Biden gathers approvals from Oklahoma Democrats; actor Danny Glover visits Greenwood for Sanders before Tuesday's primary | New

Joe Biden, whose campaign had been virtually invisible in Oklahoma until recent days, has garnered the approval of more than a dozen state democrats, including the candidate for governor of the party 2018, former Attorney General Drew Edmondson, and actor and activist Danny Glover. a visit to the historic district of Greenwood in Tulsas to start prospecting for Bernie Sanders. Sanders' wife Jane Sanders visited the area last week.

Bidens' announcement of Oklahoma approvals came as Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, two other moderate Democratic presidential candidates, withdrew and brought their support for Biden. Former Democrat Hope Beto ORourke has also spoken out in favor of Biden.

Klobuchar was to have appeared at a rally at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in Tulsa on Monday evening. But due to his withdrawal from the race, the activity has moved to the Greenwood Community Center, on Greenwood Avenue and Archer Street, where Glover spoke.

He and former mayor of Berkeley, California, Gus Newport, spoke in a room full of more than 50 people as Sanders' prospecting efforts continued. Base supporters and volunteers reportedly knocked on about 14,500 doors in Oklahoma in the days leading up to Tuesday.

In giving instructions for prospecting, the organizers stressed that the votes of the Tulsans would be better won by direct contact with the voters. Bernie 2020 staff and volunteers have organized more than 550 events in Oklahoma, according to a press release.

Sanders on the left, who won the 2016 Oklahoma Democratic primary, is the other target of the Democrats and why Biden is trying to garner support from the moderates. They argue that a moderate like Biden has a better chance of beating outgoing Republican President Donald Trump in November.

Biden endorsements announced Monday include former House minority leaders Scott Inman and Steve Kouplen, former Tulsa officials, Jeannie McDaniel and Eric Proctor, and current state officials, Miami's Ben Loring and David Perryman of Chickasha.

At the Greenwood Community Center, Glover and Newport were both applauded and ignited the crowd before dismissing them.

Newport cited Sanders' efforts to rebuild Burlington, Vermont, a dilapidated working-class city, during his tenure as mayor of the city as necessary experience in the presidential office.

You can't have someone as President of the United States who hasn't practiced where rubber hits the road, said Newport. Bernie got that.

Without naming Mike Bloomberg, another Democratic candidate who is a former mayor of New York, Newport told the crowd to forget the billionaire and compared his record with Sanders.

What the hell do you think (Bloomberg) did to change New York City? He continued.

Newport spoke of thousands of American graduate students in the bondage of student loans, and he said the time had come for change.

Vernice Willis, 70, a resident of Tulsa County, said that Sanders' stance on reducing student debt was one of the reasons she supported him.

She is rooted for Sanders since 2016 and was confident that he would win then.

It didn't happen, but I think this time it will, said Willis.

Chris Henry, 44, of Claremore, said he supports Klobuchar but found Sanders to be the second best option in light of his withdrawal.

After speaking to the crowd, Glover took selfies with the participants who asked before spending a little time learning about Greenwood before meeting with religious leaders.

Asked what motivated him to use his time for Sanders and to visit the historic area, Glover spoke about African history and said that descendants like him are trying to find their history. in connection with a global struggle, not only as part of African American history.

(Bernie Sanders) understands that. We know he understands that, said Glover, saying that Sanders had crossed the color line to endorse Jesse Jackson for president in the 1980s. You ask one of those people sitting on this stage , do they have the legacy of Bernie Sanders?

Polling stations for Tuesday's Republican and Democratic primary elections will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thirty-seven Democratic delegates and 42 Republican delegates are at stake in Oklahoma.

Voters in Tulsa County will also consider whether liquor stores will be allowed to open on Sundays. Tulsa County is one of the seven that placed the question of Sunday sales on the Tuesday ballot. The others are the counties of Cleveland, Creek, Kingfisher, Muskogee, Oklahoma and Washington.