The polls in Erie County had just opened when Paul Migliore and a fellow volunteer for the Bernie Sanders campaign were pounding signs into lawns outside some polling places in North Buffalo.
"We're trying to out-hustle the Clinton campaign," said Migliore. "We need the grassroots to come out and get this win for Bernie in New York. Especially considering it's a closed primary and the independents can't vote for him."
The Buffalo resident had 31 polling places on his list of morning stops.
"But at the pace we're going, we probably could have done about 50," Migliore told WBFO as he made a stop outside a Parkside polling place at around 6:30 a.m. Within the first half-hour, 15 voters had already cast their ballots.
Migliore said the presidential primary has ignited a lot of passion among voters.
"We need real change," he said. "We need real solutions for workers. The working class has been ignored for too long. I think we need higher wages. I think we need health care for all. Bernie's message has really resonated with the public."
Sanders received an enthusiastic welcome last week when 8,000 people attended a rally on the University at Buffalo North Campus.
