By Will Wright

[email protected]

@KernelWright

Hundreds of people, many wearing Bernie Sanders hats and T-shirts, gathered at Al’s Bar and Grille in Lexington on Wednesday to support the Democratic presidential candidate.

The rally was part of a national event in which Sanders broadcast a speech via his website to supporters throughout the country.

More than 600 people registered for the Lexington rally, making it likely the largest of the Sanders events in a red state, said Laura Haye, a UK social work senior and organizer.

Haye said the rallies, which drew more than 100,000 people nationwide, show Sanders’ understanding of the internet, and his ability to create a grass roots movement.

“I think it shows the fact that the internet reach is more important than it ever has been,” Haye said. “I expected maybe 20 people to be interested. I think that shows he’s a more important candidate than people give him credit for.”

One of the supports, Peyton Knox, said she was never involved with politics before her boyfriend, Tim D’egidio, showed her videos of Sanders. The main platform ideas, such as income equality and lower education costs, make young people more hopefully about politicians, Knox and D’egidio said.

His use of Facebook and other social media sites, and his video conference rallies, also grow support among the youth, they said.

“If you look at Bernie, from day one he’s been using social media as his main platform,” D’egidio said. “Once people hear about him, they’ll do what everyone else I know has been doing and saying, ‘I like him.’”