[S]en. Bernie Sanders had been planning to hold a rally to kick off his 2020 presidential campaign in Burlington this weekend — but a forecast for continued icy conditions has forced a change in plans.
His campaign called off the Burlington launch after deciding that difficult winter weather could make holding the event challenging, according to city documents obtained in a public records request.
Emails between Sanders’ campaign and the Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department show that since the day Sanders announced his campaign, Feb. 19, the senator’s staff had been trying to plan a rally on or near the city’s waterfront.
The Sanders campaign initially asked for the rally to held at the waterfront but were also considering nearby Battery Park.
But after being told by city officials that icy conditions might make it difficult to hold the rally, the campaign decided to postpone the Burlington event until a later date.
“Given the forecast I can’t guarantee a safe walkable surface for the event over the entirety of the site,” said Deryk Roach, superintendent of park operations. “WIth the warmup over this week and the weekend, along with rain the early part of the week, there is no way we can achieve what you’re asking for.”
The campaign eventually responded that after speaking with Sanders, it agreed to postpone the event until the conditions were more favorable for the rally.
“After speaking with the Senator we are going to wait until the weather has improved to do an event in Burlington,” Shannon Jackson told parks department officials in an email Feb. 21.
On Feb. 24, Sanders announced that he would be holding his first campaign rally at Brooklyn College in New York.
“I am very excited to announce that I’ll be returning home to Brooklyn, where I spent the first 19 years of my life, for the first rally of our campaign this Saturday, March 2,” Sanders said. On Sunday, Sanders will be also be holding a rally in Chicago.
I am very excited to announce that I’ll be returning home to Brooklyn, where I spent the first 19 years of my life, for the first rally of our campaign this Saturday, March 2nd. RSVP here to join us as we kick off our nationwide movement: https://t.co/4qCnhTPvbF
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 24, 2019
After Sanders announced his presidential bid in 2015, he held his first official campaign rally in May.
Political observers say there could be an advantage to Sanders kicking off his campaign outside of Vermont.
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said Sanders’ decision to hold the first rally in Brooklyn could also be about delegates, and that it makes strategic sense to announce outside of Vermont.
“Sanders is making clear he will compete vigorously in New York State. Vermont is a lovely place but it’s probably locked down tight for Sanders, while New York will be highly competitive,” Sabato said.
“Vermont has a tiny number of delegates; New York has a very large number.”
When reached for comment, Jackson said the campaign had always planned to have the launch event in Burlington, and that it’s unfortunate it will not be the site of the premiere rally.
“We had been hoping that last week’s rain would have melted some of the ice out there but it didn’t. It’s Vermont in the winter,” Jackson said. “It was the right call.”
“Jane and the senator are very enthusiastic about the Burlington event and it will be happening soon,” Jackson added.