PHILADELPHIA — Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) formally nominated Bernie Sanders for president Tuesday ahead of roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention, describing his campaign as a “movement of love and compassion.”
“Because this movement is a fueled by love, it can never be stopped or defeated. Now on behalf of millions inspired by aloha, determined to seek a future reunited in love, passion and justice for all,” Gabbard said from the convention stage. “I am truly honored to nominate Bernie Sanders for president.”
{mosads}Though Sanders has repeatedly pushed his supporters to back Hillary Clinton for president, Gabbard didn’t echo his unity message in her speech.
Gabbard was one of only a handful of lawmakers who formally endorsed Sanders and was one of the campaign’s superdelegates. She stepped down from her post at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to support Sanders.
Paul Feeney, Sanders’s Massachusetts and Connecticut state director, spoke after Gabbard, urging the party to unite around Clinton ahead of the fall fight against Donald Trump.
Sanders is keeping his name in the roll call vote — allowing his supporters to cast their support for him for a final time — but Clinton is expected to formally win the party’s nomination on Tuesday.
Sanders supporters repeatedly interrupted Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Fla.), the new DNC chairwoman, from speaking as she announced the nomination speeches with chants of “Bernie.”