If Bernie Sanders was looking for some inspiration on how a team can achieve a come-from-behind victory, he got a taste of it Monday.
The Democratic candidate attended Game 7 of the Warriors-Thunder Western Conference finals in Oakland, Calif., in which Golden State completed a three-game win streak, by a score of 96-88, to move on to the NBA finals.
According to a pool report shared by the Sanders’ campaign, the Vermont senator arrived at halftime with actor Danny Glover, a Bay Area resident and Warriors fan who has also rallied for Sanders.
They walked in with a Secret Service escort and sat in Section 108, row 15 behind the Thunder basket. “Good Seats but not the ones frequented by millionaires and billionaires,” wrote pool reporter Joe Garofoli of the San Francisco Chronicle. Sanders wore a blue Oxford shirt “in a sea of yellow shirts,” while Glover wore a “strength in numbers” t-shirt.
Breaking :@BernieSanders just arrived at @warriors game. Says “let’s turn this thing around.” @SFGate @sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/uFEQB2rYtP
— Joe Garofoli (@joegarofoli) May 31, 2016
A crowd nearby chanted “Bernie! Bernie!” and some fans took selfies with Sanders upon his arrival.
It’s coming down to the wire! Excited to see how this one ends. pic.twitter.com/ewAgdZjpK3
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 31, 2016
But not all in attendance were pleased with Sanders’ presence. One fan reportedly shouted at Sanders, “Get out of here. The second half is starting. This isn’t a political event.”
.@BernieSanders will be attending the @warriors game tonight, confirmed by the campaign. His spox said to the press: pic.twitter.com/dR8Rn2N1Sl
— Danny Freeman (@DannyEFreeman) May 31, 2016
Still, the defending champion Warriors defeated Oklahoma City, a fitting sign for Sanders, an underdog in his own right, who was in Oakland on Monday continuing his weeks-long campaign push in California. The Warriors will move on to the NBA finals, where the team will face the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Later in the evening Monday, Sanders tweeted, “Last week, Golden State was down three games to one. Tonight, they finished off a great comeback in California. I like comebacks.”
Last week, Golden State was down three games to one. Tonight, they finished off a great comeback in California. I like comebacks.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 31, 2016
Sanders trails rival Hillary Clinton by hundreds of pledged delegates and super delegates in the Democratic nomination contest. Sanders has said he will continue to campaign all the way to the Democratic convention in July, which he has declared will be a “contested convention.”
Clinton, perhaps sensing some vulnerability in California, announced she was cancelling an event in New Jersey on Thursday, so she could begin a last-minute California campaign blitz before the state holds its primary on June 7.
