Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) took his Democratic bid for the Presidency to unfamiliar ground Monday, Liberty University. Liberty University is a famous evangelical school where Senator Ted Cruz launched his presidential bid earlier this year. It is also the largest Christian college in the world.
Sanders’ message was politely recieved by the crowd of students who were required to attend. Attendance at the convocation is mandatory and Senator Cruz’s launch also took place during the convocation.
Sanders was at one point asked about abortion and protecting “the child in the womb” during a question-and-answer session. The largely culturally conservative crowd applauded at the question. Sanders responded by saying, “I do understand and I do believe that it is improper for the United States government to tell every women in this country the very painful and difficult choice she has to make on that issue. And I honestly, I don’t want to be too provocative here, but very often conservatives say, ‘Get the government out of my life, I don’t want the government telling me what to do.'”
There was a small amount of cheering for his answer.
Sanders acknowledged that this may not have been one of his most receptive crowds. “Let me respectfully suggest that there are other issues out there that are of enormous consequence to our country and in fact to the entire world that maybe, just maybe, we do not disagree on. And maybe, just maybe, we can try to work together in trying to resolve them,” Sanders said.