SpA recap of how the candidates schmoozed voters in the Bronx

From Mott Haven to University Heights, presidential candidates vying for the White House converged in the Bronx, bringing to the borough a week full of rallies, surprise stops, condemnation and a boost to its political influence. Those visits all boil down to today, with New York holding its most critical presidential primary in recent years.

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Bernie Sanders, the U.S. Senator from Vermont, was the first to arrive, launching his New York campaign tour in the Bronx. Three weeks before the April primary and against the backdrop of St. Mary’s Park in Mott Haven, the Democratic presidential contender told a roaring crowd, “We are going to invest in the South Bronx.”

“What this campaign is about is creating a political revolution,” he said, appearing before the audience as dusk began to settle. “And the 15,000 that are here this evening, you are the heart and soul of this revolution.”

It was one of a few times Mr. Sanders directly mentioned the Bronx, an area largely impoverished with severe health and income disparities. Days before Mr. Sanders’ visit, Twitter was abuzz with hashtags that read, #BernieintheBronx, and #BronxisBerning, paired with the already established catchphrase of #FeeltheBern.

His opponent, former Secretary of State and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, made an appearance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem the day before. A week later, she hopped aboard an uptown number 4 subway train for an “unscheduled stop” in the Bronx, though local press were unaware of it, with many outlets missing her rare Bronx appearance altogether. There was no rally, only an ad hoc tour by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

At the Sanders rally, Mr. Sanders espoused a progressive platform, arguing for demilitarization of police, heavy tax levies for the rich to subsidize college, and an increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

His message on free college tuition resonated with Jade Rodriguez, 18, of Longwood. A senior at Bronx Studio for Writers and Artists, Ms. Rodriguez praised Sanders’ position, which compelled her to register to vote and wait on line to get into the park and hear Mr. Sanders speak. “Other candidates are not good enough to be president,” she said.

Another first-time voter, Brittney Vargas, 18, commended Mr. Sanders’ stop to the Bronx, pegging him as a fighter of the people. “Bernie just stands out to me,” said Ms. Vargas, wearing a pin button where one half bore the New York Yankees logo and a message reading “Wins in October.” The other half showed Mr. Sanders’ face and a message reading “Wins in November.”

Mr. Sanders’ appearance in the borough aligned with his overall goal of equalizing the playing field, a position strongly backed by residents of the South Bronx.

“It’s a testament to what [Mr. Sanders] really stands for,” said Ms. Vargas, “because so many people are afraid to speak in areas this poor. They’ll come to New York, but they’ll go to the Javits Center and Hell’s Kitchen, but they don’t come to the real hell down here. It’s okay. It’s my home, I love it.”

Ephraim Cruz, a former police officer in the Bronx, considered Mr. Sanders “way ahead of his time.” “We have a candidate who has a consistency with his constituency, with his positions. He has a trust factor that Hillary [Clinton] can’t seem to garner,” said Mr. Cruz.

Mr. Sanders’ appearance in Mott Haven marked one of the few moments a presidential rally was held in the Bronx, with the last recorded rally happening in the borough in 1965 by Democratic presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy. The last presidential candidate to visit happened in 1999 when former President George Bush campaigned in Belmont, the same neighborhood where current Republican presidential candidate, Ohio governor John Kasich, visited on April 7. Mr. Kasich sat at Mike’s Deli on Arthur Avenue for a lunch meal consisting of an above-average sandwich.

Indeed, the rare visits illustrate the mounting tension the election has morphed into during the last three weeks, given some out-of-state primaries that have gone against presumptive winners.

“This is one of those every-vote-counts races,” said Bob Kappstatter, former New York Daily News Bronx Bureau Chief, political columnist, and now political consultant. “On the Democratic side is Bernie inching up to Hillary. On the Republican side is Kasich working as a spoiler for [Ted] Cruz at a contested convention.”

Donald Trump, the clear Republican frontrunner, did not visit the Bronx, as of press time.

The Bronx, with its low-voter turnout (New York is the second worst state for voter turnout), could be poised to head out to the polls in droves given the influence candidates have wielded in this year’s elections.

“And these guys are going where the votes are,” noted Mr. Kappstatter.

Ted Cruz Visits Bronx

Mr. Sanders’ visit was followed by Republican presidential candidate, Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who met with clergymen at the Sabrosura 2 restaurant in Castle Hill. Among the guests was Democratic state Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., a practicing reverend. The pairing was oddly timed—the get-together happened on the same day Mr. Diaz’s son, BP Diaz Jr., joined with other Hispanic legislators to support Mrs. Clinton.

“I don’t have to tell you how she is the most qualified person, hands down, to deal with international issues and deal with our foreign policy,” said the younger Diaz, flanked by fellow Democrats outside Bronx Borough Hall on April 6.

He labeled Mr. Sanders as inexperienced. “Bernie is not qualified, and certainly nobody on the other side is qualified.”

Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, who chairs the Bronx Democratic County Committee (BDCC), spoke on the newfound attention that New York is getting from the political candidates. Mr. Crespo believes although a good thing, this must serve as a reminder to voters of how important it is to come out and have their voice heard.

Not behind Mrs. Clinton is state Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda of Soundview and Parkchester, who stands as the second Bronx legislator backing Mr. Sanders. Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres, who hosted Mr. Sanders in his third visit to the Bronx on April 18, also announced his support for Mr. Sanders.

Mr. Sepulveda has made decisions that went against the grain. During the 2013 mayoral campaign, he had endorsed Bill de Blasio, who went on to become mayor. Mr. Sepulveda also disputed a published report stating that the BDCC had attempted to twist his arm into endorsing Mrs. Clinton. “Neither the chairman of the party nor people who I consider party establishment tried to force me, or strong-arm me, into endorsing Hillary,” he said.

At Sabrosura 2, Mr. Cruz was met by a handful of demonstrators when he spent several hours in the Bronx on April 6.

Mr. Cruz criticized Mayor de Blasio’s fractious moment when NYPD officers turned their backs to him in December 2014, shortly after two police officers were shot in Brooklyn.

“That spoke to the entire country that when you have politicians that will not stand with police officers, firefighters, and first responders, and for that matter our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, that’s an example of how these liberal politicians have forgotten who we are,” said Mr. Cruz.

Mr. Cruz’s conversation inside the Spanish eatery was interrupted by Rodrigo Venegas, who loudly condemned Mr. Cruz for his stance on illegal immigration while chastising Mr. Diaz for hosting Mr. Cruz.  Mr. Cruz was expected to stop at a Bronx charter school, but it was abruptly canceled after several students and their parents voiced concern over his stop.

Mr. Cruz, flanked by the elder Mr. Diaz, did not answer questions about his previous statements regarding the borough.

The candidates weren’t the only ones making that rare trip to the Bronx. It also brought many who had little reason to come there. While a group came from as far as Germany, others came from across the Hudson River. Among them was Jennifer Rivero, 18, who drove to the Bronx from her home in Paterson, New Jersey, with her sister Estephanie.

“If [Sanders] loses, I’m going to cry,” said Ms. Rivero, who convinced her sister to back Mr. Sanders. The sisters will have to wait until June 7 to cast a ballot for the presidential primaries in New Jersey.

Additional reporting by Matt Surrusco and Jasmine Gomez.