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Sanders Supporters Stay Positive After Florida Loss

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won big over opponent Bernie Sanders in Tuesday's Florida primary, but Sanders supporters didn't seem all that worried though.

At a Sanders election watch part at the Edge of 9 bar in downtown St. Petersburg, the crowd was energetic. They seemed to break out into "Bernie" chants almost at random. As Sanders might put it, they were "Feeling the Bern."

That didn't stop after the major news networks called the race for Clinton. Denise Carro of Largo seemed more determined, saying she was now planning to head to Arizona to work a phone bank for the Sanders campaign.

"I still honestly believe he is the best one to win the election," Carro said.

Some supporters at the party said they knew going into Tuesday's primary it was a long shot for Sanders to win. They said that even if Sanders doesn't make it to the general election, he has helped push Hillary farther to the left on issues such as universal healthcare and Wall Street reform.

"She thought maybe he wouldn't do that well in Michigan, but I think she needs to consider (his win) and adopt more of his policies," Carro said. "She's going to have a tough fight depending on who wins the Republican side."

Many supporters say they will continue to support Sanders until the end of the primary season. They remain confident is his ability to mount a comeback as primaries in the South draw to a close.

Bruce Lacey of Clearwater says he will never vote for Hillary. Lacey said his biggest issue going in to the election has been taking control back from the establishment politicians.

"Hillary will never get my vote," he said. "Her past and voting record show she's more Republican than Donald Trump." 

Lacey said he would vote for Trump if it came down to Trump and Clinton, the current front runners of their respective parties, in the general election.

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The Edge of 9 bar in St. Petersburg served as a phone bank for Bernie Sanders supporters untill the polls closed in the Florida primary.
Roberto Roldan/WUSF News /
The Edge of 9 bar in St. Petersburg served as a phone bank for Bernie Sanders supporters untill the polls closed in the Florida primary.

More than two dozen Bernie Sanders supporters went to the Edge of 9 bar in St. Petersburg to watch the Florida primary election results as they rolled in throughout the night.
Roberto Roldan/WUSF News /
More than two dozen Bernie Sanders supporters went to the Edge of 9 bar in St. Petersburg to watch the Florida primary election results as they rolled in throughout the night.

Roberto Roldan is a senior at the University of South Florida pursuing a degree in mass communications and a minor in international studies.