SPRINGFIELD — Newly graduated from Pace University, Maria Gallant entered the workforce in 2017 with much more than just a degree in environmental studies — she was also in the hole for $65,000 in what she described as “crushing” student debt.
But the Easthampton resident knows there are thousands of others in America facing similar struggles. That’s part of why on Friday evening, she and around 4,750 others packed into the MassMutual Center for a rally with progressive Democratic presidential candidate Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders — who touts plans to cancel all student debt and make public colleges tuition free.
“He just stands for a lot of things I think this country really needs right now,” said Gallant, 24.
Massachusetts residents have already begun early voting before the March 3 presidential primary — also known as Super Tuesday — in which 14 states and American Samoa will choose who they believe is the best candidate to go head-to-head with President Donald Trump in November.
But Sanders’ appearance in the Bay State so close to Super Tuesday indicates that his campaign believes primary opponent Sen. Elizabeth Warren may not have a lock on winning her home state. And a University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB poll released Friday shows Sanders with 25 percent support in Massachusetts compared to Warren’s 23 percent, though that’s well within the margin of error.
Surrounded by the group of diverse supporters waving blue and white ‘Bernie” signs in the arena’s exhibition space, Sanders took the podium after he was introduced by State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton.
“Donald Trump is a pathological liar. And no matter what your political view may be, you know that we can not continue having someone whose word means nothing, because he lies all of the time,” Sanders said to applause. “Donald Trump is running one of the most corrupt administrations in the history of this country.”
Sanders criticized Trump on health care and taxes, saying that the president has tried to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and created a tax code that benefits the rich. He said the average American worker doesn’t make more in inflation-accounted dollars than they did 45 years ago.
“We are going to defeat Donald Trump,” Sanders said. “Because the American people are sick and tired of a government that works for the rich and ignores everybody else.”
The senator touted a “multiracial, multigenerational grassroots movement” that he said has received 8 million campaign contributions from 2 million Americans — more contributions from more people than any campaign in the history of the United States, according to Sanders. He also said high voter turnout around the country will help his campaign.
“I don’t go to rich people’s homes begging for money,” he said.
Sanders reiterated his concerns with income and wealth inequality in the United States, calling for an increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, the closing of the gender wage gap and doubling of the trade union movement.
“We’re going to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and create millions of good-paying union jobs,” he said.
Sanders said he had a plan for “universal high-quality child care,” making public colleges and universities tuition-free, making sure each teacher gets paid at least $60,000 a year as well as canceling all student debt.
Calling America’s current health care situation an “international disgrace,” Sanders said he believed health care was a human right and should be universally available in America under a Medicare for All system. He said health care costs put people in “financial ruin.”
“We in this country have talked about universal health care for 100 years,” he said. “100 years of talk is enough. Now is the time for action.”
Sanders said his administration would “believe in science” that says climate change is an international threat, calling the Green New Deal a plan that will “transform our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy.”
He also rallied the crowd around fixing a “broken and racist criminal justice system,” saying his administration would legalize marijuana and expunge records of those convicted of marijuana possession.
At the end of his 40-minute speech that also celebrated a woman’s right to choose, immigration reform and gun control, Sanders “humbly” asked for support from voters.
“We are stronger when we understand that we are in it together,” he said.
Before the rally, Tom Flaherty of Agawam said he voted for Trump in 2016 but was planning on voting for Sanders in the primary, and, if he won the Democratic nomination, “there’s a damn good chance I’ll vote for him,” he said.
“I’m retired and I’m only interested in the health care end of it. If he can get that done it would be a miracle,” Flaherty said, adding he believed Trump hasn’t done anything with health care. “I’m a retired person on fixed income, and if something goes wrong I can’t afford it.”
Kristin Pease, 39, of Stafford, Conn., said the issue she’s most passionate about is Medicare for All. She said her entire family is on her group health care plan she gets as a teacher — Pease said she pays half of what she pays for her mortgage for coverage.
“If it’s going to happen, it needs to be a radical change,” Pease said about health care reform.
UMass Student James Rogers said he didn’t trust Warren because “she’s completely burnt so many bridges with all of her comments.”
“At least Bernie can reach across the aisle,” he said.
Hannah Dube, 19, a Mt. Holyoke College student and Liam Curran, 22, a UMass student, said they supported Sanders because of what they said was the consistency of his political beliefs.
“He’s never made me feel like he’s just saying something to get elected,” Curran said. “I actually think he believes all of the things he’s saying, so that’s really important. He’s real authentic.”
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.