A new Monmouth University poll shows Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders leading Hillary Clinton 43 percent to 36 percent among likely Democratic voters in New Hampshire.
Those are the kind of numbers Sanders’ supporters would like to see in Florida.
And how to make that happen was a major part of the discussion at Tuesday night's meeting of the Beaches Democratic Club in Neptune Beach.
82-year-old Herb Gerson, sporting a large Sanders for President campaign button, said he's worried how Sanders' socialist philosophy would be received during the general election.
“That’s lying under the radar right now, waiting to be exploited, and I’m concerned about supporters having a retort to these criticisms,” Gerson said.
Sanders supporter and local campaign organizer Nicholas Lorini agrees. The 23-year-old UNF student says it’s going to take a grassroots movement to sustain Sanders’ momentum in the polls.
Lorini said, “He’s coming up on South Carolina; hopefully he can get ahead there, and hopefully we can help him get ahead here, but it’s going to take the people coming together.”
Sanders is one of five candidates vying for the Democratic presidential nomination. The Beaches Democratic Club will host Hilary Clinton supporters at next month's meeting.
On the Republican side, there are 16 candidates in the running.
Republicans will get a chance to decide after tonight’s GOP debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
Tune in to "Morning Edition" Thursday to hear Jacksonville Republicans' reactions to the debate.
