thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Elizabeth Warren Is Looking At The 'Path Forward' After A Disappointing Super Tuesday

Some progressives , including Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar , have already suggested Warren should drop out of the race to clear the way for Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt ) .
Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden now have a clear lead over the rest of the field in delegates .
Three other candidates ― former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar ― have left the race in recent days and promptly endorsed Biden .
“ All of us have worked for Elizabeth long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t a lifetime politician and doesn ’ t think like one , ” Warren ’ s campaign manager , Roger Lau , wrote in an email to staff on Wednesday morning .
“ She ’ s going to take time right now to think through the right way to continue this fight .
And there ’ s a lot at stake for this country and the millions of people who are falling further and further behind .
This decision is in her hands , and it ’ s important that she has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next.
” Warren has long said her most important goal ― even more than becoming president ― is getting elements of her anticorruption agenda enacted .
She has suggested in recent days that both Sanders and Biden are often ineffective legislators , arguing that Sanders is better at delivering speeches than building coalitions and that Biden is far too eager to cut deals with Republicans .
“ Elizabeth believes in her ideas and in the big , structural change that is badly needed to root out corruption in Washington and will decide what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advance them , ” Lau wrote .
As recently as Feb. 11 , the day of the New Hampshire primary , Warren ’ s team suggested she was going to finish in the top two slots in eight of the 14 states casting ballots on Super Tuesday .
She failed to finish in the top two in any state on the map , even finishing third in her home state of Massachusetts .
But Lau indicated the campaign may hold out for a turnaround , especially in delegate-rich California , where it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Last night , we fell well short of viability goals and projections , and we are disappointed in the results , ” he wrote .
“ We ’ re still waiting for more results to come in to get a better sense of the final delegate math .
And we also all know the race has been extremely volatile in recent weeks and days with frontrunners changing at a pretty rapid pace .
”

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is considering her “path forward” after a disappointing showing during the Super Tuesday primaries, a campaign aide said Wednesday morning.
Some progressives, including Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, have already suggested Warren should drop out of the race to clear the way for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt). Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden now have a clear lead over the rest of the field in delegates. Three other candidates ― former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar ― have left the race in recent days and promptly endorsed Biden.
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“All of us have worked for Elizabeth long enough to know that she isn’t a lifetime politician and doesn’t think like one,” Warren’s campaign manager, Roger Lau, wrote in an email to staff on Wednesday morning. “She’s going to take time right now to think through the right way to continue this fight. And there’s a lot at stake for this country and the millions of people who are falling further and further behind. This decision is in her hands, and it’s important that she has the time and space to consider what comes next.”
Warren flew back to her Massachusetts home following a rally in Detroit on Tuesday night.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) waves to supporters at her Super Tuesday rally in Detroit. Rebecca Cook / Reuters
Warren has long said her most important goal ― even more than becoming president ― is getting elements of her anticorruption agenda enacted. She has suggested in recent days that both Sanders and Biden are often ineffective legislators, arguing that Sanders is better at delivering speeches than building coalitions and that Biden is far too eager to cut deals with Republicans.
“Elizabeth believes in her ideas and in the big, structural change that is badly needed to root out corruption in Washington and will decide what she thinks is the best way to advance them,” Lau wrote.
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As recently as Feb. 11, the day of the New Hampshire primary, Warren’s team suggested she was going to finish in the top two slots in eight of the 14 states casting ballots on Super Tuesday. She failed to finish in the top two in any state on the map, even finishing third in her home state of Massachusetts.
But Lau indicated the campaign may hold out for a turnaround, especially in delegate-rich California, where it could take a week to count ballots.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Joe Biden Wins 2020 Maine Democratic Primary

Former Vice President Joe Biden has narrowly edged out Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) in Maine ’ s Democratic primary , rounding out his Super Tuesday victory despite running no ads in the state .
Although his campaign seemed imperiled by poor showings in early voting states last month , Biden made a stunning comeback on a wave of last-minute endorsements from former rivals Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) and former Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg , among others .
To Gideon , who is running to unseat GOP Sen. Susan Collins , Biden is the candidate “ most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look into the future to address all the challenges we face , ” she told the Bangor Daily News .
Biden was able to take the lead in Minnesota , Texas , Virginia , North Carolina , Tennessee , Oklahoma , Arkansas and Alabama , even beating out Sen. Elizabeth Warren in her home state of Massachusetts .
Meanwhile , Sanders was able to nab California — which offers the largest number of delegates — along with Utah , Colorado , and his home state of Vermont .
But the senator ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had long argued that Sanders was capable of driving a large wave of younger voters to the polls .
Warren ’ s campaign , dealt a serious blow by failing to carry a single state , was reassessing her viability as of Wednesday morning .
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg dropped out , and immediately endorsed Biden .
Across 14 states and American Samoa , 1,344 delegates were up for grabs on Tuesday , including 24 delegates from Maine .
Candidates are eligible to receive delegates in each state if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
“ I ’ m here to report we are very much alive !
’ ’ Biden said of his campaign at a Tuesday night rally in Los Angeles .
“ And make no mistake about it , this campaign will send Donald Trump packing.
” Biden ’ s victory speech was briefly interrupted by vegan animal rights protesters , who stormed the stage before being physically blocked by the candidate ’ s wife and staffers .

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Former Vice President Joe Biden has narrowly edged out Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in Maine’s Democratic primary, rounding out his Super Tuesday victory despite running no ads in the state.
Although his campaign seemed imperiled by poor showings in early voting states last month, Biden made a stunning comeback on a wave of last-minute endorsements from former rivals Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and former Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, among others.
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Maine House Speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Sara Gideon threw her support behind Biden late Tuesday afternoon.
To Gideon, who is running to unseat GOP Sen. Susan Collins, Biden is the candidate “most able to bring the country together and to look into the future to address all the challenges we face,” she told the Bangor Daily News.
Biden was able to take the lead in Minnesota, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama, even beating out Sen. Elizabeth Warren in her home state of Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Sanders was able to nab California — which offers the largest number of delegates — along with Utah, Colorado, and his home state of Vermont. But the senator’s turnout disappointed his supporters, who had long argued that Sanders was capable of driving a large wave of younger voters to the polls.
Warren’s campaign, dealt a serious blow by failing to carry a single state, was reassessing her viability as of Wednesday morning. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg dropped out, and immediately endorsed Biden.
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Across 14 states and American Samoa, 1,344 delegates were up for grabs on Tuesday, including 24 delegates from Maine. Candidates are eligible to receive delegates in each state if they win at least 15% of the vote.
“I’m here to report we are very much alive!’’ Biden said of his campaign at a Tuesday night rally in Los Angeles. “And make no mistake about it, this campaign will send Donald Trump packing.”
“They don’t call it Super Tuesday for nothing!” he said.
Biden’s victory speech was briefly interrupted by vegan animal rights protesters, who stormed the stage before being physically blocked by the candidate’s wife and staffers.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Trump Trolls Jeff Sessions After He Sputters To Alabama Senate Runoff

President Donald Trump renewed his old grudge against Jeff Sessions on Wednesday after the latter sputtered to a runoff in @ @ @ @ @ Senate primary the night before .
Trump had long relished mocking the man whom he @ @ @ @ @ , expressing furious regret that Sessions recused himself from the investigation into Russian interference in @ @ @ @ @ This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United @ @ @ @ @ t have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch @ @ @ @ @ FIRST DAY in office , and the Mueller Scam begins !
” Trump wrote on @ @

President Donald Trump renewed his old grudge against Jeff Sessions on Wednesday after the latter sputtered to a runoff in Alabama’s Republican U.S. Senate primary the night before.
Trump had long relished mocking the man whom he’d named attorney general, expressing furious regret that Sessions recused himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States & then doesn’t have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch Hunt. Recuses himself on FIRST DAY in office, and the Mueller Scam begins!” Trump wrote on Wednesday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Bernie Sanders Vows To Keep Fighting For Democratic Nomination

“ We ’ re going to win this thing , ” Sanders told reporters at a press conference in Vermont Wednesday .
He said that once the votes are tallied in California ― the major , delegate-rich state that Sanders did win ― he and Biden would be “ basically neck and neck.
” Yet Biden ’ s wins were a stunning turnaround for a campaign that seemed to be on its last legs after a poor showing in Iowa and New Hampshire .
Although Biden had a huge victory in South Carolina , there were still concerns about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Tuesday states , considering he had far less infrastructure and ads on the air in those places than some of the other candidates .
Sanders said that “ of course ” he was disappointed in the results , and he admitted that his campaign has not been as successful in turning out younger voters ― who tend to favor Sanders ― as he would have liked .
“ Have we been as successful as I would have hoped in bringing young people in ?
And the answer is no .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ But historically , everybody knows , young people do not vote in the same kind of numbers that older people vote .
But I think that will change in the general election .
But I have to be honest with you , we have not done as well in bringing young people into the process .
It is not easy.
” He also acknowledged that Biden had considerable success with black voters on Tuesday , adding , “ We are doing very well with people of color .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community.
” The Vermont senator said he had talked to Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
— who is trailing in the delegate count — a few hours before , and that she is taking time to assess how she moves forward .
“ Joe is running a campaign , which is obviously heavily supported by the corporate establishment .
...
So what does it mean when you have a campaign that is funded very significantly by the wealthy and the powerful ?
Does anyone seriously believe that a president backed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the changes in this country that working families and the middle class and low-income people desperately need ?
” Sanders said .
Sanders also hit the “ corporate media , ” which he said hasn ’ t given him a fair shake , pointing to comments made by MSNBC host Chris Matthews , who has since stepped down from the network .
He asked the media to help facilitate a meaningful , issue-based campaign .
It ’ s understandable why Sanders would try to pivot to this terrain : Poll after poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues more than every other candidate , from health care to climate change .
The bigger obstacle for Sanders , however , is whether voters are basing their votes on the issues .
So far , there aren ’ t many data points in Sanders ’ favor .
Exit polls coming out of Super Tuesday showed voters siding with Sanders on policy , but voting based on whom they believed could beat Trump : Biden .
Sanders has incorporated this dissonance into his stump speech , touting head-to-head polling against Trump , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of the time .

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“We’re going to win this thing,” Sanders told reporters at a press conference in Vermont Wednesday. He said that once the votes are tallied in California ― the major, delegate-rich state that Sanders did win ― he and Biden would be “basically neck and neck.”
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Yet Biden’s wins were a stunning turnaround for a campaign that seemed to be on its last legs after a poor showing in Iowa and New Hampshire. Although Biden had a huge victory in South Carolina, there were still concerns about how well he would perform in the 14 Super Tuesday states, considering he had far less infrastructure and ads on the air in those places than some of the other candidates.
Sanders said that “of course” he was disappointed in the results, and he admitted that his campaign has not been as successful in turning out younger voters ― who tend to favor Sanders ― as he would have liked.
“Have we been as successful as I would have hoped in bringing young people in? And the answer is no. We’re making some progress,” he said. “But historically, everybody knows, young people do not vote in the same kind of numbers that older people vote. But I think that will change in the general election. But I have to be honest with you, we have not done as well in bringing young people into the process. It is not easy.”
He also acknowledged that Biden had considerable success with black voters on Tuesday, adding, “We are doing very well with people of color. We are going to do better with the African-American community.”
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Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders is accompanied by his relatives, including his wife Jane, as he addresses supporters at his Super Tuesday night rally in Essex Junction, Vermont, U.S., March 3, 2020. Caitlin Ochs / Reuters
The Vermont senator said he had talked to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — who is trailing in the delegate count — a few hours before, and that she is taking time to assess how she moves forward.
Sanders said he likes Biden personally and believes he is a “decent human being,” but he emphasized that they have different visions for the country.
“Joe is running a campaign, which is obviously heavily supported by the corporate establishment. ... So what does it mean when you have a campaign that is funded very significantly by the wealthy and the powerful? Does anyone seriously believe that a president backed by the corporate world is going to bring about the changes in this country that working families and the middle class and low-income people desperately need?” Sanders said.
Sanders also hit the “corporate media,” which he said hasn’t given him a fair shake, pointing to comments made by MSNBC host Chris Matthews, who has since stepped down from the network. He asked the media to help facilitate a meaningful, issue-based campaign.
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It’s understandable why Sanders would try to pivot to this terrain: Poll after poll shows that voters trust Sanders on the issues more than every other candidate, from health care to climate change.
The bigger obstacle for Sanders, however, is whether voters are basing their votes on the issues. So far, there aren’t many data points in Sanders’ favor. Exit polls coming out of Super Tuesday showed voters siding with Sanders on policy, but voting based on whom they believed could beat Trump: Biden. Sanders has incorporated this dissonance into his stump speech, touting head-to-head polling against Trump, that puts him in the lead the vast majority of the time.
What Sanders is banking on is a more difficult ask of voters. And those in his orbit know that.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Coronavirus Reveals A Gaping Hole In U.S. Workplace Safety Law

Millions of Americans have jobs that put them at a higher risk of coming in contact with coronavirus as it spreads .
Yet there is no federal regulation to protect people from airborne infectious diseases in the workplace , giving safety officials little power to make sure employers aren ’ t endangering their workers .
The lack of such a standard has alarmed workplace safety advocates as the number of cases continues to grow , reaching at least 118 on Tuesday .
Their concern is great enough that some of the country ’ s largest unions are expected to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to implement a temporary , “ emergency ” standard for infectious disease during the outbreak , to protect everyone from nurses and home health aides to bus drivers and retail workers .
According to a draft petition obtained by HuffPost , unions within the AFL-CIO labor federation are asking for a comprehensive plan covering protective equipment , vaccinations , hazard training , medical surveillance for high-risk workers , and a written control plan .
They are addressing their concerns to Eugene Scalia , the head of the Labor Department , which includes OSHA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal agencies have issued their own guidance on how to handle the coronavirus , but some protections are stronger than others and employers lack “ clarity and consistency ” on where to turn .
Whether to issue such an emergency standard would ultimately be a decision made by political leaders .
Scalia was nominated for his post by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate .
Three years into his tenure , the president still has not put anyone in charge of running OSHA .
The odds for quickly implementing such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be great .
The Trump administration has been far more likely to repeal regulations on employers rather than add new ones , and the president has worked hard to downplay concerns over coronavirus as the stock markets plunged .
He has lowballed the number of infections as they have become public , and said the virus will probably ” go away ” in the spring , even though experts aren ’ t sure that will happen .
In their draft petition , union leaders estimate that 19 million workers would be at an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus if the outbreak becomes widespread , “ a significant portion of whom could become infected and die.
” Some of the earliest people to develop COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus , in China were health care workers and doctors on the front lines of the possible pandemic .
Health officials in Washington state announced Tuesday that one of seven new cases included a worker at the nursing facility that has been a focal point of the outbreak in the U.S. Nurses and other workers in Washington and California are already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong possibility they were exposed to the virus .
“ These are the workers who answer the call when an outbreak occurs , ” union officials state in their letter .
“ OSHA has the obligation to ensure the health and safety of all working people , particularly from an infectious disease such as this.
” Many companies are limiting travel and expanding telework opportunities to reduce the likelihood that employees will be infected .
But many workers don ’ t have the luxury of working remotely or even taking paid sick days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all kinds of workers in the service sector could come in contact with the virus in the course of their jobs , from front-line retail employees to Uber and Lyft drivers .
As of Wednesday , OSHA was devoting its homepage to resources on COVID-19 and referring workers and employers to updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
But its scant roundup of advice on responding to coronavirus in the workplace underscored the limits of its current regulatory power .
David Michaels , who led OSHA under former President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency standards through the agency is one way Trump could protect workers amid an outbreak .
In a piece in The Atlantic , Michaels noted that while the CDC can issue infection-control guidelines at a time like this , OSHA has the regulatory power to make sure hospitals and other employers actually implement them .
In the way that OSHA responded to the AIDS epidemic with its bloodborne pathogens regulation , Michaels said the agency could do the same now with an infectious disease standard .
Agency officials had even completed a draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .

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Millions of Americans have jobs that put them at a higher risk of coming in contact with coronavirus as it spreads. Yet there is no federal regulation to protect people from airborne infectious diseases in the workplace, giving safety officials little power to make sure employers aren’t endangering their workers.
The lack of such a standard has alarmed workplace safety advocates as the number of cases continues to grow, reaching at least 118 on Tuesday. Their concern is great enough that some of the country’s largest unions are expected to call on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to implement a temporary, “emergency” standard for infectious disease during the outbreak, to protect everyone from nurses and home health aides to bus drivers and retail workers.
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According to a draft petition obtained by HuffPost, unions within the AFL-CIO labor federation are asking for a comprehensive plan covering protective equipment, vaccinations, hazard training, medical surveillance for high-risk workers, and a written control plan. They are addressing their concerns to Eugene Scalia, the head of the Labor Department, which includes OSHA.
The union officials note that various federal agencies have issued their own guidance on how to handle the coronavirus, but some protections are stronger than others and employers lack “clarity and consistency” on where to turn.
“OSHA is the clear choice to issue direct, protective requirements, as their core legislative mandate is to ensure the safety and health of America’s workforce,” the draft letter states. “OSHA must move expeditiously.”
An OSHA spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and President Donald Trump during a briefing on the coronavirus. Leah Millis / Reuters
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Whether to issue such an emergency standard would ultimately be a decision made by political leaders. Scalia was nominated for his post by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate. Three years into his tenure, the president still has not put anyone in charge of running OSHA.
The odds for quickly implementing such a standard don’t appear to be great. The Trump administration has been far more likely to repeal regulations on employers rather than add new ones, and the president has worked hard to downplay concerns over coronavirus as the stock markets plunged. He has lowballed the number of infections as they have become public, and said the virus will probably ”go away” in the spring, even though experts aren’t sure that will happen.
In their draft petition, union leaders estimate that 19 million workers would be at an “elevated risk” for contracting the virus if the outbreak becomes widespread, “a significant portion of whom could become infected and die.”
Some of the earliest people to develop COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, in China were health care workers and doctors on the front lines of the possible pandemic. Health officials in Washington state announced Tuesday that one of seven new cases included a worker at the nursing facility that has been a focal point of the outbreak in the U.S. Nurses and other workers in Washington and California are already under a two-week quarantine due to the strong possibility they were exposed to the virus.
“These are the workers who answer the call when an outbreak occurs,” union officials state in their letter. “OSHA has the obligation to ensure the health and safety of all working people, particularly from an infectious disease such as this.”
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“OSHA must move expeditiously.” - Union officials to the Labor Department
Many companies are limiting travel and expanding telework opportunities to reduce the likelihood that employees will be infected. But many workers don’t have the luxury of working remotely or even taking paid sick days. In addition to health care personnel, all kinds of workers in the service sector could come in contact with the virus in the course of their jobs, from front-line retail employees to Uber and Lyft drivers.
As of Wednesday, OSHA was devoting its homepage to resources on COVID-19 and referring workers and employers to updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But its scant roundup of advice on responding to coronavirus in the workplace underscored the limits of its current regulatory power.
The agency simply referred to standards on protective equipment like gloves and face protection, as well as the vague “general duty” clause, which states that employers have a general responsibility to provide a safe workplace.
OSHA does have a standard for protecting workers from bloodborne pathogens, but as OSHA notes, that regulation “typically [does] not include respiratory secretions that may transmit COVID-19.”
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David Michaels, who led OSHA under former President Barack Obama, has said that issuing emergency standards through the agency is one way Trump could protect workers amid an outbreak. In a piece in The Atlantic, Michaels noted that while the CDC can issue infection-control guidelines at a time like this, OSHA has the regulatory power to make sure hospitals and other employers actually implement them.
In the way that OSHA responded to the AIDS epidemic with its bloodborne pathogens regulation, Michaels said the agency could do the same now with an infectious disease standard. Agency officials had even completed a draft by the time Trump took office, he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Sanders Highlights Obama's Past Praise For Him In New Ad After Super Tuesday

Bernie Sanders ’ presidential campaign released a new ad on Wednesday touting his relationship with former President Barack Obama , a day after Joe Biden , who served as Obama ’ s vice president , surged in the Democratic primary race with strong Super Tuesday results .
“ Bernie is somebody who has a virtue of saying exactly what he believes , great authenticity , great passion and is fearless .
Bernie served on the veterans committee and got bills done , ” Obama says in the ad over photos of Sanders walking beside him at the White House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a call to action .
They want honest leadership who cares about them .
They want somebody who ’ s going to fight for them .
And they will find it in Bernie , ” Obama says later in the ad .
“ That ’ s right , feel the Bern.
” The ad , along with two others also launched on Wednesday , is set to air in states holding primary contests on March 10 and March 17 , including Arizona , Florida , Idaho , Illinois , Michigan , Mississippi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ campaign said in a statement .
The release of the Obama-centric ad follows Biden ’ s massive comeback in the Democratic primary .
Initial results projected Biden winning at least nine of the 14 states up for grabs on Tuesday , including Massachusetts , Minnesota , Oklahoma and Texas , and overtaking Sanders in overall delegates .
Sanders , however , won California ― the state with the most delegates up for grabs ― as well as Colorado , Utah and his home state of Vermont .
After disappointing showings in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shares the top of the Democratic pack with Sanders , thanks to a landslide victory in South Carolina and a critical injection of moderate support from 2020 dropouts Pete Buttigieg , Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) and Beto O ’ Rourke ahead of Super Tuesday .
Billionaire Mike Bloomberg quit the race Wednesday and joined Biden ’ s endorsers .
Sanders has been at times critical of the Obama administration , including its reluctance to prosecute Wall Street executives after the financial crisis of 2008 .
But with the new ad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ political revolution ” to disarm the “ corporate wing ” of the Democratic Party , is likely trying to win the support of moderates , including some of Biden ’ s supporters .
Obama , who hasn ’ t yet endorsed a 2020 candidate , has reportedly told members of his inner circle that he does not want Sanders to win the party ’ s nomination .
In response to Sanders ’ new ad , Andrew Bates , a spokesman for Biden ’ s campaign , told HuffPost in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for genuinely having the back of the best president of our lifetimes.
” “ Barack Obama chose Vice President Biden to be his partner over 8 years in the White House , entrusting him with managing the stimulus that saved our economy from a depression , obtaining the deciding vote for the Affordable Care Act , and countless national security priorities , ” Bates said .

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Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign released a new ad on Wednesday touting his relationship with former President Barack Obama, a day after Joe Biden, who served as Obama’s vice president, surged in the Democratic primary race with strong Super Tuesday results.
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“Bernie is somebody who has a virtue of saying exactly what he believes, great authenticity, great passion and is fearless. Bernie served on the veterans committee and got bills done,” Obama says in the ad over photos of Sanders walking beside him at the White House.
“I think people are ready for a call to action. They want honest leadership who cares about them. They want somebody who’s going to fight for them. And they will find it in Bernie,” Obama says later in the ad. “That’s right, feel the Bern.”
The ad, along with two others also launched on Wednesday, is set to air in states holding primary contests on March 10 and March 17, including Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Washington, Sanders’ campaign said in a statement.
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The release of the Obama-centric ad follows Biden’s massive comeback in the Democratic primary. Initial results projected Biden winning at least nine of the 14 states up for grabs on Tuesday, including Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Texas, and overtaking Sanders in overall delegates.
Sanders, however, won California ― the state with the most delegates up for grabs ― as well as Colorado, Utah and his home state of Vermont.
After disappointing showings in the first few primary contests, Biden now shares the top of the Democratic pack with Sanders, thanks to a landslide victory in South Carolina and a critical injection of moderate support from 2020 dropouts Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Beto O’Rourke ahead of Super Tuesday. Billionaire Mike Bloomberg quit the race Wednesday and joined Biden’s endorsers.
Sanders has been at times critical of the Obama administration, including its reluctance to prosecute Wall Street executives after the financial crisis of 2008. But with the new ad, the progressive senator, who has urged a “political revolution” to disarm the “corporate wing” of the Democratic Party, is likely trying to win the support of moderates, including some of Biden’s supporters.
Obama, who hasn’t yet endorsed a 2020 candidate, has reportedly told members of his inner circle that he does not want Sanders to win the party’s nomination.
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In response to Sanders’ new ad, Andrew Bates, a spokesman for Biden’s campaign, told HuffPost in a statement that there’s “no substitute for genuinely having the back of the best president of our lifetimes.”
“Barack Obama chose Vice President Biden to be his partner over 8 years in the White House, entrusting him with managing the stimulus that saved our economy from a depression, obtaining the deciding vote for the Affordable Care Act, and countless national security priorities,” Bates said.
“By contrast, Senator Sanders explored a primary challenge to President Obama, who he compared to a ‘moderate Republican’ and said was not a ‘progressive,’” Bates continued.
The Sanders campaign has denied that it “crossed his mind to challenge Obama” in 2012.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Women Seem Further Away From Real Power With Each Passing Day

HuffPost US Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden are vying for the opportunity to take on President Donald Trump in the general election .
Patriarchy , it turns out , is sticking around .
With Super Tuesday in the rearview mirror , it now appears that the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination will be between two white septuagenarian men : Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden are vying for the opportunity to take on another 70-something-year-old white guy in the general election .
The country seems far removed from the heady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were six women – six !
– in contention for the Democratic nomination .
All of them even appeared on a debate stage at the same time , a historic first .
It truly seemed like something was about to change .
After all , in 2018 , a wave of Democratic women were voted into Congress .
In 2016 , a woman nearly won the presidency .
The idea that a woman would soon occupy the White House seemed … not unrealistic .
As of Wednesday morning , Sen. Elizabeth Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gabbard ( D-Hawaii ) were still in the running for the 2020 nomination , but it seems all but certain that the race is now down to just 78-year-old Sanders and 77-year-old Biden .
So in the end , the 2020 race is another reminder that while Americans are growing more comfortable with female politicians , they ’ re still resistant to the idea of a woman as an ultimate decider .
“ It ’ s one thing to support a woman to be a decision-maker , but if she ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to have to be convinced over and over again that she ’ s qualified , ” said Amanda Hunter , communications director at the Barbara Lee Foundation , which studies and advocates for female politicians .
That ’ s clear if you look at governor ’ s mansions — there are only nine female governors in the United States , and there have only been 48 of them in U.S. history , compared with more than 2,300 male governors .
Or if you look at CEO offices .
Those numbers are bleak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of S & P 500 companies .
The startup world is similarly bleak .
Female startup founders get only 3 % of all the venture capital funding in the world , according to research from Crunchbase released Wednesday morning .
That number hasn ’ t changed in a decade .
It ’ s hard to parse out the sexism and the bias in most situations , and a presidential election is no different .
Did the female candidates underperform because of sexism ?
It would be hard to pinpoint that definitively .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly didn ’ t help female candidates or candidates of color .
White men have always been president , so it ’ s hard to argue that they would be less electable than a woman or a candidate of color .
Warren , who has released myriad detailed plans , was widely criticized for not providing enough details about her health care plan , while Sanders , as Hunter pointed out , still hasn ’ t gotten too in-depth with his .
When she was in the race , Sen. Kamala Harris ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disorganized campaign .
Biden ’ s skated on that one .
Indeed , pundits marveled on Wednesday at how the former vice president was able to dominate without even doing much campaigning in some of the states he won .
To be sure , no one is arguing that a Sanders or Biden presidency would be bad for women .
The Democratic men would unquestionably do less harm to women in the U.S. than a Trump administration has done and will do .
They would protect Obamacare , which is particularly good for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and child care plans .
They ’ d certainly avoid nominating a rabidly anti-abortion judge to the Supreme Court .
Hunter pointed out that the U.S. has come a long way in recent years , with more women becoming politically active , more women running for office .
And even though they ’ re largely gone from the race , the women who threw their hats in did a lot to role model what a leader could look like .

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden are vying for the opportunity to take on President Donald Trump in the general election. HuffPost US
Patriarchy, it turns out, is sticking around. With Super Tuesday in the rearview mirror, it now appears that the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination will be between two white septuagenarian men: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden are vying for the opportunity to take on another 70-something-year-old white guy in the general election.
Meanwhile, over on the Supreme Court, five conservative men hold the fate of women’s health care rights in their hands. On Wednesday, they will hear arguments in a crucial abortion rights case.
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The country seems far removed from the heady days of the summer of 2019 when there were six women – six! – in contention for the Democratic nomination. All of them even appeared on a debate stage at the same time, a historic first.
It truly seemed like something was about to change. After all, in 2018, a wave of Democratic women were voted into Congress. In 2016, a woman nearly won the presidency. The idea that a woman would soon occupy the White House seemed … not unrealistic.
And yet, here we are.
As of Wednesday morning, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) were still in the running for the 2020 nomination, but it seems all but certain that the race is now down to just 78-year-old Sanders and 77-year-old Biden.
So in the end, the 2020 race is another reminder that while Americans are growing more comfortable with female politicians, they’re still resistant to the idea of a woman as an ultimate decider.
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“It’s one thing to support a woman to be a decision-maker, but if she’s going to be the decision-maker, voters are going to have to be convinced over and over again that she’s qualified,” said Amanda Hunter, communications director at the Barbara Lee Foundation, which studies and advocates for female politicians.
That’s clear if you look at governor’s mansions — there are only nine female governors in the United States, and there have only been 48 of them in U.S. history, compared with more than 2,300 male governors.
Or if you look at CEO offices. Those numbers are bleak, too. Women run just 6% of S&P 500 companies. The startup world is similarly bleak. Female startup founders get only 3% of all the venture capital funding in the world, according to research from Crunchbase released Wednesday morning. That number hasn’t changed in a decade.
It’s hard to parse out the sexism and the bias in most situations, and a presidential election is no different. Did the female candidates underperform because of sexism? It would be hard to pinpoint that definitively.
The relentless focus on electability this cycle certainly didn’t help female candidates or candidates of color. White men have always been president, so it’s hard to argue that they would be less electable than a woman or a candidate of color.
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For a long time, if you searched for “CEO” online you’d get a photo of a middle-aged white man. If you conjure an image of an American president in your head, you’ll likely get similar results.
Hunter and others have pointed out moments in this cycle when it certainly seemed like women were being held to a higher standard than men.
Warren, who has released myriad detailed plans, was widely criticized for not providing enough details about her health care plan, while Sanders, as Hunter pointed out, still hasn’t gotten too in-depth with his.
Main entrance of White House seen through railings at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Getty Images/iStockphoto
When women run for office, research has shown that voters expect them to have detailed plans in order to show their competency. Male competency is assumed.
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When she was in the race, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) was slammed for running a disorganized campaign. Biden’s skated on that one. Indeed, pundits marveled on Wednesday at how the former vice president was able to dominate without even doing much campaigning in some of the states he won.
Both Harris and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) were criticized for making factual errors. Biden is teased for those and seems able to laugh them off.
To be sure, no one is arguing that a Sanders or Biden presidency would be bad for women. The Democratic men would unquestionably do less harm to women in the U.S. than a Trump administration has done and will do. They would protect Obamacare, which is particularly good for women. Sanders has robust family leave and child care plans. They’d certainly avoid nominating a rabidly anti-abortion judge to the Supreme Court.
Hunter pointed out that the U.S. has come a long way in recent years, with more women becoming politically active, more women running for office. And even though they’re largely gone from the race, the women who threw their hats in did a lot to role model what a leader could look like.
Still, the 2020 race right now does feel like a letdown for anyone who cares about electing women.
“I’m wearing black today,” Hunter said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Joe Biden’s Campaign To Bernie Sanders: Black Voters Aren’t Part Of The ‘Establishment’

Former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s campaign took issue Wednesday with Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) characterizing the race for the Democratic presidential nomination as a fight between his movement and that of the party establishment .
A big part of Sanders ’ pitch to voters has been his fight against the “ establishment , ” whether it be politicians in Washington , D.C. , or bankers on Wall Street .
It ’ s a message that has resonated across the country , helping build an impressive grassroots organization funded by millions of small donors .
The senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to high-profile endorsements Biden received from Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg .
Sanders said these former 2020 contenders endorsing Biden served as evidence that party bigwigs are coalescing to stop him from winning the Democratic presidential nomination .
“ Look , we are taking on the establishment .
And I fully understand , no great surprise to me that establishment politicians are not going to endorse us , ” Sanders said at a campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when asked about the support Biden has received in recent days .
“ Joe is running a campaign which is obviously heavily supported by the corporate establishment .
At last count he has received funding from at least 60 billionaires , ” the senator said during a news conference in Vermont .
But the rhetoric didn ’ t sit well with Biden ’ s campaign , which accused Sanders of downplaying the major role Black voters played in boosting Biden in states across the South .
“ I just did not know African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the establishment , ” Rep. Cedric Richmond ( D-La . )
, a co-chair of Biden ’ s campaign , told reporters on a press call on Wednesday .
Biden on Tuesday won 10 primary states , including Texas , Virginia , North Carolina , Tennessee , Oklahoma and Alabama .
But his political comeback began in earnest over the weekend with his huge victory in South Carolina , where Black voters make up two-thirds of registered Democrats .
And he likely wouldn ’ t have performed as well there without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-S.C. ) , the highest-ranking Black member of Congress .
Sanders , meanwhile , is banking on the state of California and its huge delegate haul to help him withstand Biden ’ s last-minute surge with voters .
The senator is likely to win a bigger share of delegates there , but the final results may not be known for a while due to a large number of absentee ballots that have yet to be counted , meaning the race will only heat up this month .
“ My guess is that after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopper , it ’ s going to be pretty close , ” Sanders said Wednesday .
“ We go forward basically neck and neck.
” The immediate primary map in March looks more difficult for Sanders , however .
States heading to the polls this month include Michigan , where he is expected to do well due to his upset win there in 2016 , but also Mississippi , Missouri , Georgia and Florida ― states where he struggled in 2016 and is currently trailing in the polls .
On Wednesday , Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airing ads touting his relationship with former President Barack Obama , who might be as establishment as you get .
And it released an ad in Florida that attacks Biden over his record on funding for Social Security and Medicare .

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Former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign took issue Wednesday with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) characterizing the race for the Democratic presidential nomination as a fight between his movement and that of the party establishment.
A big part of Sanders’ pitch to voters has been his fight against the “establishment,” whether it be politicians in Washington, D.C., or bankers on Wall Street. It’s a message that has resonated across the country, helping build an impressive grassroots organization funded by millions of small donors.
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The senator kept at it this week by pointing to high-profile endorsements Biden received from Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Sanders said these former 2020 contenders endorsing Biden served as evidence that party bigwigs are coalescing to stop him from winning the Democratic presidential nomination.
“Look, we are taking on the establishment. And I fully understand, no great surprise to me that establishment politicians are not going to endorse us,” Sanders said at a campaign event in Salt Lake City on Tuesday when asked about the support Biden has received in recent days.
And on Wednesday, Sanders went after Biden for accepting funds from wealthy donors.
“Joe is running a campaign which is obviously heavily supported by the corporate establishment. At last count he has received funding from at least 60 billionaires,” the senator said during a news conference in Vermont.
“To say that African American voters in the South are the establishment is not only untrue, but it’s insulting.” - Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)
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But the rhetoric didn’t sit well with Biden’s campaign, which accused Sanders of downplaying the major role Black voters played in boosting Biden in states across the South.
“I just did not know African Americans in the South were considered part of the establishment,” Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), a co-chair of Biden’s campaign, told reporters on a press call on Wednesday.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who endorsed Biden ahead of his double-digit victory in Virginia on Tuesday, was even more blunt.
“To say that African American voters in the South are the establishment is not only untrue, but it’s insulting,” Kaine told CNN’s Manu Raju.
Biden on Tuesday won 10 primary states, including Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama. But his political comeback began in earnest over the weekend with his huge victory in South Carolina, where Black voters make up two-thirds of registered Democrats. And he likely wouldn’t have performed as well there without a crucial endorsement from Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the highest-ranking Black member of Congress.
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Sanders, meanwhile, is banking on the state of California and its huge delegate haul to help him withstand Biden’s last-minute surge with voters. The senator is likely to win a bigger share of delegates there, but the final results may not be known for a while due to a large number of absentee ballots that have yet to be counted, meaning the race will only heat up this month.
“My guess is that after California is going to be in the hopper, it’s going to be pretty close,” Sanders said Wednesday. “We go forward basically neck and neck.”
The immediate primary map in March looks more difficult for Sanders, however. States heading to the polls this month include Michigan, where he is expected to do well due to his upset win there in 2016, but also Mississippi, Missouri, Georgia and Florida ― states where he struggled in 2016 and is currently trailing in the polls.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Congress Requests Secret Service Protection For All Presidential Candidates

The House Homeland Security Committee has requested that all presidential candidates receive Secret Service protection , Rep. Cedric Richmond ( D-La . )
told reporters Wednesday during a press call organized by former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s campaign .
Several animal rights activists rushed the stage and disrupted Biden ’ s speech in Los Angeles as he celebrated primary wins across the country on Tuesday .
Biden ’ s wife , Jill , immediately leapt in front of her husband with her arms raised , blocking him with her body .
Symone Sanders , a senior adviser to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to haul a protester from the stage .
The incident “ worried ” congressional Democrats , said Richmond , who serves on the committee and is a co-chair to Biden ’ s campaign .
Secret Service protection is authorized by the Department of Homeland Security after consultation with top leaders in Congress , CNN reports .
Here ’ s who makes the decision per USSS : Protection is authorized by the DHS Secretary after consultation with the Congressional Advisory Committee : Speaker of the House , House Minority Leader , Senate Majority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional member ... https : //t.co/nNjOiiUtnT — Abby D. Phillip ( @ abbydphillip ) March 4 , 2020 Bennie G. Thompson ( D-Miss . )
, the chair of the committee , on Wednesday asked the acting secretary of homeland security to start the process of authorizing protection for the candidates .
“ Taking into consideration the remaining candidates ’ large campaign operations , high polling averages , as well as physical threats to their safety ...
I urge you to immediately initiate the consultation process to determine whether to provide [ secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidates , ” Thompson wrote in a letter to Chad Wolf .
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) received Secret Service protection shortly after the Iowa caucuses in 2016 , but hasn ’ t been granted it in this election cycle .
Biden also does not currently have Secret Service protection , even though he is a former vice president .
Private security guards him at campaign events .

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The House Homeland Security Committee has requested that all presidential candidates receive Secret Service protection, Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) told reporters Wednesday during a press call organized by former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign.
Several animal rights activists rushed the stage and disrupted Biden’s speech in Los Angeles as he celebrated primary wins across the country on Tuesday. Biden’s wife, Jill, immediately leapt in front of her husband with her arms raised, blocking him with her body. Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to the presidential candidate, also rushed in to haul a protester from the stage.
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Y’all see Symone Sanders come off the line like a pro bowl linebacker. Geesh. pic.twitter.com/2Fib5ZqLoN — Billy Michael Honor (@BillyMHonor) March 4, 2020
The incident “worried” congressional Democrats, said Richmond, who serves on the committee and is a co-chair to Biden’s campaign.
Secret Service protection is authorized by the Department of Homeland Security after consultation with top leaders in Congress, CNN reports.
Here’s who makes the decision per USSS:
Protection is authorized by the DHS Secretary after consultation with the Congressional Advisory Committee: Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and one additional member... https://t.co/nNjOiiUtnT — Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) March 4, 2020
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Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), the chair of the committee, on Wednesday asked the acting secretary of homeland security to start the process of authorizing protection for the candidates.
“Taking into consideration the remaining candidates’ large campaign operations, high polling averages, as well as physical threats to their safety ... I urge you to immediately initiate the consultation process to determine whether to provide [secret service] protection to certain major Democratic presidential candidates,” Thompson wrote in a letter to Chad Wolf.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Some House Democrats Take Pleasure In Bernie Sanders' Pain

Rep. Juan Vargas of California , a Biden supporter and frequent critic of Sanders , told reporters that he and some of his colleagues were reveling in the Vermont senator ’ s struggles .
He added that the sense among some House Democrats was that the party had “ come to our senses , you know ?
We ’ re not going to implode.
” “ We were all high-fiving , ” as Biden ended up winning 10 of Tuesday ’ s 14 primaries ― an almost unimaginable outcome just a few days ago .
“ We ’ re all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was a good night last night , ” he said .
Vargas estimated that he had talked with at least 30 House Democrats , and all but four were happy that Biden ― and not Sanders ― had the strong showing on Super Tuesday .
Vargas , whose district encompassed all of California ’ s border with Mexico , was the most vocal member taking a victory lap Wednesday .
Several other Democrats were more muted , perhaps sensing how touchy the subject of Sanders ’ sudden struggles , given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters .
Rep. Jim Costa of California told Politico Wednesday that a lot of his House colleagues now believe they ’ ve got a “ standard-bearer who can not only win in November , but protect our majority in the House and give us an opportunity to win the Senate.
” A potentially vulnerable House Democrat who would only speak on background told a small group of reporters that Democrats in tough districts have a “ little bounce in our step ” after Biden seized the frontrunner status from Sanders .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gon na be a tough night , and came out on cloud nine , ” this member said .
Rep. Juan Vargas ( D-Calif. ) was in a particularly celebratory mood after the bid by Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) to be the Democratic presidential nominee suffered a setback in the Super Tuesday primaries .
House Democratic leaders have generally tried to remain neutral as the primary race has proceeded .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California on Wednesday refused to give much of a reaction to Biden ’ s strong showing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats would “ madly embrace ” whoever becomes the nominee .
The No .
2 House Democrat , Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland , has also refused to endorse a candidate at this point in the cycle .
But Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina publicly endorsed Biden just before his state ’ s primary last Saturday , supporter , and his move has been widely credited with fueling the former vice president ’ s big win in that vote ― which in turn helped Biden ’ s Tuesday triumphs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party ’ s nominee would cause “ downballot carnage ” for House Democrats .
And the No .
5 House Democrat , caucus chairman Hakeem Jeffries of New York , seemed to join those taking some joy in Biden ’ s victories on Wednesday .
Jeffries said Biden had delivered “ an old-fashioned beat down to the hard left.
” “ We don ’ t think we can win with Bernie , ” he said .
“ We think Bernie is a disaster ― I certainly think he ’ s a disaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think if we got away with him just losing 25 seats , we ’ d be very happy , ” Vargas said of the losses he anticipated in the House if Bernie were the nominee .
“ I bet you he ’ d lose 50 seats.
” Of course , all of this is conjecture .
But to support his view , Vargas said that Sanders ’ big argument for his candidacy was that he would grow the Democratic base ― and “ it hasn ’ t happened .
Period @ @

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WASHINGTON ― After Joe Biden’s big night on Super Tuesday ― and Sen. Bernie Sanders’ less-than-expected performance in the multiple Democratic presidential primaries ― some House Democrats were high-fiving each other Wednesday. Literally.
Rep. Juan Vargas of California, a Biden supporter and frequent critic of Sanders, told reporters that he and some of his colleagues were reveling in the Vermont senator’s struggles.
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“People were very happy,” Vargas said. “There was a huge sigh of relief.”
He added that the sense among some House Democrats was that the party had “come to our senses, you know? We’re not going to implode.”
“We were all high-fiving,” as Biden ended up winning 10 of Tuesday’s 14 primaries ― an almost unimaginable outcome just a few days ago. “We’re all happy. Everyone’s excited today. It was a good night last night,” he said.
Vargas estimated that he had talked with at least 30 House Democrats, and all but four were happy that Biden ― and not Sanders ― had the strong showing on Super Tuesday.
“Thank God it’s not Bernie,” said Vargas, first elected to his House seat in 2012. “We just dodged a bullet ― a Bernie bullet.”
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Vargas, whose district encompassed all of California’s border with Mexico, was the most vocal member taking a victory lap Wednesday. Several other Democrats were more muted, perhaps sensing how touchy the subject of Sanders’ sudden struggles, given the enthusiasm he sparks among many of his supporters.
Still, the sense of relief among the more moderate Democratic lawmakers was clear.
Rep. Jim Costa of California told Politico Wednesday that a lot of his House colleagues now believe they’ve got a “standard-bearer who can not only win in November, but protect our majority in the House and give us an opportunity to win the Senate.”
A potentially vulnerable House Democrat who would only speak on background told a small group of reporters that Democrats in tough districts have a “little bounce in our step” after Biden seized the frontrunner status from Sanders.
“We went into last night thinking it was gonna be a tough night, and came out on cloud nine,” this member said.
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) was in a particularly celebratory mood after the bid by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to be the Democratic presidential nominee suffered a setback in the Super Tuesday primaries. Tom Williams via Getty Images
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House Democratic leaders have generally tried to remain neutral as the primary race has proceeded. Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California on Wednesday refused to give much of a reaction to Biden’s strong showing, opting instead to once again say that Democrats would “madly embrace” whoever becomes the nominee. The No. 2 House Democrat, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, has also refused to endorse a candidate at this point in the cycle.
But Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina publicly endorsed Biden just before his state’s primary last Saturday, supporter, and his move has been widely credited with fueling the former vice president’s big win in that vote ― which in turn helped Biden’s Tuesday triumphs.
Clyburn has said he thinks Sanders as the party’s nominee would cause “downballot carnage” for House Democrats. And the No. 5 House Democrat, caucus chairman Hakeem Jeffries of New York, seemed to join those taking some joy in Biden’s victories on Wednesday. Jeffries said Biden had delivered “an old-fashioned beat down to the hard left.”
Vargas’celebration remained the most unabashed.
“We don’t think we can win with Bernie,” he said. “We think Bernie is a disaster ― I certainly think he’s a disaster all the way down” the ballot.
“I think if we got away with him just losing 25 seats, we’d be very happy,” Vargas said of the losses he anticipated in the House if Bernie were the nominee. “I bet you he’d lose 50 seats.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Big Democratic Donors Rush To Joe Biden After Super Tuesday Victories

Joe Biden ’ s Super Tuesday comeback will likely earn him more than just delegates .
Behind the scenes , donors and powerful fundraisers who had previously feared the campaign to be dead are offering their support in droves .
“ It ’ s not just people who want to write checks , it ’ s national fundraisers who were taking it slow to join a campaign , ” said Alan Kessler , a longtime Democratic fundraiser and a bundler for the former vice president .
“ As somebody just wrote to me , everybody loves a winner.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the means to compete with Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) — the other front-runner for the Democratic nomination , who has vaporized old fundraising records by relying entirely on small , independent donations .
And it will pit two diametrically opposed means of funding a presidential race against one another : Sanders ’ unrivaled army of small donors versus the pantheon of traditional Democratic donors who , after a fractious primary , find themselves all on the same team .
“ The crowds are growing exponentially at all his events — rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Biden bundler , about Biden ’ s upcoming calendar .
Conversations with big donors and bundlers who supported other candidates are “ going tremendously , ” she added .
“ Their folks are coming on board .
Everybody wants to be a part of this.
” For Biden , their support comes just in time .
Ahead of Super Tuesday , his campaign could barely afford advertising or staff in several large states .
But as results showed Biden blowing past his poll numbers , CNBC reported that plans for at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one geared specifically toward LGBTQ donors who earlier flocked to Buttigieg .
Plenty of former Buttigieg supporters need no persuasion .
In a private WhatsApp group of roughly 100 Buttigieg bundlers , several people said , an overwhelming majority committed to fundraising for Biden as soon as Buttigieg dropped out on Sunday .
The overtures began before the former South Bend mayor even left the race .
After Buttigieg placed third in the Nevada caucus , some of Biden ’ s major bundlers — a term for donors who tap their elite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donations for a political candidate — began priming Buttigieg ’ s bundlers to rally behind the former vice president .
“ We had a plan for when this happened , ” meaning , when Buttigieg ’ s and Sen. Amy Klobuchar ’ s ( D-Minn. ) fundraising networks went up for grabs , said Joyce Amico .
Amico is one of the Biden bundlers doing the persuading .
“ I like Pete , I like Anthony , I like them , ” Amico said , referring to Buttigieg , his bundlers , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finance director .
“ How would I not ?
We all worked together before .
It ’ s like striking up the band again.
” Bloomberg self-financed his campaign to the tune of nine figures and did not hold fundraisers .
But he was holding “ friend-raisers ” — events designed to showcase his support ( or the illusion of it ) and sideline major Democratic donors who would otherwise raise money for his rivals .
Kessler spent part of the week leading up to the South Carolina primary trying to recruit two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , he said , to no avail .
They were tapping their networks to show up to parties supporting Bloomberg .
For the latecomers from other campaigns , there is no singular issue animating them so much as they say they are driven by a desire to defeat Donald Trump and Sanders — two goals they see as interchangeable .
“ I think they ’ ll all be on board for Biden , ” Amico said .
“ This is not a struggle .
It ’ s the only path we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take it .
If you ’ re in the moderate category , you ’ re on board for Biden .
”

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Joe Biden’s Super Tuesday comeback will likely earn him more than just delegates. Behind the scenes, donors and powerful fundraisers who had previously feared the campaign to be dead are offering their support in droves.
“It’s not just people who want to write checks, it’s national fundraisers who were taking it slow to join a campaign,” said Alan Kessler, a longtime Democratic fundraiser and a bundler for the former vice president. “As somebody just wrote to me, everybody loves a winner.”
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The consolidation of old-school donors will give Biden the means to compete with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — the other front-runner for the Democratic nomination, who has vaporized old fundraising records by relying entirely on small, independent donations. And it will pit two diametrically opposed means of funding a presidential race against one another: Sanders’ unrivaled army of small donors versus the pantheon of traditional Democratic donors who, after a fractious primary, find themselves all on the same team.
“The crowds are growing exponentially at all his events — rallies, financial,” said Sarah Morgenthau, a Biden bundler, about Biden’s upcoming calendar. Conversations with big donors and bundlers who supported other candidates are “going tremendously,” she added. “Their folks are coming on board. Everybody wants to be a part of this.”
For Biden, their support comes just in time. Ahead of Super Tuesday, his campaign could barely afford advertising or staff in several large states. But as results showed Biden blowing past his poll numbers, CNBC reported that plans for at least 30 Biden fundraisers were underway, with one geared specifically toward LGBTQ donors who earlier flocked to Buttigieg.
With his wife Jill at his side Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden addresses supporters at his Super Tuesday night rally in Los Angeles, California, March 3, 2020. Mike Blake / Reuters
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Plenty of former Buttigieg supporters need no persuasion. In a private WhatsApp group of roughly 100 Buttigieg bundlers, several people said, an overwhelming majority committed to fundraising for Biden as soon as Buttigieg dropped out on Sunday.
“People are pretty jazzed,” said one member. “It’s been memes and Biden GIFs all day. Everyone likes the vice president.”
The overtures began before the former South Bend mayor even left the race. After Buttigieg placed third in the Nevada caucus, some of Biden’s major bundlers — a term for donors who tap their elite social networks to gather large numbers of donations for a political candidate — began priming Buttigieg’s bundlers to rally behind the former vice president.
“We had a plan for when this happened,” meaning, when Buttigieg’s and Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D-Minn.) fundraising networks went up for grabs, said Joyce Amico. Amico is one of the Biden bundlers doing the persuading. “I like Pete, I like Anthony, I like them,” Amico said, referring to Buttigieg, his bundlers, and Anthony Mercurio, Buttigieg’s national finance director. “How would I not? We all worked together before. It’s like striking up the band again.”
Tuesday’s returns also unleashed donors who refrained from supporting Biden over someone who didn’t even need their money, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
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Bloomberg self-financed his campaign to the tune of nine figures and did not hold fundraisers. But he was holding “friend-raisers” — events designed to showcase his support (or the illusion of it) and sideline major Democratic donors who would otherwise raise money for his rivals.
Kessler spent part of the week leading up to the South Carolina primary trying to recruit two longtime Clinton fundraisers to Biden’s campaign, he said, to no avail. They were tapping their networks to show up to parties supporting Bloomberg.
“We welcome them with open arms now,” Kessler said. “We’ll welcome them with open arms next week.”
For the latecomers from other campaigns, there is no singular issue animating them so much as they say they are driven by a desire to defeat Donald Trump and Sanders — two goals they see as interchangeable.
Besides being ideologically aligned with Biden, Buttigieg’s and Klobuchar’s former financial supporters broadly said they fear Sanders would lose to Trump and cost Democrats House seats in moderate suburban districts Democrats barely won in 2018.
“I think they’ll all be on board for Biden,” Amico said. “This is not a struggle. It’s the only path we have so therefore we’re going to take it. If you’re in the moderate category, you’re on board for Biden.”
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Almost. In megarich Aspen, Colorado, Amico was still struggling on Wednesday morning to convert her neighbors into Biden supporters. The surrounding county, Pitkin, is one of a tiny number that Bloomberg actually won on Tuesday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Conservative Texas Democrat Survives Progressive Primary Challenge

“ Even though we still don ’ t have full results yet , one thing is clear : Our movement was victorious tonight .
And that ’ s because this fight has always been about an opportunity to prove how one of us , a brown girl from our community , with her whole community behind her , could take on an entire machine and make them more scared than they ’ ve ever been before , ” Cisneros said , prompting loud cheers from the crowd .
Cisneros , 26 , reported making less than $ 50,000 a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brief period of employment in Brooklyn , New York , after a law school education that saddled her with six figures of debt .
While she was in New York City , a high school teacher of hers recommended Cisneros to the left-wing group Justice Democrats as a candidate to take on Cuellar .
Amid mounting frustration with the futility of defending immigrants trapped in President Donald Trump ’ s hardline enforcement regime , Cisneros accepted the challenge , forgoing health insurance , spending down her modest savings and moving in with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the course of his eight terms in the House , Cuellar has ascended to a post on the influential Appropriations Committee , accrued personal wealth through rental properties he owns and built a local patronage network to rival any in Texas .
His sister Rosie Cuellar is tax assessor in Webb County , part of her brother ’ s district .
Another brother , county Sheriff Martin Cuellar , has allegedly strong-armed employees into volunteering for the slate of candidates aligned with the Cuellars .
Both critics and allies liken them to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Henry Cuellar has used that power ― in Congress and the streets of Laredo ― to steer federal projects and money to his district .
He has also cast votes against protecting abortion rights , regulating guns and helping unions organize .
And at the behest of government contractors that donate to his campaign , he has helped militarize the border with Mexico .
At a moment of fever-pitch animosity toward the president , Cuellar ’ s closeness to Trump had seemingly handed Cisneros the perfect cudgel .
And sure enough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her recruitment in June 2019 , Cisneros branded Cuellar “ Trump ’ s favorite Democrat.
” She was off to the races , raising $ 100,000 in the first 48 hours of her campaign .
In addition , Cisneros ’ s bid benefited from the Justice Democrats ’ association with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) , who landed her historic June 2018 primary upset with the group ’ s help .
As a young Latina committed to the growing canon of progressive policy priorities ― among them “ Medicare for All , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public college ― Cisneros inevitably drew comparisons to the rockstar New York congresswoman .
High-profile endorsements trickled in ― first from Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
, then from Ocasio-Cortez and finally from Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) .
For another thing , neither liberal juggernauts like the Working Families Party nor corporate mega-lobbies like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce were going to ignore the race as they had that New York primary two years ago .
Cuellar ’ s social views were even far enough outside the mainstream to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautious players like EMILY ’ s List and Texas ’ s organized labor umbrella group .
But that also meant an equally unlikely coalition formed to reelect Cuellar .
Apparently unbothered by his help fundraising for a vulnerable House Republican in 2018 , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) campaigned in the district for him .
And conservative billionaire Charles Koch ’ s super PAC saw fit to spend serious money on Cuellar ’ s behalf , making him the first Democrat to elicit that group ’ s backing .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
LAREDO, Texas ― Progressive immigration attorney Jessica Cisneros came up short in her campaign to unseat conservative Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar in South Texas, disappointing an array of liberal groups and activists who had rallied behind her.
Cuellar defeated Cisneros by 3.6 percentage points. The narrow margin of Cuellar’s victory, which prevented the race from being called on Tuesday evening, is a source of comfort for a progressive movement whose chances many observers had written off.
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Addressing supporters late Tuesday night in a beer garden before the results were final, Cisneros celebrated the strong showing, regardless of the ultimate outcome.
“Even though we still don’t have full results yet, one thing is clear: Our movement was victorious tonight. And that’s because this fight has always been about an opportunity to prove how one of us, a brown girl from our community, with her whole community behind her, could take on an entire machine and make them more scared than they’ve ever been before,” Cisneros said, prompting loud cheers from the crowd.
In an election cycle dominated by a dramatic and high-stakes Democratic presidential primary, Cisneros’s uphill battle to oust one of Congress’s most conservative and corporate-friendly Democrats became the most closely watched congressional primary to date.
Despite a surge of national attention and an infusion of cash from a coalition of unions, abortion rights groups and left-wing advocacy organizations, Cisneros was unable to stop Cuellar’s political machine. Her bid was likely also hurt by the region’s historically centrist politics and low voting rates.
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“This is just the beginning,” Cisneros said in a Wednesday statement. “The first thing we had to defeat was the culture of fear, and our movement was victorious in proving we’re within striking distance of bringing fundamental change to South Texas.”
Rep. Henry Cuellar waves to voters driving past on Monday in Laredo, Texas. He had reason again to smile on Tuesday night. Veronica Cardenas / Reuters
Cisneros and Cuellar are both Laredo natives and lawyers who were born to Mexican immigrants seeking a better life in the United States. But the similarities stop there.
Cisneros, 26, reported making less than $50,000 a year as a legal aid attorney during a brief period of employment in Brooklyn, New York, after a law school education that saddled her with six figures of debt. While she was in New York City, a high school teacher of hers recommended Cisneros to the left-wing group Justice Democrats as a candidate to take on Cuellar. Amid mounting frustration with the futility of defending immigrants trapped in President Donald Trump’s hardline enforcement regime, Cisneros accepted the challenge, forgoing health insurance, spending down her modest savings and moving in with her parents to make it work.
“I always wanted to be an advocate for my community, but I thought it was going to be in the courtroom and that wasn’t happening anymore,” she recalled during a lunch break between canvassing shifts in the city of Mission on Monday.
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By contrast, Cuellar, 64, climbed the rungs of political power by ingratiating himself with Texas’s Republican establishment and corporate interests, including the fossil fuel, private prison and payday lending industries, all of which have contributed generously to his campaigns.
Over the course of his eight terms in the House, Cuellar has ascended to a post on the influential Appropriations Committee, accrued personal wealth through rental properties he owns and built a local patronage network to rival any in Texas. His sister Rosie Cuellar is tax assessor in Webb County, part of her brother’s district. Another brother, county Sheriff Martin Cuellar, has allegedly strong-armed employees into volunteering for the slate of candidates aligned with the Cuellars. Both critics and allies liken them to a regional version of the storied Kennedy family.
Henry Cuellar has used that power ― in Congress and the streets of Laredo ― to steer federal projects and money to his district. He has also cast votes against protecting abortion rights, regulating guns and helping unions organize. And at the behest of government contractors that donate to his campaign, he has helped militarize the border with Mexico.
In fact, in Trump’s first two years in office, Cuellar voted with the president almost 69% of the time.
“I understand the district.” - Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas)
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At a moment of fever-pitch animosity toward the president, Cuellar’s closeness to Trump had seemingly handed Cisneros the perfect cudgel. And sure enough, from the moment that Justice Democrats announced her recruitment in June 2019, Cisneros branded Cuellar “Trump’s favorite Democrat.” She was off to the races, raising $100,000 in the first 48 hours of her campaign.
In addition, Cisneros’s bid benefited from the Justice Democrats’ association with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who landed her historic June 2018 primary upset with the group’s help. As a young Latina committed to the growing canon of progressive policy priorities ― among them “Medicare for All,” the Green New Deal and tuition-free public college ― Cisneros inevitably drew comparisons to the rockstar New York congresswoman. High-profile endorsements trickled in ― first from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), then from Ocasio-Cortez and finally from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
But the race in Texas differed in two key ways from Ocasio-Cortez’s success story. For one thing, the low-income, heavily Latino district along the U.S.-Mexican border, though solidly Democratic, has been historically more conservative than a liberal stronghold like New York City.
For another thing, neither liberal juggernauts like the Working Families Party nor corporate mega-lobbies like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce were going to ignore the race as they had that New York primary two years ago. Cuellar’s social views were even far enough outside the mainstream to win Cisneros the support of traditionally more cautious players like EMILY’s List and Texas’s organized labor umbrella group.
But that also meant an equally unlikely coalition formed to reelect Cuellar. Apparently unbothered by his help fundraising for a vulnerable House Republican in 2018, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) campaigned in the district for him. And conservative billionaire Charles Koch’s super PAC saw fit to spend serious money on Cuellar’s behalf, making him the first Democrat to elicit that group’s backing.
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Cuellar and his allies sought to paint Cisneros as a New York City interloper backed by the “Justice Socialists,” whose staunch support for women’s abortion rights was out of step with the district’s Catholic values and whose ambitious climate change plans would destroy the region’s fossil fuel jobs.
“I understand the district,” Cuellar said in a December interview on C-SPAN. “And for [Justice Democrats] to think that New York values ― with all due respect to New York ― are going to translate to border values ― they’re in fairyland right now.”
Jessica Cisneros, a progressive immigration attorney, campaigns in Laredo in October. Her supporters hope her candidacy will be the beginning of a generational shift in the region. Veronica Cardenas / Reuters
Responding to claims that Cuellar better reflects the district, Cisneros questioned whether the congressman’s tenure was really working for all of the district’s residents. She noted to HuffPost that Laredo’s poverty rate was about 30% when Cuellar took office and has remained virtually unchanged since then.
Asked why, with a similar background, Cuellar had settled on such a different approach to politics, Cisneros said, “It’s people becoming so privileged that they forget their roots.”
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Cisneros also did her best to turn her candidacy into a non-ideological call for positive change ― in the form of affordable health care, higher-paying jobs, a more compassionate immigration system and perhaps, most of all, a member of Congress accountable to all residents.
To that end, she spent considerable time in the rural Rio Grande Valley, which is a three-hour drive from Cuellar’s base in Laredo. On Monday morning, Cisneros’s canvassing route took her to Mission’s unincorporated “colonias” ― border-town trailer parks of sorts ― where grizzly-looking dogs, stray and domestic, outnumber streetlights and sidewalks.
Maria and Martin Jimenez, who are not yet citizens, were pleasantly surprised to meet Cisneros. They promised her that they would tell their young adult children, who were born in the U.S., to vote for her.
“This is the first time I met a person running for anything,” said Maria, a caregiver recovering from an injury. As for Cuellar, she said, “I don’t know him.”
Manuel Blanco, a technician for the school district, was nervous about what he says is Cisneros’ inexperience but voted for her anyway. Cuellar, he said, is “becoming a Republican.” He carries in his phone the photo of George W Bush grabbing Cuellar’s face at a SOTU to show ppl. pic.twitter.com/v2ahLKFX8U — Daniel Marans (@danielmarans) March 3, 2020
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But in the end, Cuellar’s pitch, buttressed by press releases touting new federal funds for the district that were designed to show his influence in Washington, appeared to have its intended effect.
“He’s gotten us lots of grants, lots of money. He’s done a lot,” said Aurora Garcia, a retired caregiver living near the Leon Daiches Elementary School, a polling site. Cisneros, she reasoned, was “very new ― not enough experience.”
A man casting his vote for the congressman at the school, who declined to give his name, said he knew Cuellar from Cuellar’s days working for him as a lifeguard at the county pool.
As for Cisneros, he said, “From what I understand, she’s got a socialistic agenda: She wants everything done, but somebody else has got to pay for it.”
Cisneros’s loss is likely to amplify the complaints of local progressives who had hoped that Bernie Sanders, who is apparently popular with locals, would visit the district on Cisneros’s behalf.
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“Him coming down here would have increased the support from Laredoans as well,” said Flor Renovato, who cast votes for Cisneros and Sanders at Santo Niño Elementary School on Tuesday.
But Renovato, who is 21, predicted that even a loss for Cisneros had begun a generational shift away from the older, established political class in the region.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Trump Claims He Hasn't Touched His Face In Weeks, Twitter Users Prove Otherwise

Things got touchy for President Donald Trump after he claimed he hadn ’ t touched his face in weeks .
It happened after the president met with airline executives on Wednesday to discuss steps to stop the spread of the new coronavirus .
White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx was discussing the importance of frequent hand-washing and avoiding touching one ’ s face as much as possible .
To which Trump quipped , “ I haven ’ t touched my face in weeks .
It ’ s been weeks !
I miss it.
” President Trump while answering question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEOs : `` I have n't touched my face in weeks .
I miss it . ''
Full video here : https : //t.co/eOEzkkndmu pic.twitter.com/025xZtz4jI — CSPAN ( @ cspan ) March 4 , 2020 Although the president was joking , his tendency to lie about even the stupidest things led many Twitter users to start fact-checking .
Today Donald Trump claimed that he hasn ’ t touched his face in weeks .
FACT CHECK : photographs show him touching his face three days ago What else is he lying to us about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walsh ( @ MattWalshBlog ) March 4 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Things got touchy for President Donald Trump after he claimed he hadn’t touched his face in weeks.
It happened after the president met with airline executives on Wednesday to discuss steps to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.
White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx was discussing the importance of frequent hand-washing and avoiding touching one’s face as much as possible.
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To which Trump quipped, “I haven’t touched my face in weeks. It’s been weeks! I miss it.”
President Trump while answering question on air travel in meeting with airline CEOs: "I haven't touched my face in weeks. I miss it."
Full video here: https://t.co/eOEzkkndmu pic.twitter.com/025xZtz4jI — CSPAN (@cspan) March 4, 2020
Although the president was joking, his tendency to lie about even the stupidest things led many Twitter users to start fact-checking.
Here’s President Trump on Monday during a coronavirus meeting https://t.co/yA7mJ2qjBL pic.twitter.com/kM4e4aDqdU — Tyler Bartlam (@tylerbartlam5) March 4, 2020
‘I haven’t touched my face in weeks’ — Trump
Roll the tape… pic.twitter.com/QtTNsmKOll — NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 4, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-04--Democrat Christy Smith, Republican Mike Garcia Appear Headed To A Runoff For Katie Hill's Seat In No

Democrat Christy Smith, Republican Mike Garcia Appear Headed To A Runoff For Katie Hill's Seat In November

ASSOCIATED PRESS California Assemblywoman Christy Smith ( D ) received the most votes in Tuesday 's primary for the CA-25 seat vacated by former Rep. Katie Hill ( D ) .
Democratic state assemblywoman Christy Smith and Republican former Navy pilot Mike Garcia appear set to advance to a runoff election to determine who will fill the open congressional seat vacated last year by former Rep. Katie Hill ( D-Calif. ) , partial election returns suggest .
Former Republican Rep. Steve Knight , who lost his congressional seat to Hill in 2018 , is currently in third place .
Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a special election runoff in May to select the candidate who will fill the seat for the rest of the year .
The pair will face off again in November in a fight for the seat for next two years .
California ’ s 25th , a swing district split across northern Los Angeles and eastern Ventura counties , went blue for the first time in decades in when Hill pulled off a surprising 9-point victory over Knight , the Republican incumbent at the time .
Despite running in a purple district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including “ Medicare for All ” — and became a high-profile first-term member of the House .
Less than a year into her time in office , a conservative news site published nude pictures of Hill without her consent — allegedly with help from Hill ’ s estranged ex-husband .
The authors of the article , who were former advisers to Knight , also exposed Hill ’ s sexual relationship with a campaign staffer .
Hill resigned shortly after .
The sudden loss of a progressive member of Congress in a recently flipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spotlight .
Garcia had already entered the race , planning to run against Hill .
When she decided to resign , Hill personally recruited Smith , whose state assembly district overlaps with much of California ’ s 25th Congressional District .
Knight , who had said he didn ’ t plan to run , jumped in the race to win his old seat back days later .
Between the special election and the 2020 race , there were 14 candidates total in the running — including fringe contenders like former Trump aide George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison for lying to the FBI .
Garcia vastly outraised Knight and secured support from the LA and Ventura county Republican parties .
Smith quickly attracted endorsements from California ’ s Democratic Party and a slew of Democratic politicians and progressive organizations .
But she also faced a high-profile challenge from left from Cenk Uygur , the founder and host of the progressive news site The Young Turks .
Uygur portrayed himself as the progressive alternative to Smith , whom he accused of being an establishment Democrat .
Although the two candidates are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that Smith did not back Medicare for All and and failed to reject all corporate PAC money .
Whereas Smith touted her pragmatism and ability to reach bipartisan compromise , Uygur promised voters he would fight to defeat Republicans so that progressives would be able to pass legislation without them .
Despite the popularity of Uygur ’ s TYT show and the issues he campaigned on , he failed to achieve significant support in Tuesday ’ s primary .
His poor performance is likely due to several factors : He didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has a history of making offensive comments , and the Democratic Party made a concerted effort to hamper his campaign .
One week before Super Tuesday , Uygur suffered a self-inflicted blow when HuffPost reported that the progressive star urged his own staff not to unionize .

California Assemblywoman Christy Smith (D) received the most votes in Tuesday's primary for the CA-25 seat vacated by former Rep. Katie Hill (D). ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic state assemblywoman Christy Smith and Republican former Navy pilot Mike Garcia appear set to advance to a runoff election to determine who will fill the open congressional seat vacated last year by former Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.), partial election returns suggest.
Former Republican Rep. Steve Knight, who lost his congressional seat to Hill in 2018, is currently in third place. Smith and Garcia are on track to compete in a special election runoff in May to select the candidate who will fill the seat for the rest of the year. The pair will face off again in November in a fight for the seat for next two years.
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California’s 25th, a swing district split across northern Los Angeles and eastern Ventura counties, went blue for the first time in decades in when Hill pulled off a surprising 9-point victory over Knight, the Republican incumbent at the time. Despite running in a purple district, Hill campaigned on progressive issues — including “Medicare for All” — and became a high-profile first-term member of the House.
Less than a year into her time in office, a conservative news site published nude pictures of Hill without her consent — allegedly with help from Hill’s estranged ex-husband. The authors of the article, who were former advisers to Knight, also exposed Hill’s sexual relationship with a campaign staffer. Hill resigned shortly after. The sudden loss of a progressive member of Congress in a recently flipped district threw the race into the national spotlight.
Garcia had already entered the race, planning to run against Hill. When she decided to resign, Hill personally recruited Smith, whose state assembly district overlaps with much of California’s 25th Congressional District. Knight, who had said he didn’t plan to run, jumped in the race to win his old seat back days later. Between the special election and the 2020 race, there were 14 candidates total in the running — including fringe contenders like former Trump aide George Papadopoulos, who served 12 days in prison for lying to the FBI. Garcia vastly outraised Knight and secured support from the LA and Ventura county Republican parties.
Smith quickly attracted endorsements from California’s Democratic Party and a slew of Democratic politicians and progressive organizations. But she also faced a high-profile challenge from left from Cenk Uygur, the founder and host of the progressive news site The Young Turks.
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Uygur portrayed himself as the progressive alternative to Smith, whom he accused of being an establishment Democrat. Although the two candidates are aligned on many policies, Uygur highlighted the fact that Smith did not back Medicare for All and and her initial failure to pledge not to take any corporate PAC money. (Her campaign announced about one month before the election that her congressional campaign would not rely on any corporate PAC money). Whereas Smith touted her pragmatism and ability to reach bipartisan compromise, Uygur promised voters he would fight to defeat Republicans so that progressives would be able to pass legislation without them.
Despite the popularity of Uygur’s TYT show and the issues he campaigned on, he failed to achieve significant support in Tuesday’s primary. His poor performance is likely due to several factors: He didn’t live in the district, he has a history of making offensive comments, and the Democratic Party made a concerted effort to hamper his campaign. One week before Super Tuesday, Uygur suffered a self-inflicted blow when HuffPost reported that the progressive star urged his own staff not to unionize.