Sanders to return to Johnson County Democratic barbecue

CEDAR RAPIDS - Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will make a return appearance at the Johnson County Democrats' fall barbecue in October.

Sanders, who according to recent polls is the leading candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination in Iowa, is the first in the field to confirm he will attend the Oct, 18 fundraiser in Iowa City. The other Democrats - Lincoln Chafee, Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley and Jim Webb - have been invited to the annual fundraiser that has attracted presidential hopefuls in the past.

Sanders gave Johnson County Democrats a taste of what has become his stump speech on the campaign trail this summer when he headlined the barbecue last year, stealing the limelight from a ballot of Democratic state and federal office seekers. An independent and self-described democratic socialist, Sanders exhorted fellow progressives to plug away at the unglamorous nuts-and-bolts of the campaign against a 'billionaire class whose greed knows no bounds.”

He acknowledged that the polls painted a bleak picture for Democratic in the midterm elections 'but if we stand together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish for our great country.”

'While the Koch Brothers and the billionaire class have the money, we have the people,” he said.

The county biggest fundraiser of the year often has attracted presidential hopefuls. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry brought along his colleague Sen. Ted Kennedy in 2003. Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was there, too.

In 2007, the last time there was a race for the Democratic nomination, five candidates shared the stage in front of a crowd of about 2,500. Then Sen. Hillary Clinton brought along former South Dakota senator and 1972 presidential nominee George McGovern. Actor Forest Whitaker stood in for Barack Obama.

Johnson County Sanders supporters have been told the candidate will attend a house party in Iowa City Oct. 18.

The barbecue is scheduled for 2 to 7 p.m. at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd SE, Iowa City. For more information, visit http://jcdems.org/.