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US Election 2016: Sanders and Vatican to tackle inequality | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has arrived in Vatican City to speak at an economy and social justice conference. | Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has arrived in Vatican City to speak at an economy and social justice conference. |
There are no plans for him to meet personally with Pope Francis. | There are no plans for him to meet personally with Pope Francis. |
"I'm so excited and proud to be here with other people who are trying to create a moral economy," he told supporters outside the Vatican. | "I'm so excited and proud to be here with other people who are trying to create a moral economy," he told supporters outside the Vatican. |
The visit comes just four days before a crucial state primary contest in his native New York. | The visit comes just four days before a crucial state primary contest in his native New York. |
On Thursday night, the Vermont senator and his rival Hillary Clinton clashed on Wall Street banks, gun controls and the minimum wage in a punchy debate. | On Thursday night, the Vermont senator and his rival Hillary Clinton clashed on Wall Street banks, gun controls and the minimum wage in a punchy debate. |
Afterwards he flew to Rome, where supporters were gathered at the Vatican wearing T-shirts saying: "Rome feels the Bern." | Afterwards he flew to Rome, where supporters were gathered at the Vatican wearing T-shirts saying: "Rome feels the Bern." |
Mr Sanders said inequality, injustice and pollution are causing "devastating" problems. | Mr Sanders said inequality, injustice and pollution are causing "devastating" problems. |
And he admires the pope for his views on income inequality and greed. | And he admires the pope for his views on income inequality and greed. |
Some political commentators have wondered why he would travel to Rome so close to the New York primary. | Some political commentators have wondered why he would travel to Rome so close to the New York primary. |
"It's a real misstep," New York Times columnist Charles Blow said on CNN. "He's basically going to be saying the same thing there that he's been saying here." | "It's a real misstep," New York Times columnist Charles Blow said on CNN. "He's basically going to be saying the same thing there that he's been saying here." |
Mr Sanders' campaign manager Jeff Weaver defended the trip at a rally. | Mr Sanders' campaign manager Jeff Weaver defended the trip at a rally. |
"Hillary Clinton has been out of the state on a number of occasions for high-dollar fundraisers," he said. "We think this is a more important reason to leave the campaign trail for the day." | "Hillary Clinton has been out of the state on a number of occasions for high-dollar fundraisers," he said. "We think this is a more important reason to leave the campaign trail for the day." |
Mr Sanders defended the trip to reporters and supporters outside of the Vatican. | |
"I know that it's taking me away from the campaign trail for a day but when I received this information it was so moving to me that it was something that I could just simply not refuse to attend," he said. | |
"Our youth are no longer satisfied with corrupt and broken politics and an economy of stark inequality and injustice," Mr Sanders said outside of the Vatican. | |
Youth want a "return to fairness" and assurance that everyone has access to health care, nutrition and education. | |
Mrs Clinton, who represented the state in US Senate for two terms, holds a commanding lead in New York, according to recent polls. | |
Mr Sanders plans on releasing his tax returns soon, he said at the debate, and that his wife Jane is in charge of taxes. | |
"We'll get our tax returns out. We've been busy; you might have noticed," he said. |