Bernie Sanders campaigns in Raleigh
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Just days ahead of the North Carolina primary, Senator Bernie Sanders brought his campaign to the Tar Heel State Friday.
Sanders addressed a cheering crowd at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh for more than an hour.
Sanders hit on familiar themes, including the idea of expanding healthcare for all.
"Health care is a right of all people, not a privilege," said Sanders. "That is why I believe we must move to Medicare for all program."
To raucous applause from the crowd, he said he would pay for his proposals by taxing Wall Street speculators, corporations, and the wealthy.
His supporters, like Lucas Sacks of Cary who will turn 18 before the Nov. 8 general election, are eager to vote and turn Sanders' ideas into a reality.
"We have money in this country," said Sacks. "We have money in the banks and you know, we have money in the wealthy people."
Sanders faces an uphill battle in North Carolina. A new High Point University poll released Friday found that a majority (58 percent) support Hillary Clinton in the Democratic contest and 34 percent favor Sanders.
Speaking with ABC11 before the rally Friday, Sanders said he knew from the beginning that he'd face an uphill battle against Clinton just because of her famous name, but as more people hear what he has to say, he's winning them over.
"As the campaign progresses, as people become more familiar with my ideas, we do better and better and that's going to be the case here in North Carolina," said Sanders.
Nationally, Sanders trails Clinton in the delegate count.
Get the latest presidential election delegate count here.
Clinton held a rally Thursday afternoon in Durham.
For the Republican primary, Donald Trump visited Concord and Fayetteville this week while Ted Cruz was in Raleigh and Charlotte. Cruz also is expected to attend an event Sunday in Concord and another in Fayetteville Monday.
