BOULDER, Colo. — Preventative healthcare is instrumental in changing the American healthcare system, according to 2020 presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii).
"We need move from a sick-care system to a healthcare system," said Gabbard at a town hall meeting at the Avalon Ballroom in Boulder on Thursday.
Most of the discussion revolved around the opioid crisis and mental health. Gabbard said she looks to the Australian universal healthcare system as a foundation for Americans to build from.
"I call it single-payer plus plan, where you still have the freedom to choose what's right for you," said Gabbard.
As for mental health and the opioid crisis, Gabbard said that psychiatrists and doctors should look for the cause of the pain and "not just go to big pharma for the answers."
Gabard has not met the poll and donor requirements for the Democratic Debates since November 2019.
"She doesn't get the talking time anyway," said Josh Baranauskas, a Gabbard supporter who was at the town hall. "I think her time is better spent out here talking to the people."
Questions about why Gabbard has not withdrawn her candidacy due to low support in the early primaries and caucuses were met with optimism by supporters.
"Tulsi is appealing to all political breeds," said Sean Vadney, another supporter. "I'm a libertarian."
"It will be extremely hard to win the nomination, but she's in the best position to beat Trump," said Hanuman Herenow, who was volunteering at the town hall.
Gabbard reminded the town hall of her 17 years of military service and seven years in congress and ended with asking for support.
Fourteen states, including Colorado, will hold primaries or caucuses on Mar. 3, also known as "Super Tuesday" because it offers the largest number of delegates to be won in a single day. Gabbard will face off against Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Joe Biden, Micheal Bloomberg, and Tom Steyer.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Politics