PORTLAND, Maine — To invigorate Maine voters ahead of November's presidential election, Sen. Bernie Sanders hosted rallies in Portland and Bangor this weekend to discuss potential progressive issues to fight for.
Sanders' visits to the State Theatre in Portland and Cross Insurance Center in Bangor were part of a series of town halls and rallies across Maine and New Hampshire over the weekend.
"This is in fact the most important election in our lifetimes," Sanders said. "We have got to fight for a vision for the future."
Speaking to an energized crowd, Sanders expressed his support for Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign as she continues to garner support to become the Democratic presidential nominee.
In Maine, Harris is predicted to inch ahead by about 8 percent in polling against former President Donald Trump according to a recent poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.
"What we are seeing all over this country is the polls are ticking up for Kamala Harris and I think she has a good chance to win," Sanders said.
But for undecided voters unsure if Harris' views are progressive enough, Sanders says supporting the vice president is just one step in the right direction.
"It's not just about electing Kamala Harris, which we had to do. It's about creating a political party which stands up for working people," Sanders added.
Maine Republicans have already expressed some level of disapproval of Harris as a candidate, with Sen. Susan Collins noting her plans to write in Nikki Haley even with Harris' expected nomination.
Speaking to the crowd, Sanders touched on a number of progressive policies he said must be implemented soon to help the working class, like a universal healthcare system, an increase in the federal minimum wage, and more.
Sanders also touched on the growing call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, noting his disapproval of current actions made by the Biden administration.
"U.S. taxpayer money should not go, not one cent should go to prop up the Netanyahu government and this type of behavior," Sanders said. "What we have got to do at a grassroots way is say to the Democratic Party, is that the policies that you have right now regarding Netanyahu are wrong."
Those in attendance said hearing Sanders' views on this year's election cycle gave them a positive outlook as Vice President Harris looks to the progressive vote.
"There's a lot of folks that might be on the fence in this election," Kelsey Wood said. "[Sanders'] voice is going to be extremely important in this race."
NEWS CENTER Maine reached out to leaders of the Maine GOP on Sanders' visit to Maine and is awaiting a response.