theguardian--2020-02-22--Trashing Michael Bloomberg does little to find a credible Democrat challenger | Nick Cohen

The monstering of Michael Bloomberg brings a false comfort to all who hope that plutocracy is not supplanting democracy .
On stage , at the Democratic debate in Nevada , his net worth of $ 53.4bn and his success in building up Bloomberg LP from nothing to financial capitalism ’ s essential information service weren ’ t worth a cent .
His failure took us back to a world where billionaires could not command nations and would be made to look like fools if they tried .
“ A billionaire who calls women ‘ fat broads ’ and ‘ horse-faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she began her pummelling .
“ And no , I ’ m not talking about Donald Trump .
I ’ m talking about Mayor Bloomberg.
” He didn ’ t know what to say .
A practised democratic politician would have had answers ready .
When questioned about his behaviour towards women , he would have apologised and promised it would never happen again .
When Warren spat “ billionaire ” at him , he would have said that at least he made his own money , unlike Trump , who inherited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American Dream , he might have continued , and respect men and women who lived it .
And , since you mentioned his money , he had poured it into progressive causes rather than wasting it on luxuries or funding the rightwing and far-right lobby groups beloved by many of his peers .
He didn ’ t , because at Bloomberg LP no one talks to him the way Warren did .
Businesses , public and third-sector organisations may operate in free-market democracies , but most are neither free nor democratic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ subordinates risk their futures if they speak their mind .
When exposed to the robust realities of democratic life , bosses crumble .
They can ’ t manage a world in which Shelley ’ s “ sneer of cold command ” does not bring frightened obedience but rather sneers in return .
Or that ’ s how it used to be .
The notion that democracies need professional politicians who know how to argue and compromise is no longer true and not just because Bloomberg was a successful mayor of New York and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself .
First Silvio Berlusconi , the 21st-century ’ s dark prophet , and then Donald Trump shattered liberal illusions .
They were tycoons who knew that most people don ’ t hate “ the bosses ” .
Given the structure of global capitalism , most are unlikely to ever meet their boss .
Plutocrats can exploit the media to project themselves as a fantasy boss who can cut deals and “ get things done ” .
Berlusconi actually controlled most of the Italian media .
Trump was the first western politician to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opportunities for debased self-promotion offered by Twitter and reality television .
And I wouldn ’ t write off Bloomberg and his bottomless advertising budget just yet .
Political insiders may realise there is all the difference in the world between running a business and running a government .
Most voters don ’ t yearn for decisiveness .
When television viewers were asked , in 1997 , who should replace the Queen if Britain became a republic , their first choice was Princess Anne ( not much of a replacement ) and second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the British Brexit right and European far right understand too that it is far from clear to working- and lower-middle class voters that the boss is the most oppressive figure in their lives .
Lawyers , social workers , HR departments , politically correct “ elite ” voices lecturing them on what they can say and think – these are just as fitting targets for class hatred .
Only one liberal certainty has survived and it ’ s more of a hope than a certainty : Trump and frauds like him will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US presidential election does nothing else , it will test that hope to destruction .
The US is , by any reasonable measure , a plutocracy .
Trump ran against it to become president and worked for it once in the White House .
He promised tax cuts to ordinary Americans and ended up directing a $ 2tn giveaway to the wealthy .
He targeted social security and Medicare , after promising not to .
He won power with the cry of “ Wall Street has caused tremendous problems for us .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and then filled his administration with Wall Street bankers and dismantled restrictions on high finance .
Do you remember the “ Never Trump ” movement of respectable conservatives who vowed to defend the US constitution against a swaggering slob ?
Aside from Mitt Romney and a couple of journalists , it barely exists now because Trump has given the Republican elite everything it wanted .
The American right is exceptional .
The first concern of Marine Le Pen in France , Viktor Orbán in Hungary , the AfD in Germany and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Brexit movement , is race and immigration .
The Republican elite ’ s first concern is making sure the rich stay rich and get richer .
To keep power , it has to stoke racial and cultural outrage among its voters , whose lives are not improving , and bind conservatism to a mentally unstable sociopath .
Rich Republicans have become “ plutocrats with pitchforks ” , in the phrase of academics Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson .
They survive by stoking a dangerous frenzy that would have scared the wits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d think the Democrats could find someone with the political ability to split their combustible coalition .
As things stand , Bloomberg does not seem up to it .
As he is 78 , is this such a surprise ?
Bernie Sanders , the hero of the left , is also 78 and has already suffered a heart attack .
You wonder how the poor old thing would make it through the presidency .
Meanwhile , Joe Biden , yesterday ’ s rightwing hope , is just behind them at 77 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a political party .
Pete Buttigieg is too inexperienced and probably too gay for Christian America .
I like Elizabeth Warren , but the feeling is not widely shared .
Whatever your preference , here is a question that shows how the world has changed : are you sure any one of these professional Democratic politicians can monster Trump in free debate ?
Or will he thrash them ?

The monstering of Michael Bloomberg brings a false comfort to all who hope that plutocracy is not supplanting democracy. On stage, at the Democratic debate in Nevada, his net worth of $53.4bn and his success in building up Bloomberg LP from nothing to financial capitalism’s essential information service weren’t worth a cent. His failure took us back to a world where billionaires could not command nations and would be made to look like fools if they tried.
“A billionaire who calls women ‘fat broads’ and ‘horse-faced lesbians’,” said Elizabeth Warren as she began her pummelling. “And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg.”
He didn’t know what to say. A practised democratic politician would have had answers ready. When questioned about his behaviour towards women, he would have apologised and promised it would never happen again. When Warren spat “billionaire” at him, he would have said that at least he made his own money, unlike Trump, who inherited it from Daddy. Americans believe in the American Dream, he might have continued, and respect men and women who lived it. And, since you mentioned his money, he had poured it into progressive causes rather than wasting it on luxuries or funding the rightwing and far-right lobby groups beloved by many of his peers.
He didn’t, because at Bloomberg LP no one talks to him the way Warren did. Businesses, public and third-sector organisations may operate in free-market democracies, but most are neither free nor democratic. The boss is a dictator, and subordinates risk their futures if they speak their mind. When exposed to the robust realities of democratic life, bosses crumble. They can’t manage a world in which Shelley’s “sneer of cold command” does not bring frightened obedience but rather sneers in return.
No one talks to Bloomberg that way. Subordinates risk their future if they speak their mind
Or that’s how it used to be. The notion that democracies need professional politicians who know how to argue and compromise is no longer true and not just because Bloomberg was a successful mayor of New York and ought to have learned how to handle himself.
First Silvio Berlusconi, the 21st-century’s dark prophet, and then Donald Trump shattered liberal illusions. They were tycoons who knew that most people don’t hate “the bosses”. Given the structure of global capitalism, most are unlikely to ever meet their boss. Plutocrats can exploit the media to project themselves as a fantasy boss who can cut deals and “get things done”. Berlusconi actually controlled most of the Italian media. Trump was the first western politician to understand how a skilled propagandist could exploit the opportunities for debased self-promotion offered by Twitter and reality television. And I wouldn’t write off Bloomberg and his bottomless advertising budget just yet.
Political insiders may realise there is all the difference in the world between running a business and running a government. Most voters don’t yearn for decisiveness. When television viewers were asked, in 1997, who should replace the Queen if Britain became a republic, their first choice was Princess Anne (not much of a replacement) and second was Richard Branson.
Trump, Berlusconi, the British Brexit right and European far right understand too that it is far from clear to working- and lower-middle class voters that the boss is the most oppressive figure in their lives. Lawyers, social workers, HR departments, politically correct “elite” voices lecturing them on what they can say and think – these are just as fitting targets for class hatred.
Only one liberal certainty has survived and it’s more of a hope than a certainty: Trump and frauds like him will be found out. If the 2020 US presidential election does nothing else, it will test that hope to destruction. The US is, by any reasonable measure, a plutocracy. Trump ran against it to become president and worked for it once in the White House. He promised tax cuts to ordinary Americans and ended up directing a $2tn giveaway to the wealthy. He targeted social security and Medicare, after promising not to. He won power with the cry of “Wall Street has caused tremendous problems for us. We’re going to tax Wall Street” and then filled his administration with Wall Street bankers and dismantled restrictions on high finance.
Do you remember the “Never Trump” movement of respectable conservatives who vowed to defend the US constitution against a swaggering slob? Aside from Mitt Romney and a couple of journalists, it barely exists now because Trump has given the Republican elite everything it wanted.
The American right is exceptional. The first concern of Marine Le Pen in France, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, the AfD in Germany and, although I accept to a lesser degree, the Brexit movement, is race and immigration. The Republican elite’s first concern is making sure the rich stay rich and get richer. To keep power, it has to stoke racial and cultural outrage among its voters, whose lives are not improving, and bind conservatism to a mentally unstable sociopath. Rich Republicans have become “plutocrats with pitchforks”, in the phrase of academics Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson. They survive by stoking a dangerous frenzy that would have scared the wits out of 20th-century conservatives.
You’d think the Democrats could find someone with the political ability to split their combustible coalition. As things stand, Bloomberg does not seem up to it. As he is 78, is this such a surprise? Bernie Sanders, the hero of the left, is also 78 and has already suffered a heart attack. You wonder how the poor old thing would make it through the presidency.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden, yesterday’s rightwing hope, is just behind them at 77. The Democrats look closer to a rest home than a political party. Pete Buttigieg is too inexperienced and probably too gay for Christian America. I like Elizabeth Warren, but the feeling is not widely shared. Whatever your preference, here is a question that shows how the world has changed: are you sure any one of these professional Democratic politicians can monster Trump in free debate?
Or will he thrash them?


theguardian--2020-02-23--Gwyneth, Lizzo, Cher: who are Hollywood stars endorsing?

As the race for the 2020 Democratic nomination grows increasingly unpredictable , every boost helps – and candidates are calling in support from the powerful world of film and entertainment .
From Ariana Grande ’ s endorsement of Bernie Sanders to Pete Buttigieg ’ s fundraiser with Gwyneth Paltrow , the Hollywood endorsement remains a coveted campaign accolade .
And while a recent survey found nine in 10 adults wouldn ’ t have their vote swayed by a celebrity , the study also found celebrities hold significantly more sway among young voters , a group candidates are eager to reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 March , here ’ s who Hollywood ’ s famous names have said they ’ ll vote for .
The stars appear aligned for Bernie Sanders , with the candidate receiving more than two dozen endorsements from prominent musicians , actors and athletes .
A roll call of musicians including Lizzo , Miley Cyrus , Bon Iver , Willow Smith , Lil Yachty , TI , Zedd , and Noname have voiced their support , while actors including Danny DeVito , Cynthia Nixon , Tessa Thompson , Shailene Woodley , Susan Sarandon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justin Long have been feeling the Bern .
The comedians John Mulaney , Hasan Minhaj and Jaboukie Young-White , a Daily Show correspondent , are also putting their weight behind the 78-year-old Vermont senator .
Other surprising names include Hailey Bieber ( model and newlywed to Justin Bieber ) , the writer and influencer Caroline Calloway , and the celebrated drag queen Lady Bunny .
Amy Klobuchar ’ s Hollywood endorsements have not been as extensive as other candidates ’ , but they have increased in recent weeks – perhaps reflective of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idol season two runner-up Clay Aiken endorsed the former prosecutor in February .
The singer , who is gay , announced his support in a USA Today op-ed titled Why I ’ m Changing My Vote from Joe Biden to Amy Klobuchar , writing : “ The Democratic party of 2020 is ready for a fresher voice .
Klobuchar is that voice.
” Other celebrities caught in the “ Klobmentum ” include the Glee actor Jane Lynch and the writer-director Greg Berlanti ( Riverdale , Love , Simon , Chilling Adventures of Sabrina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support among Hollywood elites such as the actor and Goop CEO Gwyneth Paltrow , who held a fundraiser for the former mayor , the animator Seth MacFarlane and the actor Michael J Fox .
However Buttigieg , whose campaign has struggled to reach black voters , suffered an awkward moment when his campaign announced the support of the comedian Keegan-Michael Key , only to walk it back a few hours later .
The two did appear together at an event to encourage voter turnout in Nevada , but the campaign clarified it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t the first time the campaign has overstated pledges of support from black leaders ) .
Other notable names include the 2018 Miss Black America winner , Ryann Richardson ; the actor John Stamos ; and the Shameless star Emmy Rossum .
Elizabeth Warren may have slipped in the polls , but her support from Hollywood has not , and especially within its LGBTQ+ community .
The Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness has been a vocal supporter of the Massachusetts senator .
Van Ness , who discussed his own HIV-positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s healthcare plan would greatly benefit those living with the condition .
“ Healthcare shouldn ’ t be for profit ever , it ’ s a human right , ” Van Ness wrote in his endorsement .
Bobby Berk , another Queer Eye star , has also voiced support for Warren .
Women in Hollywood are also putting their weight behind Warren : Scarlett Johansson , Rosie O ’ Donnell , Amy Schumer , Patricia Arquette , Busy Phillips , Constance Wu , Amber Tamblyn and Sally Field are standout supporters .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several endorsements , including the fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi , who cited Bloomberg ’ s “ support for the LGBTQ ” as mayor of New York .
The Project Runway host Tim Gunn also has endorsed Bloomberg , even joining the candidate ’ s LGBTQ+ council .
The actor Ted Danson ( The Good Place , Cheers ) endorsed Bloomberg in a lengthy Facebook post , voicing his support for Bloomberg ’ s commitment to curbing climate change .
Judge Judy endorsed the candidate in January , praising his moderate policies and criticizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been done .
My mission is to see that Mike Bloomberg is in the White House for the next four years.
” Joe Biden : not the starriest sky , but a few bright spots While Biden hasn ’ t received the same enthusiastic , high-profile support from Hollywood as some other candidates , he does have a few big names behind him .
In February , the pop icon Cher said she still supported Biden , despite his disappointing results in Iowa and New Hampshire .
“ I know and believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s a lost cause , ” the singer said during an interview on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon .
Other Biden supporters include the actor Tom Hanks , Alec Baldwin and Amy Pascal , the former chair of Sony Pictures Entertainment .

As the race for the 2020 Democratic nomination grows increasingly unpredictable, every boost helps – and candidates are calling in support from the powerful world of film and entertainment.
From Ariana Grande’s endorsement of Bernie Sanders to Pete Buttigieg’s fundraiser with Gwyneth Paltrow, the Hollywood endorsement remains a coveted campaign accolade. And while a recent survey found nine in 10 adults wouldn’t have their vote swayed by a celebrity, the study also found celebrities hold significantly more sway among young voters, a group candidates are eager to reach.
Ahead of the California primary on 3 March, here’s who Hollywood’s famous names have said they’ll vote for.
Bernie Sanders: pulling in major star power
Lizzo is among the many musicians and actors backing Sanders. Photograph: Joe Maher/Getty Images for Bauer Media
The stars appear aligned for Bernie Sanders, with the candidate receiving more than two dozen endorsements from prominent musicians, actors and athletes.
A roll call of musicians including Lizzo, Miley Cyrus, Bon Iver, Willow Smith, Lil Yachty, TI, Zedd, and Noname have voiced their support, while actors including Danny DeVito, Cynthia Nixon, Tessa Thompson, Shailene Woodley, Susan Sarandon, Mark Ruffalo, Jack Nicholson and Justin Long have been feeling the Bern. The comedians John Mulaney, Hasan Minhaj and Jaboukie Young-White, a Daily Show correspondent, are also putting their weight behind the 78-year-old Vermont senator.
Other surprising names include Hailey Bieber (model and newlywed to Justin Bieber), the writer and influencer Caroline Calloway, and the celebrated drag queen Lady Bunny.
Amy Klobuchar: a slow but steady rise
The Glee actor Jane Lynch is feeling the ‘Klobmentum’. Photograph: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz
Amy Klobuchar’s Hollywood endorsements have not been as extensive as other candidates’, but they have increased in recent weeks – perhaps reflective of her recent rise in polling. The American Idol season two runner-up Clay Aiken endorsed the former prosecutor in February. The singer, who is gay, announced his support in a USA Today op-ed titled Why I’m Changing My Vote from Joe Biden to Amy Klobuchar, writing: “The Democratic party of 2020 is ready for a fresher voice. Klobuchar is that voice.”
Other celebrities caught in the “Klobmentum” include the Glee actor Jane Lynch and the writer-director Greg Berlanti (Riverdale, Love, Simon, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina).
Pete Buttigieg: Some big (white) names
Gwyneth Paltrow is a Pete Buttigieg fan. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock
Pete Buttigieg has found big-name support among Hollywood elites such as the actor and Goop CEO Gwyneth Paltrow, who held a fundraiser for the former mayor, the animator Seth MacFarlane and the actor Michael J Fox.
However Buttigieg, whose campaign has struggled to reach black voters, suffered an awkward moment when his campaign announced the support of the comedian Keegan-Michael Key, only to walk it back a few hours later. The two did appear together at an event to encourage voter turnout in Nevada, but the campaign clarified it was not an official endorsement (and it wasn’t the first time the campaign has overstated pledges of support from black leaders).
Other notable names include the 2018 Miss Black America winner, Ryann Richardson; the actor John Stamos; and the Shameless star Emmy Rossum.
Elizabeth Warren: a favorite among Hollywood’s women and LGBTQ+ stars
Jonathan Van Ness and Bobby Berk – both Warren supporters – with Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Karamo Brown at the Emmy Awards. Photograph: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Elizabeth Warren may have slipped in the polls, but her support from Hollywood has not, and especially within its LGBTQ+ community. The Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness has been a vocal supporter of the Massachusetts senator. Van Ness, who discussed his own HIV-positive status in 2019, said Warren’s healthcare plan would greatly benefit those living with the condition. “Healthcare shouldn’t be for profit ever, it’s a human right,” Van Ness wrote in his endorsement. Bobby Berk, another Queer Eye star, has also voiced support for Warren.
Women in Hollywood are also putting their weight behind Warren: Scarlett Johansson, Rosie O’Donnell, Amy Schumer, Patricia Arquette, Busy Phillips, Constance Wu, Amber Tamblyn and Sally Field are standout supporters.
Mike Bloomberg: a dark horse
Ted Danson is a Bloomberg fan. Photograph: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
The late entrant to the race has secured several endorsements, including the fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, who cited Bloomberg’s “support for the LGBTQ” as mayor of New York. The Project Runway host Tim Gunn also has endorsed Bloomberg, even joining the candidate’s LGBTQ+ council.
The actor Ted Danson (The Good Place, Cheers) endorsed Bloomberg in a lengthy Facebook post, voicing his support for Bloomberg’s commitment to curbing climate change. Judge Judy endorsed the candidate in January, praising his moderate policies and criticizing Trump, saying: “Enough damage has been done. My mission is to see that Mike Bloomberg is in the White House for the next four years.”
Joe Biden: not the starriest sky, but a few bright spots
Cher has said she ‘believes in’ Biden. Photograph: Burak Çıngı/Redferns
While Biden hasn’t received the same enthusiastic, high-profile support from Hollywood as some other candidates, he does have a few big names behind him. In February, the pop icon Cher said she still supported Biden, despite his disappointing results in Iowa and New Hampshire. “I know and believe in him, even if some think he’s a lost cause,” the singer said during an interview on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Other Biden supporters include the actor Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin and Amy Pascal, the former chair of Sony Pictures Entertainment.


theguardian--2020-02-23--Exodus: how a movement of black people is reshaping South Carolina politics

Najeema Davis Washington spent more than 15 years as a federal employee in Washington DC before she returned to Charleston , the city she left in 1996 .
She brought with her a progressive outlook that ran counter to the traditionally moderate views of her old hometown .
She also noticed , she says , that the evolution of her community extended beyond mere gentrification .
“ It ’ s rapidly growing around me and I sometimes don ’ t recognize it anymore , ” she said .
“ And that ’ s not just because of how the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since the 1970s , the US has experienced a reverse migration : black Americans from cities like New York , Detroit and Chicago have moved back south to places like Houston , Charlotte and Atlanta .
In doing so , they have changed voting behavior .
“ African Americans relocating to the south over the past three decades are making these southern states more competitive for Democrats , ” said Bill Frey , a senior fellow and demographer with the Brookings Institute .
It is a proposition that will be tested on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most often , black Americans move to communities where they were born or where their families were rooted prior to the Great Migration , an epochal shift between 1916 and 1970 in which 6 million African Americans left southern states to pursue jobs up north .
The reversal accelerated in the early 2000s , as many sought refuge from economic decline in the Rust Belt states .
According to Frey , such new residents add to black voter percentages , boosting African American power in primary and general elections .
He points to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race was boosted by an influx of new black residents in cities like Atlanta .
“ There ’ s a clear understanding that a growing , energized bloc of African American voters can be a tipping point for any electorate , ” Frey said .
“ It ’ s an example of what we can see moving forward where many thought , and still think , that Georgia will eventually turn blue.
” The top states for black population gains , Frey said , are all swing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , North Carolina , Virginia .
Nonetheless , it is in Democratic primaries in places like South Carolina that the demographic shift may make its greatest impact .
Adding nearly 65,000 residents of all races between 2018 and 2019 , South Carolina was the sixth-fastest-growing state .
It is now home to more than 5 million people and the black population had been the second-largest contributor to population growth since the last official US census in 2010 .
Such newcomers , Frey said , now shape black voting blocs .
“ Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the black vote , ” he said .
“ With most African Americans living in and moving south , those races become more competitive because the range of political ideologies among them widens.
” Washington said she herself was representative of a growing diversity among southern black voters that is frequently overlooked .
“ This antiquated monolith of the southern black moderate just isn ’ t as present as folks think anymore ” she said .
“ Political talk is all over the place because folks understand how our votes are taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fits their values , not just the candidates.
” After Cory Booker and Kamala Harris ended their bids for the White House , Washington backed Tom Steyer .
She said the billionaire “ caught [ her ] attention years ago ” for aggressive attempts to combat climate change and the racial wealth gap , issues that she said “ speak to what affects African Americans most ” .
The Brookings Institute notes that while progressive attitudes are most often held by younger , college-educated blacks , the influence of retirees and older Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting blocs left .
Through her own work , Washington said , she has encountered “ older , urban and moderate black voters ” who many “ assume are going to support Joe Biden ” but in fact demand a more progressive agenda .
“ They may be stumping for Bernie , or [ were ] canvassing for [ Andrew ] Yang , ” she said , “ but there ’ s a consistent energy surrounding progressive approaches to inequality , education and healthcare ” .
Antjuan Seawright is a Columbia-based Democratic strategist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina ” , one that will change how Democrats build the coalition necessary to defeat Donald Trump .
“ The mindset of our people has changed , ” he said .
“ And when the people change , elected officials and parties have no choice but to respond .
Democrats realize now that them being engaged is required at levels that haven ’ t been seen before in our political lifetime.
” This month , for the first time , South Carolina registered a million voters of color .
That , Seawright said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic attempts to “ galvanize the most consequential constituency in modern day political history ” .
That said , he doesn ’ t underestimate Biden ’ s popularity among longtime black South Carolinians and predicts such turnout will reignite the former vice-president ’ s campaign .
African American voters , Seawright said , are loyal .
“ This is a trust election and voters will want to go with who they know , ” he said .
“ And they know Joe .
Joe has been there for the people of South Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people being there for him on 29 February.
” Analysis of national polls by FiveThirtyEight does show support for Biden among black voters in South Carolina has slipped 12 % since the New Hampshire primary , creating opportunities for rivals including the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor Pete Buttigieg and the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders .
Black voters are also discerning , Seawright said , adding that he considers the primary a “ fight for second place ” should Biden lose steam .
“ What second place looks like is different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Candidates now are tasked with developing relationships in this state , not just for one election but to demonstrate that their long-term values will have the best opportunity for the party to be successful here long after.
” State party leaders , he said , must capitalize on that momentum , generating down-ballot votes in the general election .
Among moderates and progressives , therefore , coalition-building is imperative .
‘ It ’ s about how we message ’ Population shifts have already factored into Democratic gains in South Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Cunningham , but the state hasn ’ t elected a Democrat to the US Senate since 2006 .
Jaime Harrison , the former chair of the state party , is determined to change that .
He is challenging a three-term incumbent Republican , Lindsey Graham .
In a state Trump won by more than 300,000 votes his campaign is ambitious but Harrison has achieved record-breaking fundraising and one December a poll showed him only two points behind Graham , once a stringent Trump critic but now one of the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of demographic shifts , noting that he has “ been in and around all of South Carolina [ his ] entire life ” and has not “ seen growth like this before ” .
Longtime residents and transplants care about the same issues , he said , just in different ways .
“ Healthcare affects us all , like in our urban counties where access can be expensive and timely to residents , or in the eight rural counties that don ’ t have a single OB-GYN , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , in which a bitter primary between Sanders and Clinton led some voters to sit out the general election .
His team has released a seven-page memo , offering guidance on building a coalition .
“ It ’ s about how we message and who we message to , ” he said .
“ We need to be having conversations in South Carolina that speak less to the head and more to the heart and the gut , drawing in these various camps in by recognizing their presence .
“ Otherwise we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get anything done.
” As his campaign connects with former city dwellers in suburban Columbia , older voters and recent graduates around Greenville and farmers in the Lowcountry , he ’ s betting on Graham being seen as out of touch .
“ The south is changing , ” he said , arguing that for demographic shifts , his state is on a par with Texas , North Carolina and Georgia .
“ Folks are losing hope in all communities and they ’ re looking for policies that speak to their challenges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the pulse of the people is diversifying would do the party a disservice in elections to come .
In Charleston , Washington said she often straddles two identities : a lifelong Carolinian in tune with the conservative culture of the south and a relocating transplant sometimes out of touch with such traditional views .
This week ’ s primary may come too soon to reveal a full identity crisis .
Even Washington predicts a strong turnout for Biden , adding : “ No one touches him on experience.
” Still , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is coming .
“ We know who we are and where we ’ ve been but as the south evolves , we evolve .
For some of us , that yearning for something bold , something new is just the beginning .
”

Najeema Davis Washington spent more than 15 years as a federal employee in Washington DC before she returned to Charleston, the city she left in 1996.
She brought with her a progressive outlook that ran counter to the traditionally moderate views of her old home town. She also noticed, she says, that the evolution of her community extended beyond mere gentrification.
“It’s rapidly growing around me and I sometimes don’t recognize it any more,” she said. “And that’s not just because of how the city looks. The mindset has changed.”
Since the 1970s, the US has experienced a reverse migration: black Americans from cities like New York, Detroit and Chicago have moved back south to places like Houston, Charlotte and Atlanta. In doing so, they have changed voting behavior.
“African Americans relocating to the south over the past three decades are making these southern states more competitive for Democrats,” said Bill Frey, a senior fellow and demographer with the Brookings Institution.
It is a proposition that will be tested on Saturday, in the South Carolina primary.
This antiquated monolith of the southern black moderate just isn’t as present as folks think any more Najeema Davis Washington, South Carolina resident
Most often, black Americans move to communities where they were born or where their families were rooted before the Great Migration, an epochal shift between 1916 and 1970 in which 6 million African Americans left southern states to pursue jobs up north. The reversal accelerated in the early 2000s, as many sought refuge from economic decline in the rust belt states.
According to Frey, such new residents add to black voter percentages, boosting African American power in primary and general elections. He points to the case of Stacey Abrams, whose support in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race was boosted by an influx of new black residents in cities like Atlanta.
“There’s a clear understanding that a growing, energized bloc of African American voters can be a tipping point for any electorate,” Frey said. “It’s an example of what we can see moving forward where many thought, and still think, that Georgia will eventually turn blue.”
The top states for black population gains, Frey said, are all swing states: Georgia, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia. Nonetheless, it is in Democratic primaries in places like South Carolina that the demographic shift may make its greatest impact.
Adding nearly 65,000 residents of all races between 2018 and 2019, South Carolina was the sixth-fastest-growing state. It is now home to more than 5 million people and the black population had been the second-largest contributor to population growth since the last official US census in 2010.
Such newcomers, Frey said, now shape black voting blocs.
Voters listen to the Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speak on 12 February 2016 in Denmark, South Carolina. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
“Hillary Clinton won early primaries in 2016 largely because of the black vote,” he said. “With most African Americans living in and moving south, those races become more competitive because the range of political ideologies among them widens.”
Washington said she herself was representative of a growing diversity among southern black voters that is frequently overlooked.
“This antiquated monolith of the southern black moderate just isn’t as present as folks think any more,” she said. “Political talk is all over the place because folks understand how our votes are taken for granted, assessing whether the party fits their values, not just the candidates.”
After Cory Booker and Kamala Harris ended their bids for the White House, Washington backed Tom Steyer. She said the billionaire “caught [her] attention years ago” for aggressive attempts to combat climate change and the racial wealth gap, issues that she said “speak to what affects African Americans most”.
The Brookings Institution notes that while progressive attitudes are most often held by younger, college-educated blacks, the influence of retirees and older Americans from more liberal cities can also skew voting blocs left.
Through her own work, Washington said, she has encountered “older, urban and moderate black voters” who many “assume are going to support Joe Biden” but in fact demand a more progressive agenda.
“They may be stumping for Bernie, or [were] canvassing for [Andrew] Yang,” she said, “but there’s a consistent energy surrounding progressive approaches to inequality, education and healthcare”.
‘This is a trust election’
Antjuan Seawright is a Columbia-based Democratic strategist. He describes a “changing South Carolina”, one that will change how Democrats build the coalition necessary to defeat Donald Trump.
“The mindset of our people has changed,” he said. “And when the people change, elected officials and parties have no choice but to respond. Democrats realize now that them being engaged is required at levels that haven’t been seen before in our political lifetime.”
This month, for the first time, South Carolina registered a million voters of color. That, Seawright said, was “a testament” to Democratic attempts to “galvanize the most consequential constituency in modern-day political history”.
That said, he doesn’t underestimate Biden’s popularity among longtime black South Carolinians and predicts such turnout will reignite the former vice-president’s campaign. African American voters, Seawright said, are loyal.
Joe Biden arrives at the Columbia Urban League annual Dr Martin Luther King Jr breakfast in West Columbia, South Carolina, 20 January 2020. Photograph: Randall Hill/Reuters
“This is a trust election and voters will want to go with who they know,” he said. “And they know Joe. Joe has been there for the people of South Carolina and he will be rewarded by the people being there for him on 29 February.”
Analysis of national polls by FiveThirtyEight does show support for Biden among black voters in South Carolina has slipped 12% since the New Hampshire primary, creating opportunities for rivals including the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.
Black voters are also discerning, Seawright said, adding that he considers the primary a “fight for second place” should Biden lose steam.
“What second place looks like is different for different people,” he said. “Candidates now are tasked with developing relationships in this state, not just for one election but to demonstrate that their long-term values will have the best opportunity for the party to be successful here long after.”
State party leaders, he said, must capitalize on that momentum, generating down-ballot votes in the general election. Among moderates and progressives, therefore, coalition-building is imperative.
‘It’s about how we message’
Population shifts have already factored into Democratic gains in South Carolina, mostly recently flipping a House seat for Joe Cunningham, but the state hasn’t elected a Democrat to the US Senate since 2006. Jaime Harrison, the former chair of the state party, is determined to change that.
He is challenging a three-term incumbent Republican, Lindsey Graham. In a state Trump won by more than 300,000 votes his campaign is ambitious but Harrison has achieved record-breaking fundraising and one December a poll showed him only two points behind Graham, once a stringent Trump critic but now one of the president’s closest allies.
Harrison said he recognizes the impact of demographic shifts, noting that he has “been in and around all of South Carolina [his] entire life” and has not “seen growth like this before”. Longtime residents and transplants care about the same issues, he said, just in different ways.
“Healthcare affects us all, like in our urban counties where access can be expensive and timely to residents, or in the eight rural counties that don’t have a single OB-GYN,” he said.
Harrison urged Democrats to learn from 2016, in which a bitter primary between Sanders and Clinton led some voters to sit out the general election. His team has released a seven-page memo, offering guidance on building a coalition.
“It’s about how we message and who we message to,” he said. “We need to be having conversations in South Carolina that speak less to the head and more to the heart and the gut, drawing in these various camps in by recognizing their presence.
Jaime Harrison with presidential candidates Tulsi Gabbard, Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders in Columbia, South Carolina. Photograph: Sean Rayford/Getty Images
“Otherwise we lose future generations over an inability to get anything done.”
As his campaign connects with former city dwellers in suburban Columbia, older voters and recent graduates around Greenville and farmers in the Lowcountry, he’s betting on Graham being seen as out of touch.
“The south is changing,” he said, arguing that for demographic shifts, his state is on a par with Texas, North Carolina and Georgia.
“Folks are losing hope in all communities and they’re looking for policies that speak to their challenges,” Harrison said, adding that ignoring how the pulse of the people is diversifying would do the party a disservice in elections to come.
In Charleston, Washington said she often straddles two identities: a lifelong Carolinian in tune with the conservative culture of the south and a relocating transplant sometimes out of touch with such traditional views.
“I’m basically South Carolina in human form,” she joked.
This week’s primary may come too soon to reveal a full identity crisis. Even Washington predicts a strong turnout for Biden, adding: “No one touches him on experience.”
Still, she echoes Harrison, saying: “Change is coming.
“We know who we are and where we’ve been but as the south evolves, we evolve. For some of us, that yearning for something bold, something new is just the beginning.”


theguardian--2020-02-23--Can Mike Bloomberg come back from his Democratic debate debacle?

After spending nearly half a billion dollars on advertising that portrays him as a pioneering leader , a man who would be a unifying , inspirational presence in the White House , Michael Bloomberg finally got the chance this week to sell himself , live , to a nationwide audience .
It didn ’ t go well .
Instead of Wednesday ’ s Democratic debate showing Bloomberg to be a master statesman , the billionaire former New York City mayor crumpled in the face of an onslaught from his rivals .
He came across , at turns , as angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to task over his troubling record on race and gender rights .
One post-debate poll showed Bloomberg ’ s favorability down a startling 20 points among likely Democratic primary voters .
With Bloomberg ’ s hopes of becoming president now pinned on an-all-or-nothing vote in a flood of states on Super Tuesday in just over a week ’ s time , some are now wondering whether his hapless showing might have blown his chance altogether .
“ He can certainly remain in the game and spend his millions of dollars on ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be such a bad thing for the Democratic party , but I don ’ t see him coming back .
I just don ’ t , ” said Robin Andersen , a professor of communication and media studies at Fordham University in New York .
“ Just visually , maybe a billionaire doesn ’ t have what ’ s needed in a campaign to be able to field answers and not look like you are hating life , or that you ’ re bored or that you ’ re getting grumpy .
Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if you ’ re not speaking , the camera is on you.
” Bloomberg , who made his $ 64bn fortune through his eponymous financial services company , had glided through his presidential campaign largely unimpeded until Wednesday .
While other leading candidates , including the current frontrunner Bernie Sanders , spent the summer and autumn of 2019 engaged in bruising debates and town halls , Bloomberg only entered the race in November , avoiding scrutiny and remaining above the fray .
He dodged much of the legwork of campaigning too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two states where a candidate traditionally must woo voters to have a shot at the presidency , instead splashing vast amounts of cash on TV ads and a gigantic social media campaign .
Those highly polished commercials have been unavoidable for people across America for the past two months .
In them , Bloomberg is shown alongside Barack Obama , still the most popular Democratic politician in the country , or criticizing Trump with a combination of humor and vitriol .
Bloomberg has spent a fortune hiring some of the best political operatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a remarkably short space of time , Bloomberg has rocketed to third or even second place in national polls .
He also leads in some key states , such as Florida and Oklahoma .
Yet all that money can ’ t protect Bloomberg from his controversial words and deeds during a long career in business and 12 years as New York ’ s mayor .
The debate , held in Las Vegas , proved that , as Bloomberg was immediately lambasted by Elizabeth Warren , the left-leaning Massachusetts senator .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who we ’ re running against – a billionaire who calls women ‘ fat broads ’ and ‘ horse-faced lesbians ’ , ” Warren said .
“ And no , I ’ m not talking about Donald Trump .
I ’ m talking about Michael Bloomberg.
” For many of the watching 19.3 million people – a record for a Democratic primary debate – this was probably their first introduction to Bloomberg , and it wasn ’ t a good start .
It didn ’ t get any better .
The next two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear into him again and again .
His tenure as mayor was repeatedly brought into question .
Bloomberg oversaw a huge increase in stop-and-frisk policing , a practice that disproportionately targeted African Americans and Latinos , people who make up a key Democratic constituency .
Allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination at his Blooomberg financial information and news company were brought up , and Warren , in particular , criticized the non-disclosure agreements the company struck with former employees , preventing them from speaking publicly .
Bloomberg is said to have prepared for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself against aspects of his record that were ripe for attack .
“ In some instances [ Bloomberg was ] sort of halting , and stumbling to deliver a response to attacks that had been telegraphed , previewed on the stump by several of these candidates , ” said Mitchell McKinney , professor of political communication at the University of Missouri .
“ We are going to now see the [ debate ] image of Michael Bloomberg , his performance and compare that to his ad messages that are just saturating airwaves of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong leader and also presidential.
” McKinney went on : “ The Michael Bloomberg we saw on Wednesday is very different from that designed and controlled image and message .
The question then is will he be able to survive with his ad messages and then somehow stumble through.
” Given not every voter will have been watching the debate , which finished at 11pm on the east coast , it raises the question of how much Bloomberg ’ s limp performance will matter .
McKinney said the “ pass-along effect ’ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that key clips from the debate will be disseminated through news channels and social media .
Bloomberg ’ s slick team is already fighting that , however .
In the hours after the debate , his campaign released its own , highly edited version of what happened in the debate , an alternate universe cut where Bloomberg flummoxed his rivals by pointing out none of them had started a business .
That video was pushed out on Facebook on Thursday , a platform where Bloomberg has already spent $ 45m on advertising – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook reach a cornerstone of his campaign .
The pass-along effect could ultimately mean people are being handed Bloomberg ’ s bilge rather than seeing him humiliated on stage .
The make-or-break date for Bloomberg is Tuesday 3 March , when voters in 14 states go to the polls in a defining primary contest .
Fail then , and the prospect of President Bloomberg becomes extremely unlikely .
That apparently doesn ’ t bother him ; he has suggested he ’ s in the race for the long haul .
That isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg , Senator Amy Klobuchar and fellow billionaire Tom Steyer , who make up a quintet of major candidates scrapping for the centrist lane of their party .
Together , this group ’ s supporters account for more than half of Democratic voters , but Bloomberg ’ s extravagant spending has pulled voters away from each of his rivals , leaving all five weakened and a long way from the lead .
The beneficiary of this has been none other than than the socialist Bernie Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a double-digit lead over the centrists .
Ultimately , the impact of Bloomberg ’ s flashy ads and hundreds of millions of dollars could be the election of the most progressive , resolutely anti-wealth candidate of them all .

After spending nearly half a billion dollars on advertising that portrays him as a pioneering leader, a man who would be a unifying, inspirational presence in the White House, Michael Bloomberg finally got the chance this week to sell himself, live, to a nationwide audience.
It didn’t go well. Instead of Wednesday’s Democratic debate showing Bloomberg to be a master statesman, the billionaire former New York City mayor crumpled in the face of an onslaught from his rivals. He came across, at turns, as angry, bewildered and contemptuous as he was taken to task over his troubling record on race and gender rights.
One post-debate poll showed Bloomberg’s favorability down a startling 20 points among likely Democratic primary voters.
With Bloomberg’s hopes of becoming president now pinned on an-all-or-nothing vote in a flood of states on Super Tuesday in just over a week’s time, some are now wondering whether his hapless showing might have blown his chance altogether.
“He can certainly remain in the game and spend his millions of dollars on ad buys criticizing Trump, which may not be such a bad thing for the Democratic party, but I don’t see him coming back. I just don’t,” said Robin Andersen, a professor of communication and media studies at Fordham University in New York.
“Just visually, maybe a billionaire doesn’t have what’s needed in a campaign to be able to field answers and not look like you are hating life, or that you’re bored or that you’re getting grumpy. Bloomberg didn’t seem to realize that even if you’re not speaking, the camera is on you.”
Bloomberg, who made his $64bn fortune through his eponymous financial services company, had glided through his presidential campaign largely unimpeded until Wednesday.
While other leading candidates, including the current frontrunner Bernie Sanders, spent the summer and autumn of 2019 engaged in bruising debates and town halls, Bloomberg only entered the race in November, avoiding scrutiny and remaining above the fray.
He dodged much of the legwork of campaigning too. Bloomberg shunned Iowa and New Hampshire, two states where a candidate traditionally must woo voters to have a shot at the presidency, instead splashing vast amounts of cash on TV ads and a gigantic social media campaign.
Those highly polished commercials have been unavoidable for people across America for the past two months. In them, Bloomberg is shown alongside Barack Obama, still the most popular Democratic politician in the country, or criticizing Trump with a combination of humor and vitriol.
Bloomberg has spent a fortune hiring some of the best political operatives in the country, and it shows. In a remarkably short space of time, Bloomberg has rocketed to third or even second place in national polls. He also leads in some key states, such as Florida and Oklahoma.
Mike Bloomberg signs a photo for a fan after a campaign rally in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday. Photograph: Ed Kosmicki/Reuters
Yet all that money can’t protect Bloomberg from his controversial words and deeds during a long career in business and 12 years as New York’s mayor. The debate, held in Las Vegas, proved that, as Bloomberg was immediately lambasted by Elizabeth Warren, the left-leaning Massachusetts senator.
“I’d like to talk about who we’re running against – a billionaire who calls women ‘fat broads’ and ‘horse-faced lesbians’,” Warren said. “And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Michael Bloomberg.”
For many of the watching 19.3 million people – a record for a Democratic primary debate – this was probably their first introduction to Bloomberg, and it wasn’t a good start. It didn’t get any better. The next two hours saw Bloomberg’s five co-debaters tear into him again and again.
His tenure as mayor was repeatedly brought into question. Bloomberg oversaw a huge increase in stop-and-frisk policing, a practice that disproportionately targeted African Americans and Latinos, people who make up a key Democratic constituency. Allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination at his Blooomberg financial information and news company were brought up, and Warren, in particular, criticized the non-disclosure agreements the company struck with former employees, preventing them from speaking publicly.
Bloomberg is said to have prepared for the debate, but struggled to defend himself against aspects of his record that were ripe for attack.
“In some instances [Bloomberg was] sort of halting, and stumbling to deliver a response to attacks that had been telegraphed, previewed on the stump by several of these candidates,” said Mitchell McKinney, professor of political communication at the University of Missouri.
“We are going to now see the [debate] image of Michael Bloomberg, his performance and compare that to his ad messages that are just saturating airwaves of a very resolute decision maker, a strong leader and also presidential.”
McKinney went on: “The Michael Bloomberg we saw on Wednesday is very different from that designed and controlled image and message. The question then is will he be able to survive with his ad messages and then somehow stumble through.”
Given not every voter will have been watching the debate, which finished at 11pm on the east coast, it raises the question of how much Bloomberg’s limp performance will matter. McKinney said the “pass-along effect’’ is important, however – the way that key clips from the debate will be disseminated through news channels and social media.
Bloomberg has poured millions into advertising, including this billboard on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Photograph: Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
Bloomberg’s slick team is already fighting that, however. In the hours after the debate, his campaign released its own, highly edited version of what happened in the debate, an alternate universe cut where Bloomberg flummoxed his rivals by pointing out none of them had started a business.
That video was pushed out on Facebook on Thursday, a platform where Bloomberg has already spent $45m on advertising – dwarfing even Trump, who has made Facebook reach a cornerstone of his campaign. The pass-along effect could ultimately mean people are being handed Bloomberg’s bilge rather than seeing him humiliated on stage.
The make-or-break date for Bloomberg is Tuesday 3 March, when voters in 14 states go to the polls in a defining primary contest. Fail then, and the prospect of President Bloomberg becomes extremely unlikely.
That apparently doesn’t bother him; he has suggested he’s in the race for the long haul. That isn’t good news for former vice-president Joe Biden, former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Amy Klobuchar and fellow billionaire Tom Steyer, who make up a quintet of major candidates scrapping for the centrist lane of their party.
Together, this group’s supporters account for more than half of Democratic voters, but Bloomberg’s extravagant spending has pulled voters away from each of his rivals, leaving all five weakened and a long way from the lead.
The beneficiary of this has been none other than than the socialist Bernie Sanders, with his diehard supporters helping him to a double-digit lead over the centrists.
Ultimately, the impact of Bloomberg’s flashy ads and hundreds of millions of dollars could be the election of the most progressive, resolutely anti-wealth candidate of them all.


theguardian--2020-02-23--Nevada caucuses: Bernie Sanders wins in resounding victory

The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders won the caucuses in Nevada , solidifying his frontrunner status in the race for the Democratic nomination .
“ We ’ ve brought together a multigenerational , multiracial coalition that is not only going to win Nevada , it ’ s going to sweep this country , ” Sanders told supporters in San Antonio , Texas , after the Associated Press and several US networks projected his win .
With almost half of precincts officially reported , Sanders held a large lead on Saturday night .
At this stage of results , the former vice-president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , with the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth Warren trailing behind .
The Nevada caucuses come at a critical moment in the Democratic primary , a week before the South Carolina race and just before Super Tuesday , in March , when 14 states will vote .
In a state that is nearly 30 % Latino , 10 % black and has a rapidly growing Asian American community , the Nevada results were a compelling sign of Sanders ’ strength in diverse states that more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party .
The victory for the self-proclaimed democratic socialist follows strong results in Iowa and New Hampshire this month and his momentum comes as the support of more centrist Democratic voters remains divided among his rivals .
With none of those moderate Democrats indicating they ’ ll drop out anytime soon , Sanders has a solid lead in the race to win the nomination and take on Trump .
Across Nevada , Sanders supporters celebrated on Saturday as it became clear early on that the senator was getting significant support at the caucuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses have voters gather in groups based on their top-choice candidate , allowing them to switch to a second choice if their first pick doesn ’ t garner enough support to get a delegate .
“ Bernie Sanders means hope to me , ” said Donny Brooks , a 19-year-old student caucusing at the University of Nevada , Reno .
“ Bernie represents a push against the status quo .
A win for Bernie is like an actual win for the public.
” Nevada is the third contest in the Democratic primary race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa and New Hampshire , which are 90 % white , also delivered strong results for Buttigieg .
But the Indiana mayor appeared appeared to have been unable to capture strong support among Nevada ’ s diverse electorate .
Buttigieg , who took the stage in Vegas before his standing in the Nevada results was clear , directly targeted Sanders in his speech , criticizing the “ inflexible , ideological revolution ” of the Vermont senator and urging Democrats not to “ rush to nominate ” him .
Nevada ’ s “ first-in-the-west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the campaign of the former vice-president Biden , who was a frontrunner in polls last year but performed poorly in the first two state contests .
Biden gave a triumphant speech in Vegas before the results were finalized , and his campaign manager said he appeared to be in second place .
“ The press is ready to declare people dead quickly .
We ’ re alive .
We ’ re coming back , ” Biden said to cheers .
“ We ’ re going to win in South Carolina , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Klobuchar , another midwestern candidate vying for moderates , had earned an unexpected third-place win in New Hampshire , but also polled poorly with voters of color .
With 43 % of precincts reporting , Klobuchar appeared to be near the bottom in Nevada .
Warren was pushing for a surge in Nevada after her widely celebrated performance at the debate days earlier in Las Vegas .
The Massachusetts senator announced on Saturday she had raised $ 14m in the last 10 days , double the amount her campaign had set out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She came in fourth in Nevada , making a path to the nomination increasingly difficult .
At a Saturday night rally in Seattle , Warren congratulated Sanders and thanked Nevada voters “ for keeping me in the fight ” .
She emphasized her recent fundraising surge , adding , “ We have a lot of states to go , and right now I can feel the momentum.
” The former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg was not on the ballot in Nevada due to his late entrance into the race , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intense scrutiny this week after a particularly embarrassing first debate performance in Vegas .
After days of perma-blue skies , it was raining in Las Vegas on Saturday , with volunteers bracing against the conditions to welcome voters to their sites .
On the Las Vegas Strip , hotel and casino workers streamed into the Bellagio , one of seven casino-resorts there that served as caucus sites .
Angelica Romero , 54 , gained citizenship last year and said it was a privilege to cast her vote for the first time .
Romero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendant on the Strip , was caucusing for Sanders .
“ The morals of Bernie are the same as those of my family and myself , ” she said , mentioning his Medicare for All plan and his proposal for free college education .
At Sparks high school in northern Nevada , a group of Sanders supporters were the first to arrive hours before the caucus , encouraging voters to back the Vermont senator as they lined up .
“ I ’ m Biden all the way .
He was vice-president for eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Richard , adding that protecting social security and Medicare was the most important issue to her : “ I ’ m barely surviving.
” Naomi Zamarripa , an 18-year-old high school senior , also arrived early to caucus in Sparks and said she was excited to cast her first vote for Sanders : “ I love his commitment .
He ’ s been around for so long .
He keeps fighting and stays true to his beliefs.
” Linda Hunt , a 68-year-old Sparks voter who showed up to caucus with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was hard not to be moved by Sanders ’ message : “ To be truthful , I love his passion , how he feels about the way we are supposed to be going in this world.
” She said she was also terrified of four more years of Trump : “ This guy in the White House will be the end of life as we know it.
” This was the first year Nevada offered early voting opportunities , and nearly 75,000 residents had cast their votes before Saturday .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic party officials .
“ Nevada determines how things are going to go in the rest of the country , ” said Geoconda Argüello-Kline , the secretary treasurer for the Culinary Union , the state ’ s most powerful labor group , which represents Las Vegas casino workers .
Nevada Democrats had been scrambling for weeks to avoid the technology failures that caused chaos in the Iowa caucuses , due to mishaps involving an app .
Results on Saturday trickled in slowly , as Nevada officials tabulated the results .
Cat Dow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excited that this was an election with two candidates she actually liked – Sanders and Warren .
“ Elizabeth ’ s debate really shook me .
I love her , she kicked ass , everything she said was so salient and so relevant and she was so tough.
” But Dow , who works in computer technology , said she was sticking with Sanders , adding : “ I want the national embarrassment out of office more than anything else.
” Just minutes before the process started , Sam Difulvio , a 19-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torn between the two progressive candidates : “ I ’ m trying to hone in on their character and see who I like as a person .
I want to hear what normal people have to say about the candidates.
” At one precinct at the university , Sanders won overwhelming support , leaving a small handful of Buttigieg and Warren supporters unable to win a delegate .
Carissa Bradley , a 23-year-old Warren fan in the group , said she hoped Nevada would move away from the caucus system in the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s not conducive to introverts or people who aren ’ t politically active .
And it creates issues for people who work on the weekends or can ’ t take all this time off.
” Bradley said she was ready to back any nominee : “ It doesn ’ t matter who becomes the candidate – as long as we all vote blue .
”

Sam Levin in Reno and Maanvi Singh in Las Vegas

The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders won the caucuses in Nevada, solidifying his frontrunner status in the race for the Democratic nomination.
“We’ve brought together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition that is not only going to win Nevada, it’s going to sweep this country,” Sanders told supporters in San Antonio, Texas, after the Associated Press and several US networks projected his win.
With almost half of precincts officially reported, Sanders held a large lead on Saturday night. At this stage of results, the former vice-president Joe Biden appeared to be in second place, with the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth Warren trailing behind.
The Nevada caucuses come at a critical moment in the Democratic primary, a week before the South Carolina race and just before Super Tuesday, in March, when 14 states will vote. In a state that is nearly 30% Latino, 10% black and has a rapidly growing Asian American community, the Nevada results were a compelling sign of Sanders’ strength in diverse states that more closely reflect the demographics of the Democratic party.
Bernie Sanders' rivals applaud his Nevada caucus win – video
The victory for the self-proclaimed democratic socialist follows strong results in Iowa and New Hampshire this month and his momentum comes as the support of more centrist Democratic voters remains divided among his rivals. With none of those moderate Democrats indicating they will drop out anytime soon, Sanders has a solid lead in the race to win the nomination and take on Trump.
Across Nevada, Sanders supporters celebrated on Saturday as it became clear early on that the senator was getting significant support at the caucuses. Unlike traditional private votes, the caucuses have voters gather in groups based on their top-choice candidate, allowing them to switch to a second choice if their first pick doesn’t garner enough support to get a delegate.
“Bernie Sanders means hope to me,” said Donny Brooks, a 19-year-old student caucusing at the University of Nevada, Reno. “Bernie represents a push against the status quo. A win for Bernie is like an actual win for the public.”
Nevada is the third contest in the Democratic primary race. The first two primary states, Iowa and New Hampshire, which are 90% white, also delivered strong results for Buttigieg. But the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, appeared to have been unable to capture strong support among Nevada’s diverse electorate.
Buttigieg, who took the stage in Vegas before his standing in the Nevada results was clear, directly targeted Sanders in his speech, criticizing the “inflexible, ideological revolution” of the Vermont senator and urging Democrats not to “rush to nominate” him.
Joe Biden shoots selfies with voters at Cheyenne high school in North Las Vegas. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Nevada’s “first-in-the-west” caucuses were also a major test for the campaign of the former vice-president Biden, who was a frontrunner in polls last year but performed poorly in the first two state contests. Biden gave a triumphant speech in Vegas before the results were finalized, and his campaign manager said he appeared to be in second place. “The press is ready to declare people dead quickly. We’re alive. We’re coming back,” Biden said to cheers. “We’re going to win in South Carolina, and then Super Tuesday.”
The Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar, another midwestern candidate vying for moderates, had earned an unexpected third-place win in New Hampshire, but also polled poorly with voters of color. With 43% of precincts reporting, Klobuchar appeared to be near the bottom in Nevada.
Warren was pushing for a surge in Nevada after her widely celebrated performance at the debate days earlier in Las Vegas. The Massachusetts senator announced on Saturday she had raised $14m in the last 10 days, double the amount her campaign had set out as a goal ahead of the caucuses. She came in fourth in Nevada, making a path to the nomination increasingly difficult.
At a Saturday night rally in Seattle, Warren congratulated Sanders and thanked Nevada voters “for keeping me in the fight”. She emphasized her recent fundraising surge, adding, “We have a lot of states to go, and right now I can feel the momentum.”
The former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg was not on the ballot in Nevada due to his late entrance into the race, and the billionaire’s campaign has faced intense scrutiny this week after a particularly embarrassing first debate performance in Vegas.
After days of perma-blue skies, it was raining in Las Vegas on Saturday, with volunteers bracing against the conditions to welcome voters to their sites. On the Las Vegas Strip, hotel and casino workers streamed into the Bellagio, one of seven casino-resorts there that served as caucus sites.
Angelica Romero, 54, gained citizenship last year and said it was a privilege to cast her vote for the first time. Romero, who works as a guest room attendant on the Strip, was caucusing for Sanders. “The morals of Bernie are the same as those of my family and myself,” she said, mentioning his Medicare for All plan and his proposal for free college education.
Essie Richard. Photograph: Sam Levin/The Guardian
At Sparks high school in northern Nevada, a group of Sanders supporters were the first to arrive hours before the caucus, encouraging voters to back the Vermont senator as they lined up.
Essie Richard, a 73-year-old resident, was not swayed.
“I’m Biden all the way. He was vice-president for eight years. He has the experience,” said Richard, adding that protecting social security and Medicare was the most important issue to her: “I’m barely surviving.”
Naomi Zamarripa, an 18-year-old high school senior, also arrived early to caucus in Sparks and said she was excited to cast her first vote for Sanders: “I love his commitment. He’s been around for so long. He keeps fighting and stays true to his beliefs.”
Naomi Zamarripa. Photograph: Sam Levin/The Guardian
Linda Hunt, a 68-year-old Sparks voter who showed up to caucus with “Nevada for Bernie” signs, said it was hard not to be moved by Sanders’ message: “To be truthful, I love his passion, how he feels about the way we are supposed to be going in this world.” She said she was also terrified of four more years of Trump: “This guy in the White House will be the end of life as we know it.”
This was the first year Nevada offered early voting opportunities, and nearly 75,000 residents had cast their votes before Saturday. A majority were first-time caucus-goers, according to Democratic party officials.
“Nevada determines how things are going to go in the rest of the country,” said Geoconda Argüello-Kline, the secretary treasurer for the Culinary Union, the state’s most powerful labor group, which represents Las Vegas casino workers.
Nevada Democrats had been scrambling for weeks to avoid the technology failures that caused chaos in the Iowa caucuses, due to mishaps involving an app. Results on Saturday trickled in slowly, as Nevada officials tabulated the results.
Elizabeth Warren greets supporters during a visit to a caucus site at Coronado high school in Henderson. Photograph: David Becker/Getty Images
Cat Dow, 29-year-old Reno voter, said she was excited that this was an election with two candidates she actually liked – Sanders and Warren. “Elizabeth’s debate really shook me. I love her, she kicked ass, everything she said was so salient and so relevant and she was so tough.” But Dow, who works in computer technology, said she was sticking with Sanders, adding: “I want the national embarrassment out of office more than anything else.”
Just minutes before the process started, Sam Difulvio, a 19-year-old Reno student, said she was still torn between the two progressive candidates: “I’m trying to hone in on their character and see who I like as a person. I want to hear what normal people have to say about the candidates.”
At one precinct at the university, Sanders won overwhelming support, leaving a small handful of Buttigieg and Warren supporters unable to win a delegate. Carissa Bradley, a 23-year-old Warren fan in the group, said she hoped Nevada would move away from the caucus system in the future: “It’s super archaic. It’s not conducive to introverts or people who aren’t politically active. And it creates issues for people who work on the weekends or can’t take all this time off.”
Bradley said she was ready to back any nominee: “It doesn’t matter who becomes the candidate – as long as we all vote blue.”


theguardian--2020-02-23--Bernie Sanders widens primary lead with crucial win in Nevada caucuses – as it happened

Elizabeth Warren is continuing to project confidence in her chances of getting the nomination .
“ Understand this : I @ @ @ @ @ fight to talk about change .
I am in this fight to make change , @ @ @ @ @ is known for her detailed plans .
Her campaign was re-energized after a strong debate @ @ @ @ @ with nearly 75,000 Nevadans voting early , before the debate , it ’ s unclear @ @ @ @ @ any impact in Nevada .
In Seattle , she addressed a crowd of around 7,000 @ @ @ @ @ who she ’ d choose as a running mate if she were nominated .
“ @ @ @ @ @ this moment to talk about it , but what I can do is describe , @ @ @ @ @ That is , I want to partner in this fight .
That ’ s it @ @

Maanvi Singh in Las Vegas, Nevada (now) and Julia Carrie Wong (earlier)

23 Feb 2020 04.41 GMT Summary We’re wrapping up the liveblog for today. Here’s where we’re at: Bernie Sanders declared a resounding victory in the “first in the west” primary race.
declared a resounding victory in the “first in the west” primary race. Just over a quarter of precincts have reported results. The Nevada Democrats are still tabulating the final results. Sanders is the projected winner and is by far the frontrunner so far.
Joe Biden is currently in second place and Pete Buttigieg is third. Both campaigns have claimed second place.
is currently in second place and is third. Both campaigns have claimed second place. Full results could take a while to tabulate; party officials have to integrate caucus results with early votes. Nearly 75,000 Nevadans voted early , according to the Nevada Democrats.
, according to the Nevada Democrats. Sanders was boosted up by Latino supporters – who account for 1 in 5 voters in Nevada. The campaign invested big, and early in outreach – and it paid off.
Healthcare was a big issue for Nevada voters; exit polls indicated that a majority were in favor of a single-payer system.
Read our key takeaways here. Nevada caucuses: Bernie Sanders declares resounding victory Read more
Updated at 08.49 GMT
23 Feb 2020 04.18 GMT Now 27% of precincts are reporting, but it hasn’t much affected th percent of county delegates allocated to each candidate: Sanders - 47%
Biden – 23%
Buttigieg – 14%
Warren – 9%
Steyer – 4%
Klobuchar – 3%
23 Feb 2020 03.27 GMT Warren draws around 7,000 in Seattle (including overflow crowd).
She starts her remarks congratulating Sanders for winning the Nevada caucus... and then immediately slams Bloomberg for trying to buy the election. pic.twitter.com/VAd3dUVMTh — Deepa Shivaram (@deepa_shivaram) February 23, 2020 Elizabeth Warren is continuing to project confidence in her chances of getting the nomination. “Understand this: I’m not in this fight to talk about change. I am in this fight to make change,” said the senator who is known for her detailed plans. Her campaign was re-energized after a strong debate performance this week. But with nearly 75,000 Nevadans voting early, before the debate, it’s unclear whether her post-debate momentum had any impact in Nevada. In Seattle, she addressed a crowd of around 7,000. A supporter asked her who she’d choose as a running mate if she were nominated. “I would be presumptuous at this moment to talk about it, but what I can do is describe,” she said. “That is, I want to partner in this fight. That’s it.”
Updated at 03.35 GMT
23 Feb 2020 03.15 GMT Now we have 23% of precincts reporting, but the ranking of candidates hasn’t changed. Sanders – 47%
Biden – 23%
Buttigieg – 13%
Warren – 9%
Steyer – 4%
Klobuchar – 3%
Updated at 03.19 GMT
23 Feb 2020 03.05 GMT We're about to go live from our town hall in Seattle—join us! https://t.co/pEVqB1xgYP — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 23, 2020 Elizabeth Warren’s message to Nevadans: “Thank you for keeping me in the fight.” Warren, speaking to supporters in Seattle, congratulated Bernie Sanders on his victory in Nevada. “The race has been called. Bernie has won, congratulations Bernie,” she said. But she added that since Wednesday night – the day of the debate – “our support has been growing everywhere.” As she did on debate night, and in the days after, Warren launched into a takedown of Mike Bloomberg.
“Michael Bloomberg is not the safest candidate, Michael Bloomberg is the riskiest candidate,” she said. Bloomberg was competing in Nevada, choosing to focus instead on the Super Tuesday states, where Warren will have to claim big gains in order to stay in the race.
Updated at 03.32 GMT
23 Feb 2020 02.35 GMT After a long delay, more results are starting to come in. With 11.2% of precincts reporting, Sanders is still on top, but there has been some movement below. Here’s where we are: Sanders – 47%
Biden – 24%
Buttigieg – 14%
Warren – 9%
Steyer – 4%
Klobuchar – 3%
23 Feb 2020 02.32 GMT Mike Bloomberg’s campaign manager has put out a statement on Bernie Sanders’ victory in Nevada. Bloomberg did not contest Nevada, but is staking his candidacy on Super Tuesday. The Nevada results reinforce the reality that this fragmented field is putting Bernie Sanders on pace to amass an insurmountable delegate lead. This is a candidate who just declared war on the so-called “Democratic Establishment.” We are going to need Independents AND Republicans to defeat Trump – attacking your own party is no way to get started. As Mike says, if we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base – like Senator Sanders – it will be a fatal error.
23 Feb 2020 02.21 GMT Elizabeth Warren’s strong performance in last week’s debate wasn’t enough to vault her into a winning position in the Nevada caucuses. Her campaign manager, Roger Lau, is arguing on Twitter that her vote share surged between the early voters and those who showed up in person, however. Some notes on the state of the race...
The Vegas debate shook this election up. The @ewarren vote share appears to have gone up more than 50% between early vote & those who caucused today. We’ve raised $9m in 3 days & more than $21m this month. — Roger Lau (@RogerLau) February 23, 2020 We believe the Nevada debate will have more impact on the structure of the race than the Nevada result. Since a huge percentage of the votes were cast before the debate -- likely well more than half -- tonight’s results are a lagging indicator of the current state of the race. — Roger Lau (@RogerLau) February 23, 2020
23 Feb 2020 02.07 GMT Bernie Sanders’s strength among Latino voters in Nevada could signal good things for his campaign come Super Tuesday, my colleague Lauren Gambino suggests. The two biggest prizes on 3 March, California and Texas, have significant Latino populations. One organizer I spoke to called March 3 "Latino Super Tuesday" because of California and Texas. If Sanders can replicate his success there, he'll dominate in the two most delegate-rich states in the primary process https://t.co/y77Bq3WDC1 — Lauren Gambino (@laurenegambino) February 23, 2020
23 Feb 2020 01.42 GMT Here is more on Bernie Sanders’s victory, from my colleagues Maanvi Singh and Sam Levin, who have been reporting from Nevada this week: The Nevada caucuses come at a critical moment in the Democratic primary, a week before the South Carolina race and just before Super Tuesday, in March, when 14 states will vote. In a state that is nearly 30% Latino, 10% black and has a rapidly growing Asian American community, the Nevada results were a compelling sign of Sanders’ strength in diverse states that more closely reflect the demographics of the Democratic party.
Warren was pushing for a surge in Nevada after her widely celebrated performance at the debate days earlier in Las Vegas. Warren announced on Saturday she had raised $14m in the last 10 days, double the amount her campaign had set out as a goal ahead of the caucuses. Nevada’s “first-in-the-west” caucuses were also a major test for the campaign of the former vice-president Biden, who was a frontrunner in polls last year but performed poorly in the first two state contests. Biden gave a triumphant speech in Vegas before the results were finalized, and his campaign manager said he appeared to be in second place. “The press is ready to declare people dead quickly. We’re alive. We’re coming back,” Biden said to cheers.
23 Feb 2020 01.32 GMT Sanders’ remarks provide a strong contrast to those of Buttigieg and Biden. With his frontrunner status cemented, Sanders is focusing his remarks on Donald Trump and his core message of economic justice, with nary a reference to his Democratic rivals. We just won the Nevada caucus. This grassroots movement is unstoppable. Together, let's win the Democratic nomination, defeat Trump and transform the country! Join us live in San Antonio: https://t.co/XB1Ua14x8m — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 23, 2020
Updated at 01.35 GMT
23 Feb 2020 01.27 GMT Bernie Sanders declares victory in Nevada Bernie Sanders declared victory in the Democratic caucuses in Nevada, while speaking at a rally in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday evening. “We won the popular vote in Iowa, we won the New Hampshire primary, and according to three networks and the AP, we have now won the Nevada caucus,” Sanders said. “We’ve put together a multi-generational, multi-racial coalition, which is not only going to win in Nevada, it’s going to sweep this country.”
Early voting in Texas, a Super Tuesday state is already underway. “We’re going to win the Democratic primary in Texas,” Sanders told his supporters.


theguardian--2020-02-23--Buoyed by Latino voters in Nevada, Sanders cements his frontrunner status

The senator from one of the whitest states in the US on Saturday trounced his rivals in the first primary of the 2020 election cycle that actually reflects the racial diversity of the country and the Democratic party .
The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders won a resounding victory in Nevada , buoyed by strong support among Latino voters .
Sanders ’ victory in the desert state strengthens his position as the party ’ s frontrunner and sends him into the next , high-stakes phase of the primary with a burst of momentum .
“ We ’ ve brought together a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only going to win Nevada , ” Sanders said from a rally in San Antonio after the race had been called on Saturday .
“ It ’ s going to sweep this country.
” Saturday ’ s caucuses in Nevada , where more than 30 % of the population is Hispanic , was the first real test of Latino support in the 2020 Democratic primary – and the result was promising for Sanders .
According to CNN ’ s entrance poll , the 78-year-old Senator from Vermont is projected to have won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nevada .
In the final stretch of the race , Democrats ramped up their outreach efforts to Latinos with taco trucks , mariachi bands and even a soccer tournament .
But organizers and activists said Sanders , known affectionately by some supporters as “ Tío Bernie ” has been particularly effective at mobilizing Latino voters by investing early in communities that often feel left out of the political process .
“ Meaningful outreach is essential , ” said Clarissa Martinez de Castro , the deputy vice-president of UnidosUS , the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What we are seeing is proof that when the outreach is there – and when it ’ s meaningful – it generates a response.
” María Urbina , the national political director for the progressive group Indivisible , which has not endorsed a candidate yet , said Sanders ’ victory in Nevada was the result of his “ deep and longstanding investments to Latinx and youth communities ” and his consistent advocacy for universal healthcare and student loan debt relief .
There is still room for other candidates to catch him , Urbina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaks to his growing strength in the general ” .
Sanders ’ supporters , meanwhile , argued that his strong performance in Nevada set the stage for the contests to come by demonstrating that his political revolution , built around the idea of social and economic justice , could resonate in racially diverse states .
“ In a diverse electorate that looks the most like Super Tuesday states , Democrats chose Bernie Sanders as their candidate to defeat Donald Trump , ” said Alexandra Rojas , the executive director of Justice Democrats , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders ’ 2016 campaign .
“ It ’ s clear that the Democratic voters with the most energy behind them look and think a lot more like [ congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ] than Joe Biden.
” In the coming days the contest will move into what Martinez de Castro called “ Latino Super Tuesday ” on 3 March , when states with large Hispanic populations like Texas and California will vote and roughly 40 % of pledged delegates will be awarded .
Recent surveys show Sanders leading in both states .
A poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lowell , found Sanders with a 16-point lead in California among Hispanics , who make up a larger share of the state ’ s population than white voters .
Many California voters have already made up their mind : ballots were mailed on 3 February , the same day of the Iowa caucuses .
In Texas , polls show Sanders with a narrow edge over Biden .
Though the former vice-president leads Sanders among black and Latino voters in the state , according to a recent University of Massachusetts Lowell survey History has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sizable delegate lead it becomes increasingly more difficult – and mathematically improbable – for a rival to catch up .
As Sanders ’ s declared victory , his Democratic rivals warned that his leftwing politics were too divisive to bring together a coalition that could defeat Donald Trump in November .
But with multiple Democratic candidates vowing to compete through Super Tuesday , there is no consensus on who is best positioned to stop him .
“ The Nevada results reinforce the reality that this fragmented field is putting Bernie Sanders on pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kevin Sheekey , the campaign manager for Mike Bloomberg , said in a statement on Saturday .
Bloomberg , the billionaire former mayor of New York who did not contest the early states , has sought to portray himself as the party ’ s best hope of denying Sanders the nomination .
But a shaky debut performance in this week ’ s debate has raised questions about his performance despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars on television and digital advertising that have boosted his standing nationally .
In Nevada on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was locked in a competitive race for second place as they urged voters to align behind them before it was too late .
“ Before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders as our one shot to take on this president ... let us take a sober look at the consequences – for our party , for our values and for those with the most at stake , ” Pete Buttigieg said at an election party in Las Vegas .
After two strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire , Buttigieg arrived in Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his performance on Saturday did little to quell doubts about his ability to appeal to nonwhite voters , who will be critical in the coming contests .
Speaking from a union hall across town , Biden , who led the field until voting began in Iowa , continued to make the case that he was the strongest candidate to take on Trump in November , even as he lost to Sanders in a third consecutive contest .
He said his campaign was very “ alive ” and predicted that he would win in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next , on the strength of his support among black voters who make up a majority of the state ’ s Democratic electorate .
“ I ain ’ t a socialist , I ain ’ t a plutocrat , I ’ m a Democrat – and proud of it , ” the former vice-president , who was in second place , told supporters at his caucus day event .
Elizabeth Warren , the Massachusetts senator , roared back this week with a sharp debate performance in which she landed precision blows against all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and inspired the best fundraising day of her entire campaign .
But tens of thousands of Nevadans had already cast their vote at that point .
“ We have many states to go , and right now I can feel the momentum , ” Warren told thousands of supporters at a rally in Seattle on Saturday night .
Donald Trump , who has been eyeing Sanders ’ rise with apparent glee , had kinder words for “ Crazy Bernie ” than his Democratic opponents .
“ Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden & the rest look weak , & no way Mini Mike can restart his campaign after the worst debate performance in the history of Presidential Debates , ” Trump said in a tweet .
“ Congratulations Bernie , & don ’ t let them take it away from you !
” Addressing supporters in Texas , Sanders on Saturday night was buoyant about his prospects in the state .
“ Don ’ t tell anybody , I don ’ t want to make them nervous , ” Sanders said sarcastically , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic primary in Texas.
” If what happens in Vegas happens in California and Texas , Sanders may be hard to catch .

The senator from one of the whitest states in the US on Saturday trounced his rivals in the first primary of the 2020 election cycle that actually reflects the racial diversity of the country and the Democratic party.
The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders won a resounding victory in Nevada, buoyed by strong support among Latino voters. Sanders’ victory in the desert state strengthens his position as the party’s frontrunner and sends him into the next, high-stakes phase of the primary with a burst of momentum.
“We’ve brought together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition that is not only going to win Nevada,” Sanders said from a rally in San Antonio after the Associated Press projected his win. “It’s going to sweep this country.”
Saturday’s caucuses in Nevada, where more than 30% of the population is Hispanic, was the first real test of Latino support in the 2020 Democratic primary – and the result was promising for Sanders. According to CNN’s entrance poll, the 78-year-old is projected to have won the support of 51% of Hispanic Democrats in Nevada.
In the final stretch of the race, Democrats ramped up their outreach efforts to Latinos with taco trucks, mariachi bands and even a soccer tournament. But organizers and activists said Sanders, known affectionately by some supporters as “Tío Bernie”, has been particularly effective at mobilizing Latino voters by investing early in communities that often feel left out of the political process.
“Meaningful outreach is essential,” said Clarissa Martinez de Castro, the deputy vice-president of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino advocacy group. “What we are seeing is proof that when the outreach is there – and when it’s meaningful – it generates a response.”
Voters indicate their support for Pete Buttigieg during voting inside the caucus at Liberty high school in Henderson, Nevada. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/Reuters
María Urbina, the national political director for the progressive group Indivisible, which has not endorsed a candidate yet, said Sanders’ victory in Nevada was the result of his “deep and longstanding investments to Latinx and youth communities” and his consistent advocacy for universal healthcare and student loan debt relief. There is still room for other candidates to catch him, Urbina believes, but Sanders’ win “speaks to his growing strength in the general”.
Sanders’ supporters, meanwhile, argued that his strong performance in Nevada set the stage for the contests to come by demonstrating that his political revolution, built around the idea of social and economic justice, could resonate in racially diverse states.
“In a diverse electorate that looks the most like Super Tuesday states, Democrats chose Bernie Sanders as their candidate to defeat Donald Trump,” said Alexandra Rojas, the executive director of Justice Democrats, a leftwing group that grew out of Sanders’ 2016 campaign. “It’s clear that the Democratic voters with the most energy behind them look and think a lot more like [New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] than Joe Biden.”
In the coming days the contest will move into what Martinez de Castro called “Latino Super Tuesday” on 3 March, when states with large Hispanic populations such as Texas and California will vote and roughly 40% of pledged delegates will be awarded. Recent surveys show Sanders leading in both states.
In a diverse electorate that looks the most like Super Tuesday states, Democrats chose Bernie Sanders as their candidate to defeat Donald Trump Alexandra Rojas
A poll released Friday by the University of Massachusetts Lowell, found Sanders with a 16-point lead in California among Hispanics, who make up a larger share of the state’s population than white voters. Many California voters have already made up their mind: ballots were mailed on 3 February, the same day of the Iowa caucuses.
In Texas, polls show Sanders with a narrow edge over Biden. Though the former vice-president leads Sanders among black and Latino voters in the state, according to a recent University of Massachusetts Lowell survey
History has shown that once a candidate accumulates a sizable delegate lead it becomes increasingly more difficult – and mathematically improbable – for a rival to catch up.
As Sanders’s declared victory, his Democratic rivals warned that his leftwing politics were too divisive to bring together a coalition that could defeat Donald Trump in November. But with multiple Democratic candidates vowing to compete through Super Tuesday, there is no consensus on who is best positioned to stop him.
Bernie Sanders' rivals applaud his Nevada caucus win – video
“The Nevada results reinforce the reality that this fragmented field is putting Bernie Sanders on pace to amass an insurmountable delegate lead,” Kevin Sheekey, the campaign manager for Mike Bloomberg, said in a statement on Saturday.
Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York who did not contest the early states, has sought to portray himself as the party’s best hope of denying Sanders the nomination. But a shaky debut performance in this week’s debate has raised questions about his performance despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars on television and digital advertising that have boosted his standing nationally.
In Nevada on Saturday night, the rest of the field was locked in a competitive race for second place as they urged voters to align behind them before it was too late.
“Before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders as our one shot to take on this president ... let us take a sober look at the consequences – for our party, for our values and for those with the most at stake,” Pete Buttigieg said at an election party in Las Vegas.
Joe Biden speaks during a Nevada caucus day event at IBEW Local 357 on 22 February 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photograph: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
After two strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, Buttigieg arrived in Nevada with a narrow delegate lead. But his performance on Saturday did little to quell doubts about his ability to appeal to nonwhite voters, who will be critical in the coming contests.
Speaking from a union hall across town, Biden, who led the field until voting began in Iowa, continued to make the case that he was the strongest candidate to take on Trump in November, even as he lost to Sanders in a third consecutive contest. He said his campaign was very “alive” and predicted that he would win in South Carolina, where the race turns next, on the strength of his support among black voters who make up a majority of the state’s Democratic electorate.
“I ain’t a socialist, I ain’t a plutocrat, I’m a Democrat – and proud of it,” the former vice-president, who was in second place, told supporters at his caucus day event.
Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator, roared back this week with a sharp debate performance in which she landed precision blows against all of her opponents, including Sanders, and inspired the best fundraising day of her entire campaign. But tens of thousands of Nevadans had already cast their vote at that point.
“We have many states to go, and right now I can feel the momentum,” Warren told thousands of supporters at a rally in Seattle on Saturday night.
Donald Trump, who has been eyeing Sanders’ rise with apparent glee, had kinder words for “Crazy Bernie” than his Democratic opponents.
“Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden & the rest look weak, & no way Mini Mike can restart his campaign after the worst debate performance in the history of Presidential Debates,” Trump said in a tweet. “Congratulations Bernie, & don’t let them take it away from you!”
Addressing supporters in Texas, Sanders on Saturday night was buoyant about his prospects in the state.
“Don’t tell anybody, I don’t want to make them nervous,” Sanders said sarcastically, “but we’re going to win the Democratic primary in Texas.”
If what happens in Vegas happens in California and Texas, Sanders may be hard to catch.