METAIRIE - U.S. Sen. and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' campaign has opened its Louisiana headquarters in Metairie.

Spokesman Gregory Minchak says the campaign's first Louisiana office opened at noon Sunday, with king cake for volunteer phone bank workers and visitors.

He says about 60 people stopped by early in the day, "in the midst of Mardi Gras."

Officials say the opening is part of the Sanders campaign's commitment to a 50-state strategy.

Sanders himself was in Vermont, where Democratic and Republican candidates alike were urging voters to turn out for Monday's caucuses. Sanders told a group of volunteers and organizers packed into a field office in Marshalltown, Iowa, that they can win if turnout is high, but probably will lose the caucuses if turnout is low.