Thousands Rally for Sanders Days Before Iowa Caucus

— -- Bernie Sanders confidently took a detour from campaigning in Iowa to hold events in neighboring Minnesota Tuesday. A massive crowd of 15,000 people came out to hear the Democratic hopeful speak in St. Paul at an evening rally, according to event staff. Earlier in the day, 6,000 people joined him for an event in Duluth.

The Vermont Senator, known for the massive crowds he has drawn all over the country during his campaign, walked on stage in St. Paul holding his wife Jane’s hand. When he arrived at the podium he pumped his fist and shook his head, as though humbled and shocked by the sight of the crowd.

“My god, what a turnout,” he said as the room cheered and chanted his name.

Right off the bat, though, the progressive superstar tried to take the focus away from himself. “Yes, this is an election for the presidency of the United States, and I am here to ask for your support, but... no president, not Bernie Sanders or anyone else, can effectively address the crisis facing our country unless there is a political revolution.”

Within the first four minutes of his speech, Sanders mentioned Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. “I believe when the American people stand up, when they don’t allow the Trumps of the world to divide us up, when black and white and Latino, Asian American, when we stand together...there is nothing, nothing, nothing we cannot accomplish,” he said.

Sanders did not mention Hillary Clinton, his leading opponent for the Democratic Party nomination.

Sanders stuck mostly to his standard speech, discussing a series of issues ranging from climate change to student loan debt.