California Rep. Barbara Lee, a key leader of progressive House Democrats, says she believes Bernie Sanders' candidacy is "galvanizing progressives" and the progressive agenda.
"I know Bernie first as a colleague and as a friend. I did serve with him on the then-Banking Committee and we actually came up with, initially, with the National Housing Trust Fund, worked together on that, and so I've worked with him on many, many issues and he's a friend," Lee said on the Jeff Santos Show.
"And I think what he is doing really is galvanizing progressives to really develop a strong progressive agenda that deals with all of the issues, that the majority of Americans want to deal with," she added. "And I think by the turnout and by what the response of the people around the country, we see that his message is resonating and so I think it's a good thing that he's out there," she said.
Last week Sanders supporters filled the 10,000 seat Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin.
"I'm supporting the progressive agenda, Mayor DeBlasio, myself, and probably 8 to 10 members of Congress signed on to a progressive agenda that we are putting forward, that addresses many of the issues that Senator Clinton and Bernie Sanders are raising--excuse me Secretary of State Clinton and Senator Sanders are raising."
"And so income inequality, when you look at a living wage, when you look at climate change, there are many, many issues on that that progressive agenda that both Mrs. Clinton and Senator Bernie are really addressing and I think it's a very exciting time that he is doing this."
