Vermont senator told his supporters. “This is the real world that we live in.” 

Sanders backers also erupted in applause when he mentioned that Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will resign at the conclusion of the convention later this week.

Sanders’s campaign has repeatedly accused Wasserman Schultz of favoring Clinton’s campaign. Hacked emails released by WikiLeaks last week showed her criticizing Sanders and his campaign.

Sanders is expected to start grassroots organizations later this year to bolster progressive campaigns at state and local levels.

Sanders said he wants his organization to support 100 candidates. 

As delegates entered the meeting, they were handed signup sheets to host an event for an “our revolution organizing kickoff [in] late August.”

Sanders outlined his future policy goals, including a single-payer healthcare system, ending the “grotesque level” of income inequality in the country, criminal justice reform and blocking President Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal.

“We are going to do everything we can to make sure TPP does not come to the floor of Congress during a lame-duck session,” he said.

Both actress Rosario Dawson and rapper Killer Mike stressed the future of the Sanders “revolution” in remarks before Sanders took the stage, urging supporters to stay engaged.

— Updated at 1:47 p.m.