Sanders seeks 'society of fairness'

MOUNT PLEASANT, Ia. — While Sen. Bernie Sanders on Friday continued to highlight contrasts with his chief Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton, the Vermont senator doubled down on the heart of his economic message and called for a "society of fairness."

"It doesn't mean to say everybody has the same income, everybody has the same kind of house, drives the same kind of car," he said. "But what it does mean is that we're a society based on justice, based on equality, based on fairness."

And that isn't the society Sanders sees today.

"To my mind, it is not acceptable that in America today the top one-tenth of 1 percent owns almost as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent," he said in a gymnasium at Iowa Wesleyan University. "That doesn't sound like what America is supposed to be about."

It's this core message that has drawn many people to Sanders' campaign.

"What first caught my eye about him is how focused he was on the economy and economic inequality," said Greg Allred, a 59-year-old assistant manager at a local grocery store. Althoughhe is a registered Democrat, Allred said Monday would be his first time caucusing.

He has followed the race closely. He said he distrusts Clinton and has noticed a sharpening of tone from her campaign and from Sanders' shop.

"But it's politics, right?" he said. "That's going to happen. I'd like to see it stay civil, but there's a lot at stake."

At a later stop at his campaign's Muscatine office, Sanders implored supporters to get out and caucus Monday, again noting that his success depends on high voter turnout. He said the race is "a literal tie" between himself and Clinton. Many polls show a neck-and-neck race in Iowa's Democratic caucus race.

"Maybe Hillary Clinton is ahead by a few points. Maybe we are ahead by a few points," he said. "But basically a tie.”

Sanders told the crowd he has spoken in front of more than 60,000 Iowans as of Friday.

“So my request to you, in the next three days, is beg, borrow, kidnap, do whatever you have to do,” Sanders said, as many in the crowd laughed. “Kidnapping illegal here in Iowa? Just temporary kidnapping. Just for a few hours. Grab them. Bring them in. Then, get them home safely. If the people who support our ideas come out to vote, we win. If we win here, we are off and running. We have a real path to victory.”

On Friday evening, Sanders held two large rallies, which have become hallmarks of his Iowa campaign. He was visibly buoyed by passionate introductions from noted academic Cornel West.

"If we can win on Monday night and do well on Monday night," Sanders said in Davenport, before being interrupted.

"We will!" yelled a woman in the crowd.

“Let me change that: when we win,” Sanders said, as the crowd went wild, "that will send a message.”

AT THE EVENT

SETTING: Iowa Wesleyan University gymnasium in Mount Pleasant; Danceland Ballroom in Davenport; Grand River Event Center in Dubuque

CROWD: About 400 in Mount Pleasant; about 1,000 in Davenport; about 1,300 in Dubuque

REACTION: Sanders received applause and cheering from the crowd. Many shared personal stories about their health insurance woes and student debt loads.

OTHER STOPS: Sanders also made stops in Washington and Muscatine on Friday.

WHAT'S NEXT: Sanders will campaign in Manchester, Charles City, Waverly, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City on Saturday.