Last week, in conjunction with over 3,500 organizing meetings across the country, dozens in West Marin congregated in Stinson Beach and Inverness Park to watch a live broadcast of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as he called for a “political revolution” from a living room in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Sanders—speaking from behind a flimsy music stand to 100,000 people across the country, including those at the Stinson Beach Community Center and Gather at the Market in Inverness Park—railed against the billionaire class and argued for free education and health care, as well as immigration and climate change reform. In Stinson, where 57 attendees came mostly from West Marin but as far as Sonoma County, the self-proclaimed independent socialist’s message was well received. Though some expressed concerns about his age and the unfortunate concession of electing a 44th white male to office, the group agreed that Sanders’ radical bluntness and calls for political revolution placed him first as the group’s choice for the Democratic nomination.
“I’m very focused on climate, and it’s one of the reasons that I support Bernie,” said Mark Splain, a resident and the organizer of the Stinson event. “I think he’s very focused on this, and he’s going to be very honest about this and also about how difficult this will be.”
Mr. Sanders’ supporters are few in number. Compared to political heavyweight Hillary Clinton, who leads in polls for the Democratic nod, Mr. Sanders draws 18 to 20 percent. But what fans lack in number they make up for in devotion.
Cailey Clark, a young woman from Bolinas, grew up in Vermont, and has called herself a fan since meeting him during the George W. Bush presidency. “He just sat me down and he’s like, ‘How does it feel to be a young person growing up with the worst president in the United States’ history?’” she said. As the senator of Vermont and mayor of Burlington, he won over a broad spectrum of people due to his straightforward manner and honesty, and Ms. Clark hopes he can maintain his candid demeanor if elected president.
Mr. Splain, with a background in community and union organizing, hopes so too. After hearing about Mr. Sanders from relatives in New England and agreeing with his message, he became involved in the candidate’s campaign. He thinks Mr. Sanders has a chance, especially in areas like West Marin, where unwavering stances on issues like climate change can pay off. This is where Mr. Sanders could pose a real threat to Hillary Clinton, who has refused to comment on some near and dear issues to West Marin voters such as the Keystone pipeline.
Mr. Splain adds that it’s yet to be seen whether Mr. Sanders and Ms. Clinton are on the same page in regards to climate change legislation.
In the discussion after Mr. Sanders’ speech, someone asked whether the group thought he was truly a viable presidential candidate. After a few moments of hesitation, the resounding response was “yes”. After the meeting, the audience, ranging from early 20s to upper 70s, casually lingered in small groups, trading ideas for further organization within each community. In a mirror of the national trend, the campaign appears to be gaining traction in West Marin. But it’s not necessarily surprising; support for Mr. Sanders is concentrated in liberal, predominantly white areas like Marin County, a problem his campaign would need to face for the underdog to actually nab the Democratic nomination.