Wildfire!

in case you didn't get this email:

Reuters National Poll: Sanders 47% - Clinton 42%
Bloomberg National Poll: Sanders 49% - Clinton 48%
Electability: Sanders Averages 11-Points Better
than Clinton Against Trump, Cruz and Kasich

Momentum

Propelled by high voter turnout, Bernie surged to five straight landslide wins last week. On Tuesday, Bernie won 78% of the vote in Idaho and 79% in Utah. A general election poll released March 20 showed that Bernie would do the unthinkable in Utah against Trump, beating him by 11 points and turning the state blue for the first time in more than 50 years. Validating the results, Sanders and Trump visited Salt Lake City, Utah on the same day. Sanders drew 14,000 people while Trump relocated his rally to a smaller venue that holds 1,800.

This past Saturday, Bernie took 82% of the vote in Alaska, 73% in Washington, and 70% in Hawaii. In Idaho and Alaska he surpassed the 2008 primary turnout record, bringing thousands of new voters into the democratic process. They join Colorado, Kansas, Maine, and Michigan as states where Bernie has inspired record turnout.

Since March 15, when Secretary Clinton reached the peak of her delegate lead, Bernie has won six out of the seven Democratic primary contests. His average margin of victory has been a whopping 40 points and he has netted roughly a one hundred delegate gain. Meaning that in the past week and a half, Bernie has reduced Clinton’s overall lead by 28 percent.

News

Onto the Badger State – Fresh off big victories in six of the last seven contests, Bernie on Tuesday brought his White House campaign back to Wisconsin. The latest poll in Wisconsin shows Bernie leading with 49 percent to Clinton's 45 percent. Nate Silver gives Bernie a 56 percent chance of winning Wisconsin. One week before voters here go to the polls, Sanders' mid-morning rally on a workday drew nearly 3,770 supporters to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. There were 2,220 in main theater, another 400 watched on closed-circuit television in an overflow theater. The crowd here mirrored big turnouts across the country that are one of the many signs of the momentum building behind his grassroots campaign. “Since we began this campaign we have spoken to close to 1 million people in states throughout this country,” the senator said.

Sanders Wallops Trump – A new CNN/ORC general election poll released Monday shows Bernie beating Donald Trump by a full 20 points, nearly double Clinton’s margin against the Republican frontrunner. In the same poll, Bernie defeats Cruz by 13 points and Kasich by six points. Meanwhile, Clinton ties with Cruz and loses to Kasich by six. A second poll by Bloomberg has Bernie trouncing Trump by 24 points to Clinton’s 18. A additional poll by CBS/NYT has Sanders beating Trump by 15 points to Clinton’s 10. CBS gave Clinton and Trump unfavorability ratings above 50%, higher than any primary frontrunners have had since the network began asking the question 30 years ago. Bernie has a 25 point favorability advantage over Clinton among Americans and a favorability rating above 50%, giving him a much broader appeal with the independents and swing voters that Democrats will need to win in November.

NYC Debate – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday challenged Hillary Clinton to debate him in New York before the state’s April 19 primary election. “I would hope very much that as we go into New York state, Secretary Clinton’s home state, that we will have a debate – New York City or Upstate, wherever – on the important issues facing New York and, in fact, the country,” Sanders told Chuck Todd in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager, wrote a letter on Sunday to Clinton’s campaign manager, Robby Mook, underscoring Bernie's call for a New York debate. Despite opposing such a debate for over a month, the Clinton campaign appears to be relenting.

Global Primary – Democrats Abroad voted decisively for Bernie in their primary, the results of which were released on March 21. Democrats in 38 countries gave him 69% of the vote. Turnout soared to more than 34,000 people, 50 percent above the 2008-level. Bernie received nine out of the 13 delegates at stake. "This political revolution that is gaining momentum across America is now resonating all over the world," Sanders said.

On the Issues

Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association – Sanders on Tuesday issued the following statement after a 4-4 split decision by the Supreme Court left in place a lower court ruling allowing unions representing government employees to collect fees from workers who choose not to join: “Today’s split decision underscores the need to confirm a Supreme Court nominee who will protect the constitutional rights of American workers to collectively bargain for fair wages and safe working conditions."

Middle East Policy – Sanders delivered a speech on the Middle East policy on March 21. He emphasized a long-standing American commitment to advance the cause of peace in Israel, but stressed that “to be successful, we have also got to be a friend not only to Israel, but to the Palestinian people” and noted that “in Gaza unemployment today is 44 percent and we have a poverty rate which is almost as high.”

Conference on the Border – On March 20, Bernie traveled to the U.S. border with Mexico near Nogales, Arizona. With the border fence behind him, Sanders met with people whose families had been separated and vowed to end the “deportation regime.”

Endorsements

Barbara Lawton – Bernie on Monday welcomed an endorsement by former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton. “I have never before felt greater urgency in a political campaign,” Lawton said in a statement from her home in Green Bay, Wisconsin. “We need a bold, experienced and visionary leader with judgment unfettered by big campaign donors. Someone who understands that incremental politics brought us to this moment where our economy has been reshaped to favor the wealthiest few, and locked us into inequality." Lawton introduced Sanders at a rally on Wednesday in Appleton, Wisconsin.

International Longshore and Warehouse Union – Sanders welcomed the endorsement of the ILWU, which represents approximately 50,000 women and men who work in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii. “Bernie Sanders is the best candidate for America’s working families,” said ILWU International President Robert McEllrath. “Bernie is best on the issues that matter most to American workers: better trade agreements, support for unions, fair wages, tuition for students at public colleges, Medicare for all, fighting a corrupt campaign finance system and confronting the power of Wall Street that’s making life harder for most Americans.”

UNITE HERE – Bernie Sanders on Friday welcomed an endorsement from UNITE HERE Local 7, which represents 3,000 workers in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Local 7 is the sixth UNITE HERE local to endorse Sanders’ bid for the White House. Local 7’s 3,000 members are food and cocktail servers, housekeepers, cooks, bartenders, bellmen, front desk agents, cashiers, dishwashers, casino and food service workers in Baltimore area hotels, universities, casinos, public venues and Thurgood Marshall BWI Airport.

Rosario Dawson – Latina actress, singer and writer Rosario Dawson introduced and endorsed Bernie at a rally in San Diego on March 22 and praised him for a lifetime of consistent progressivism. Dawson is co-founder and chairwoman of the Latino outreach organization VoteLatino. Turning to the young people in the crowd, she made a special appeal: "You’re here because you’re talking to each other. We need you now more than ever. Youth has been on the right side of history on every issue."


On the Road

New York – Senator Sanders' campaign on Saturday formally opened its Brooklyn headquarters. Attendees gathered for a block party to kick off the campaign's New York efforts before embarking on a canvass. Prominent supporters, including former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, film actor Justin Bartha and musician Kyp Malone of “TV on the Radio” discussed Sen. Sanders' plans to take on a rigged economy held in place by a corrupt campaign finance system.

Maryland – Senator Sanders' campaign on Monday announced its Maryland steering committee, chaired by former NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. Members of the committee include state legislators and activists from across the state.

California – Sanders hosted a rally in San Diego last Tuesday, drawing a crowd of over 10,000 boisterous supporters. Following an introduction from actress and activist Rosario Dawson, the Senator touched on familiar themes of campaign finance reform, climate change and universal health care. That night Bernie appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! where he discussed the terror attack in Brussels, Belgium. The next day, Sanders kept it going in the Golden State with a overflow crowd at the historic Wiltern theater, which held over 2,000 supporters.

Upcoming

New York – Bernie brings the political revolution to New York on Thursday morning for a rally in South Bronx. He will host special guest speakers Rosario Dawson and Residente, the ex vocalist of the Calle 13 band. Sanders will discuss a wide range of issues, including breaking up the too big to fail banks and ensuring that large corporations pay their fair share of taxes.

Pennsylvania – Bernie treks to Pennsylvania on Thursday morning for a rally in Pittsburgh. Sanders will discuss a wide range of issues, including guaranteeing a $15 minimum wage and creating a new trade policy that benefits American workers.

Bernie and Birdie Sanders look forward to seeing you on the road to the nomination. Never hesitate to let us know how we can help and we look forward to working with you over the weeks and months ahead.