Bernie Sanders holds rally in Fort Worth, calls Trump 'pathological liar,' 'fraud'

FORT WORTH, Texas - Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, on his second run for the Democratic presidential nomination, brought his show to Texas and traditionally Republican Fort Worth.

Sanders delivered some standout statements, like every U.S. citizen - even prison inmates - should be allowed to vote.

He also called President Donald Trump a pathological liar.

Sanders held his rally just hours after former Vice President Joe Biden made his campaign official.

Much of Sanders’ speech included the themes he's been talking about since the last presidential election.

But his big message, as he energized his base, was that President Trump can be beaten.

“I’m here in Fort Worth for one simple reason, and that is that I believe we can and will defeat Donald Trump here in Texas,” Sanders said during his rally.

Sanders’ political M.O. has been to stake his stump everywhere, not just Democrat strongholds.

His trip to Fort Worth may have been bolstered by the recent success of Beto O'Rourke, who won the Tarrant County vote last November by a slim margin against Senator Ted Cruz.

Sanders told a crowded Burnett Park why he thinks President Trump can be beaten.

“And that is that the American people, including people here in Texas, who voted for Trump understand increasingly that he is a pathological liar and a fraud,” Sanders said.

Sanders repeated remarks that caused a stir last week, that every U.S. citizen, including those in prison, should be able to vote.

“And if you commit a terrible crime, you're going to pay the price, but that does not mean that your right to participate in our democracy is taken away from you,” Sanders added.

While Sanders rides a wave of popularity from his 2016 campaign, as of Thursday, he is not the frontrunner.

That distinction now belongs to former Vice President Joe Biden, who finally announced what’s long been anticipated: He’s running for president.

Through a video statement Thursday morning, Biden announced his reason for running: Donald Trump.

“If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation,” Biden said.

With Biden announcing, that makes 20 Democrats seeking their party's nomination.

Trump tweeted at Biden after his announcement: “Welcome to the race Sleepy Joe. I only hope you have the intelligence, long in doubt, to wage a successful primary campaign. It will be nasty - you will be dealing with people who truly have some very sick & demented ideas. But if you make it, I will see you at the Starting Gate!”

A starting gate that Bernie Sanders hopes he'll run through after the primary season.

“If we stand together and keep our eye on the prize, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish,” Sanders said.

Democrats have not shied away from Tarrant County. Sanders is the third party hopeful to hold an event there.

The Lone Star State will be a big prize for someone next March. By then, though, the number still in the hunt for the nomination may have dwindled from the 20 now announced.