Sanders stumps for swing-state Democrats as high-stakes midterm nears

Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has begun campaigning for Democrats in key states, including Oregon, where gubernatorial nominee Tina Kotek faces an unusually competitive race.

"This is the most important midterm election in the modern history of our country," Sanders told the crowd of hundreds of people gathered at downtown Portland's Roseland Theater.

He criticized the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the right to abortion, and then turned to the talking points he's been urging Democratic candidates to take up for months, including the nation's wealth inequality; fears that a Republican-controlled Congress may cut Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare; and the way that high corporate profits in the oil, food and prescription drug industries may be fueling inflation.