Newsletter: Essential Politics: Sanders supporters aim for progressive wave

I’m Christina Bellantoni and hosting Essential Politics today. Away we go.

As grassroots armies go, campaigns probably prefer self-starters. That’s certainly the case for the dedicated bunch of loyalists mounting a do-it-yourself campaign for Sen. Bernie Sanders.

I have wanted to report this story since the day I saw the massive "Feel the Bern" mural in downtown Los Angeles late this summer. Ever since, I keep learning about Sanders campaign efforts in Southern California — that have no connection to the campaign.

These activists are artists, musicians and civically engaged. They are hitting farmers markets and hosting house parties. They also are looking beyond this presidential election, even if that seems like a real stretch.

For example, Paul Stanton, whom I quote in the story, said he got involved thanks to what he describes as a "reawakening" sparked by Marianne Williamson’s campaign in California’s 33rd congressional district. The failed effort taught supporters about activism using social media, he said.

Now, his focus has been to identify "qualified progressives" in local, state and federal elections who can benefit from a "coattails effect of the Bernie phenomenon." That includes Ohio’s 8th congressional district, which will hold a special election to replace outgoing House Speaker John Boehner.

A similar message came out of the Los Angeles for Bernie group. Lead organizer Lauren Steiner wrote as a welcome message that while supporters can vote or donate money, and encourage their friends to do the same, the real work is to "become engaged citizens" who work directly with local and state campaigns. "[W]e can work to insure progressives like Bernie get elected to Congress," her post reads. "That way, even if he should not get elected, we will have built and trained a grassroots army ready to pressure elected officials on the issues of importance to us."

Steiner has been one of the key troops in the Southern California grassroots army, organizing attendees of local events and working with volunteers get the right information into the hands of voters, all without help from the campaign.

See the mural and read the whole story here.

For his part, Sanders was raising money from small-dollar donors in Hollywood on Wednesday night.

Michael Finnegan reports that Sanders toggled between the serious and the not-so-serious on his California campaign swing, dancing a few steps to "Disco Inferno" on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," then denouncing Republicans for what he called "racist attacks against the Mexican people."

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD

Actress Melanie Griffith remains firmly behind Hillary Rodham Clinton, despite warm feelings for Sanders. Griffith told me in an interview Wednesday night she has known Clinton for a long time and "will do anything she asks of me."

"I really, really, really like him so much," Griffith said of Sanders, one night after watching the final 30 minutes of the candidates at the debate.

Still, Griffith said, "I want Hillary. I think she's the best woman for the job, the best person for the job." The actress supported Clinton's 2008 bid for the presidency. "She's wiser. She's always been a powerhouse, a truly confident woman. But she's gained a whole level of experience."

Griffith chatted with me at her home during a reception she hosted for the Latino Victory Project.

TODAY’S ESSENTIALS

-- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is launching a 2016 gun-control initiative, Chris Megerian reports.

-- Phil Willon is posting Senate candidates’ fundraising details over at PolitiCal. Hint: The numbers aren’t looking good for Rocky Chavez.

-- Columnist George Skelton takes note of Gov. Jerry Brown's actions on legislation.

-- Clinton’s stance on undocumented immigrants receiving healthcare benefits is of particular interest to Cailfornians.

-- Michael Memoli and Mark Z. Barabak find that for Vice President Joe Biden, "will he or won’t he?" speculation started to transition to "why would he?" after Tuesday's debate.

-- Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris has created a new tool to fight "revenge porn," one of her signature issues.

-- A House race heats up, Jean Merl reports.

LOGISTICS

-- Don’t forget, you’ll get Friday’s newsletter in the afternoon, with a step-back look at the week that was in politics from Washington bureau chief David Lauter.

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