PHILADELPHIA—Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders addressed the Wisconsin delegation Monday morning, a day after he gave a speech attempting to rally his populist backers around presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention.
Sanders hit many of the same themes he spoke on Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center, praising Clinton and drawing a contrast between some of his policies and those of Republican nominee Donald Trump.
"Our goal is obviously to elect Hillary Clinton [as president]," Sanders said. "We have to do everything that we can to stop Donald Trump, who in my view is the worst, least prepared candidate for president in my lifetime."
That blur is @BernieSanders, who has arrived to address the Wisconsin delegation pic.twitter.com/Pur0AyvanZ
— Andrew Bahl (@AndrewBahl) July 26, 2016
Moving forward, Sanders said he would work to form a progressive organization dedicated to continuing his so-called "political revolution" to down-ballot races.
"Our campaign is going to transition ... to support candidates running for school boards and city councils and state legislatures," he said. "Our job is to bring people into the process around a progressive agenda."
.@berniesanders to WI delegation: my campaign will transition to new organization to help progressive causes pic.twitter.com/kTCz8si7Cu
— Negassi Tesfamichael (@_NegassiT) July 26, 2016
In a letter distributed to his supporters, Sanders asked them not to demonstrate on the convention floor. Sanders delegates booed and chanted his name during numerous addresses from other speakers Monday night.
"Our credibility as a movement will be damaged by booing, turning of backs, walking out or other displays," he wrote in the letter.
Wisconsin Sanders supporter Kody Chambers applauded his candidate for working to unify the party, both in his speech on Monday and his appearance at the breakfast.
"[Party unity] needs to be left up to the Sanders campaign because we're the ones who have been wronged," Chambers said, adding he hasn't decided whether or not to support Clinton. "We have not been equally represented since the beginning ... Bernie's speech and his efforts to unifying the party have been really important."
Baldwin takes the stage, earns praise from colleagues
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin also took the stage Tuesday to address her fellow Badgers, highlighting the need to elect Russ Feingold to the U.S. Senate and advance progressive policy.
She was also sharply critical of both Republican nominee Donald Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
"We must not allow Donald Trump or Scott Walker or anyone to split us apart," Baldwin said, saying Trump "is like Scott Walker with a spray tan."
Baldwin, who has authored legislation aiming to help students refinance loans, also touched on the topic of college affordability in her speech.
"I'm disturbed by those shouldering mountains of debt," she said. "I'm deeply disturbed by those who don't even know that they can aspire to college. It is time we rethink our approach to education … and expand our commitment to include higher education.”
Other non-Wisconsin speakers made note of Baldwin's work in the Senate and praised her efforts.
"She's one of those people that gets s--- done," U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said, calling her "maybe the best" senator in the Democratic caucus.
