PORTLAND — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders brought his message of hope for the future to a cheering, adoring, capacity crowd at the State Theatre in Portland Wednesday.

He asked Maine residents to caucus for him in large numbers on Sunday, spoke to his plans for health care, education, immigration and more – and took a few swipes at his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and GOP contender Donald Trump.

“Trump believes climate change is a hoax that originated in China,” said Sanders. “I thought he would have thought Mexico, or Muslims.”

He drew contrasts between his campaign and Clinton’s.

“We do not represent the billionaire class on Wall Street. We will win this thing or lose it without their money,” Sanders said, calling on Clinton to release a speech she made – and for which she was reportedly paid $225,000 – by Goldman Sachs. “I urge (her) to share that extraordinary speech with the American people.”

As Maine gears up for this weekend’s caucuses – Republicans caucus on Saturday, Democrats on Sunday – some presidential candidates are making appearances in the state to drum up support.

In addition to Sanders’ appearance on Wednesday, Republican Ted Cruz is scheduled to campaign at the University of Maine in Orono on Friday, and Republican Donald Trump made a last-minute announcement Wednesday afternoon that he would appear today at the Westin Portland Harborview Hotel.

The lines waiting to get into the 1,600-capacity State Theatre to see Sanders were long Wednesday morning.

Among those waiting was Sanford resident Elizabeth O’Connor, who got in line at about 9:30 a.m. for the 11 a.m. opening. Sanders was scheduled to speak at 1 p.m., but it was about 1:40 when he took to the podium.

“We can’t keep voting the way we’re voting,” O’Connor said. “Everything he is saying is possible.”

Amy Welch of Kennebunk waited in line with her mother, Kathy Welch, of Portland. “He’s starting conversations that need to be started,” said Amy. “It’s exciting.”

Inside the State Theatre, as people waited for Sanders to appear, Mike Hasty of South Berwick recalled his former band, Michael and The Archangels, which played for Sanders when he first ran for Congress in 1990. Hasty, who lived in Vermont when Sanders was mayor of Burlington, said he’s been a supporter for years.

“He’s the presidential candidate I have been waiting for all my life,” he said.

Sanders spoke of his wins in Minnesota, Colorado, Oklahoma and Vermont on Super Tuesday. And while it appears he has an uphill battle for delegates – Clinton has 1,052 delegates, while Sanders has 427, according to Politico – he seemed undeterred.

He urged people to get out to the Democratic caucuses across the state. “If we win Maine, we move another step forward towards a political revolution in this country,” Sanders said.

“The reason we’re doing so well is because we’re doing something very radical here,” he said. “Instead of spending half my life begging for campaign donations, we’re listening to the American people.”

“We’re listening to workers trying to survive on $8,$9, $10 an hour, and you know what? They cannot survive. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 is a starvation wage, and together we’ll raise it to a living wage of $15 an hour,” said Sanders to thunderous applause and cheers.

Sanders spoke of the disappearing middle class, what he described as the broken criminal justice system, and his plans to increase social security and veterans’ health care, as well as health care in general.

He estimated it would cost $70 billion a year to offer free tuition to public colleges and universities, a bill that, he said, could be paid by a tax on Wall Street speculators. He spoke of pay equity, and a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the country.

“I’m concerned about reforming the big banks,” said supporter Andrea Boland of Sanford, a Democratic candidate for Senate District 34 in the November general election. “If we don’t get that taken care of, it will take us down. I see Bernie as a kindred spirit.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” said Biddeford resident and former mayor and state legislator Joanne Twomey. “I’ve been watching his work for years.”

Twomey is a Democratic candidate for Senate District 32 in the November general election.

“We need a reformist,” said Laurie Dobson of Kennebunkport.

At the podium, flanked by supporters, Sanders continued his talk – about corporate welfare, particularly the Walton family, which owns Walmart and pays workers so little, he said, that many qualify for food stamps and other benefits.

“To the Walton family – get off (corporate) welfare; pay your workers a living wage,” Sanders exhorted.

He called for a federal works project to repair the country’s roads and bridges and get people back to work. He pointed out that he voted against the Iraq war, but Clinton voted in favor.

Then, just before he left the stage, he asked again for caucus votes.

“The American people really understand that our job is to bring people together, and together trumps divisiveness,” Sanders said. “Community… trumps selfishness. And the American people know in their hearts that love trumps hatred.”

His message appeared to resonate with the audience.

“He made me hopeful that we don’t have to accept the status quo in politics,” said Amy Beth Lucarelli of Waterboro. “All the points he makes about changing politics, education and health care really resonates with me. It makes you feel hopeful that change is possible.”

Said O’Connor: “I loved everything he said.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].