Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/657502
and caucuses to ensure that Sanders has a shot at win- ning the Democratic nomi- nation. Nurse leaders have been crisscrossing the coun- try on a big, red #BernieBus, volunteering their weekends to doorknock and flyer on behalf of the campaign, host- ing Bernie house parties, giv- ing campaign donations, and making time between work shifts to phone bank voters in key states such as Nevada and Florida. "It's like, 'What aren't we doing?'" joked Karen Higgins, a Massa- chusetts ICU RN and a member of the NNU Council of Presidents. While still working full time, Higgins has been juggling a busy, high- profile schedule campaigning for Sanders, including speaking with him at rallies and even speaking as his surrogate at the Massachu- setts Democratic Convention last September. "This is a huge oppor- tunity for all of us. One of the points I try to make with people, and it's Bernie's message too, is that if you want to make a change in this country, which I think most people do, and start a political revolu- tion to take this country back, that these things can happen. But it's a commitment to really making a change and doing whatever it takes to make that change happen. He's willing to stand up, but he can't do it alone. We have to want it. And it's not just about this elec- tion, it's about the future." Sanders' short game is winning enough delegates through the state primaries and caucuses to clinch the Democratic presidential nomi- nation; the long game is getting to the White House. So far, it looks like all the hard work is paying off. Sanders has overcome initial huge deficits behind Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to polls, in state primaries and caucuses to practically tie Clinton in the number of del- egates won through the popular vote. He has won primaries and cau- cuses in at least eight states, essentially tied in Iowa, Massachusetts, and Missouri, and overcome huge polling gaps in some states, such as Nevada and Illinois, to end just a handful of points behind. Sanders' strong showing has been bolstered in large part by NNU registered nurses' work in these early voting and caucusing states. In January, NNU launched the #BernieBus to carry nurses through swing states to make contact with RN members, students, the labor community, and the public about why RNs support Sanders' campaign. "Bernie Sanders best represents nurses' values of caring, compassion and community," said Deborah Burger, RN and NNU copresident, at the bus' launch in California. "The people who have attended Bernie's rallies and the record number of individual donors demonstrate that Bernie is building a broad campaign of sup- porters ready for the fundamental reform we need to heal America. That's the message we'll carry across America on the #BernieBus." Clockwise from left across all pages: Chicago RNs Adriana Sanchez and Genevieve Lewis meet former Ohio state senator Nina Turner; RNs help deliver clean water to Flint, Mich. residents; RNs on the #BernieBus in Minnesota with Rep. Keith Ellison; a student for Sanders; RNs in Iowa with nuns supporting Bernie. 14 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6