Thousands show up for Bernie Sanders in Vancouver: 'All I can say is, WHOA!'
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Thousands of people filled a Vancouver high school gym Sunday, while thousands of others crowded outside to get a peek of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
Hundreds started lining up outside Hudson's Bay High School Saturday night for the speech which began just before 1:45 p.m.
"I'm engulfed in flames for the Bern," said Scott Harrington, who camped overnight to see Sanders.
"There's a lot of people who I never thought would show up for a political rally that ended up showing up today," said Brandy Wales, a Sanders supporter.
Only about 5,500 people fit inside the gym for the official speech -- Sanders greeted thousands of other supporters outside the high school.
"I've never been more excited about a candidate in my whole life," said Tom Houha, who waited for a glimpse of Sanders after the event. "I think Sanders is way better than those guys."
WATCH: Full video of Bernie Sanders' rally in Vancouver
He began his speech by thanking his supporters for coming out.
"All I can say is WHOA!" Sanders said. "One of the reasons this campaign has surprised people is that we're doing something extremely unusual in American politics. We're telling the truth."
If elected president, Sanders told the crowd he would have all Americans be registered to vote automatically once they turn 18.
PHOTOS: Bernie Sanders stops in Vancouver on whirlwind Washington tour
Sanders went on to discuss marijuana legalization, raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour and demilitarizing local police.
"He's the only candidate really talking about rebuilding America because look our roads are crumbling, our bridges are bad," said Brian Vires, a Sanders supporter.
He went on to campaign in Seattle and Spokane after the Vancouver rally.
Sanders was in Portland last August, and more than 28,000 people showed up to see him.
Political experts say Sanders came to Vancouver for a reason.
"Oregon is going to matter this year. Washington is going to matter. I think California in June is going to matter," Reed College Political Science professor Paul Gronke said.
Gronke says this election cycle things are different.
Normally each party pretty much has their nominee by Super Tuesday, but Bernie is showing no signs of quitting yet. That means the Washington democratic caucus on March 26 and the Oregon primary in May will mean something.