Seattle drivers expected to ‘feel the Bern’ ahead of Sanders rally
Mar 25, 2016, 10:12 PM | Updated: May 6, 2016, 10:15 pm
Thousands of people are expected at Safeco Field for Bernie Sanders’ second rally — just in time for the Friday afternoon commute.
Supporters are already making their way to the ballpark for the 7 p.m. rally. Doors open at 4 p.m.
Check the traffic cameras around SoDo
Washington State Ferries released a bulletin Friday morning, warning drivers and ferry commuters:
Expect heavy traffic this Friday, March 25, due to the campaign rally at Safeco Field. The rally begins at 4 p.m. Be prepared for long lines westbound in the evening. WSF will provide an added 10:15 p.m. sailing from Bremerton to Seattle and a 11:30 p.m. sailing from Seattle to Bremerton to help folks get home after the rally. To expedite loading, passengers are encouraged to pre-purchase their ferry tickets at any kiosk or online.
About 10,000 people turned up at KeyArena for a Sanders rally last Sunday. Another 5,000 stood outside to hear him speak.
Related: Sanders supporters not giving up home ahead of caucuses
Sanders is expected to do well in Washington’s Democratic caucuses on Saturday.
Seattle is among the top cities that have donated to Sanders’ campaign, and twice as many Seattle individual donors have given to Sanders than to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, according to federal campaign data through the end of February.
Saturday’s nominating contest is expected to draw tens of thousands of voters who will determine how 101 of the state’s Democratic delegates will be awarded.
So far Sanders has performed better in states with caucuses than primaries, which tend to have larger populations of liberal whites, and “the fact that his supporters are more energized is a huge factor,” said Geoffrey Skelley, a political analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “The real problem is the math,” he added.
Clinton has a comfortable lead over Sanders in the delegate count. Based on primaries and caucuses to date, the former secretary of state leads Sanders 1,223 to 920.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
