How Bernie Sanders Makes His Mega-Rallies - Politico

[WillyT]

How Bernie Sanders makes his mega-rallies
Bernie’s campaign has been channeling grassroots enthusiasm into massive rallies. Now, it’s working to whip all those supporters into a sophisticated political machine.
By Ben Schreckinger - Politico
8/19/15 5:43 AM EDT


AP Photo

<snip>

RENO, Nev. — Twenty-seven hours before Bernie Sanders recited his case for “political revolution” to 4,500 supporters at the local branch of the state university here on Tuesday night, the first of the Sander-istas had already wandered in from the desert.

Bearded, he wore a t-shirt in the style of Shepard Fairey’s iconic image of Barack Obama — emblazoned instead with Sanders’ face and the message, “Hope is nice, but I prefer no bullsh—.” It was mid-afternoon on Monday, and the volunteer training did not begin until 7 p.m. But Paul Sherman, 68, was on campus and eager to help.

By the time the training rolled around, another 100-odd Sander-istas had materialized to learn the ropes of running a political rally on the fly. A day later they would be manning checkpoints, directing foot traffic, registering voters, collecting data on attendees, hawking merchandise and distributing water. A volunteer pep squad would give out campaign signs and lead cheers.

This is how the Summer of Sanders — the string of unexpectedly large campaign rallies that’s exceeding even Barack Obama’s 2007 draws with attendance that often numbers in the tens of thousands — has come together.

Finding no shortage of willing supporters, the campaign for the 73-year-old Vermont senator has raced to channel the enthusiasm of a largely self-organizing movement into massive, attention-grabbing rallies.

“They’ve reversed the normal political formula” in which professional staffers take the lead and pound the phone to drum up crowds, said Chip Evans, a liberal radio host and former chairman of the Washoe County Democratic Party, who watched the event take shape and said he was struck by the extent to which it had been organized by local amateurs.

Now, the campaign is working to...

<snip>

More: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/bernie-sanders-rallies-2016-grassroots-support-121512.html

[tk2kewl]

1. Hope is Nice but I Prefer NO BULLSHIT

[merrily]

4. Very interesting about Fairey and his poster:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_%22Hope%22_poster

[tk2kewl]

7. yes

from your link...

In an interview with Esquire in 2015 Fairley said that Obama had not lived up to his expectations, "not even close". He continued, "Obama has had a really tough time, but there have been a lot of things that he's compromised on that I never would have expected. I mean, drones and domestic spying are the last things I would have thought [he'd support]."

[SoapBox]

10. Ditto to this.....

[rbnyc]

20. thanks!

I just did a Google search for this image. Of course I did find on DU!

[tk2kewl]

22. you bet...

did you move off of LI?

[rbnyc]

23. Yes indeed...

... Buying a house out here was cheaper than renting in the city.

[merrily]

2. Somehow, it's been working. Go figure.

[wendylaroux]

3. Wow,now that

is amazing! With just plain old everyday people volunteering, setting these up,working them,not paid ,experienced workers.

Think what he could be doing if he had all the money that Hillary has.

It is a long shot,but damn, I want him to pull this off sooo bad!!

[merrily]

5. Not just him. Us.

[wendylaroux]

6. That's for sure! nt

[jwirr]

15. I like being called "Self-organizing". I see so many things being done by

DUers for Bernie that I have never seen before. Making our own signs and pamphlets. Setting up reasons to donate - like Bernie's birthday on Sept. 8th. Sending the message to our own social media sites.

Knowing the we are building a movement that will continue win lose or draw. That will stretch way beyond the election. We are becoming his force for change. Not just his vote.

[Marty McGraw]

17. And when the stress of campaigning

Becomes a little too much, Head on over and throw one down with the gang over at Beers for Bernie

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128032927#post7

[Scuba]

8. A true grass-roots campaign.

[hootinholler]

11. I much prefer the smell and feel of real grass

Over astroturf.

[truebluegreen]

9. Perfect.

This is how to defeat the moneybaggers in politics.

[Paka]

12. No amount of money can buy enthusiasm.

GO BERNIE!

[d_legendary1]

13. 1,000% Agree!!!

The masses want something they can believe in! And Bernie is doing a good job at that! The legislation he writes is just as great!

[staggerleem]

14. Well, not yours or mine, perhaps ...

... but I think Scott Walker is pretty enthusiastic about that billion the Kochs are gonna raise!

[jwirr]

16. But he is oblivious to the fact that is what makes us dislike him so much.

[Paka]

21. Cold hearted pseudo enthusiasm.

It's not the same thing.

[WillyT]

19. Kick !!!