Several young people in line at the Bernie Sanders rally at Rutgers on Sunday said for them it was Sanders in November or nothing. Watch video
PISCATAWAY -- Rutgers junior Usman Khan said unless Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) became the party's nominee, he couldn't see himself voting in November.
Khan, 22, was in line with hundreds of other people waiting to enter the Sanders rally on Sunday at the Rutgers Athletic Center.
In the mild, sunny weather, thousands packed into the RAC. Many chanted, "Bernie, Bernie, Bernie!" Others wore shirts that said, "Feel the burn!"
Like many young Sanders voters, Khan said if it came down to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November, you could count him out.
"I wouldn't want to be a part of either," said Khan, who was with a few of his friends.
Sanders has invigorated young people in his presidential campaign. And this loyalty does not appear transferable as many Sanders backers across the country say they also wouldn't shift to voting for Clinton in November if she locked up the nomination, which is widely viewed as inevitable with her current delegate lead.
Sanders has even recently acknowledged his "narrow" path to the nomination. But even with the prospects of a Trump presidency, many Sanders supporters remain sternly principled.
"He is for humanity. He has the people's hands in his pocket. And others had the corporate people in their pocket," said Devesh Patel, a senior at Rutgers who was standing with Khan.
Patel compared voting for anyone other than Sanders to choosing between two diseases. He said he would prefer not to have a disease.
Other young people waiting to get into the venue said despite their ardent support for Sanders, a Clinton presidency was better than a Trump presidency.
"I would choose Hillary because Trump ... says wild and racist things," said Ahmed Eldiesyawe, 23, of Piscataway. "I wouldn't trust Trump with North Korea or Russia. Hillary, she has more experience."
Sanders' authenticity and stance on college debt were among the primary reasons they supported him.
"He is someone you can relate to," Khan said. "He's not a millionaire. We have college debt. I could image being 75 and having $300,000 in college debt."
Patel said getting corporate money out of politics was among the reasons he supports Sanders.
"He is for humanity," Patel said. "He has the people in his pocket. Others have the corporate people in their pockets."
He added, "I want a president who has empathy; who realizes the struggles of everyday man. He is someone you can relate to."
He said unless Clinton vowed to get money out of politics, he wasn't sure he could vote for her in November.
Alvin Singh , 24, a Rutgers graduate who was also among the group, said unless Clinton somehow involved Sanders with her campaign, if she ended up winning the nomination, he couldn't see himself voting for her either.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.