theguardian--2020-02-11--Democrats brace for results as New Hampshire heads to polls – as it happened

Like many New Hampshire voters , Shalimar , who works as an interpreter in Manchester and who was reluctant to give her last name , confessed that she was still undecided as she entered her local polling place this afternoon , in the third ward of the city .
She was wavering between a vote for Bernie Sanders and former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick .
How would she choose between them ?
“ Ask God to guide my hand , ” she said , laughing .
She added that she ’ d also found Amy Klobuchar impressive but feared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstacle .
“ I don ’ t think America ’ s ready for that , for a woman being in that office .
I think we ’ ve gone backwards.
” She said that she worried about Sanders ’ “ age and health ” but above all she was anxious at what Donald Trump would do if elected to a second term .
“ I ’ m very scared , ” she said .
Jeannie Peschier , aged 57 and a carer for her elderly father , had suffered no last-minute hesitation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ ve got to get rid of that bozo , ” she said of Trump .
“ Bernie is the one with the integrity , the consistency - he ’ s bold like FDR .
He ’ s for us regular people who run out of money at the end of the month.
” Did she share the much-discussed fears over Sanders ’ electability ?
“ No .
He ’ s a populist like Trump .
He ’ ll know what to do .
Bernie will kick his butt .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie gets done with him .
”

Maanvi Singh (now), Tom McCarthy (earlier) and Paul Owen (earlier)

11 Feb 2020 23.23 GMT Summary The nation’s first primary is still underway — polls will begin to close at 7pm ET.
Exit polls found that more than 80% of New Hampshir e Democratic voters felt “angry” about the Trump administration.
felt “angry” about the Trump administration. All four prosecutors who tried Roger Stone in November have resigned after the president tweeted criticism of their sentencing suggestion and the Justice Department revised the recommendation.
in November have resigned after the president tweeted criticism of their sentencing suggestion and the Justice Department revised the recommendation. Trump said the military may consider disciplining Lt Col Alexander Vindman, who delivered damaging testimony in the impeachment inquiry and was fired last week.
Follow the Guardian’s live coverage of the New Hampshire primaries: New Hampshire primary polls to close soon with Sanders favorite to win – live Read more
11 Feb 2020 23.04 GMT More from the Democratic primaries: 'Ask God to guide my hand' Jonathan Freedland A voter carries his ballot from a voting booth while voting in the New Hampshire. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters Like many New Hampshire voters, Shalimar, who works as an interpreter in Manchester and who was reluctant to give her last name, confessed that she was still undecided as she entered her local polling place this afternoon, in the third ward of the city. She was wavering between a vote for Bernie Sanders and former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick. How would she choose between them? “Ask God to guide my hand,” she said, laughing. She added that she’d also found Amy Klobuchar impressive but feared the senator’s gender would prove an obstacle. “I don’t think America’s ready for that, for a woman being in that office. I think we’ve gone backwards.” She said that she worried about Sanders’ “age and health” but above all she was anxious at what Donald Trump would do if elected to a second term. “I’m very scared,” she said. Jeannie Peschier, aged 57 and a carer for her elderly father, had suffered no last-minute hesitation. She was all in for Sanders. “We’ve got to get rid of that bozo,” she said of Trump. “Bernie is the one with the integrity, the consistency - he’s bold like FDR. He’s for us regular people who run out of money at the end of the month.” Did she share the much-discussed fears over Sanders’ electability? “No. He’s a populist like Trump. He’ll know what to do. Bernie will kick his butt. Trump will be in the corner crying after Bernie gets done with him.”
11 Feb 2020 22.40 GMT All four Roger Stone prosecutors have resigned, as Trump suggests discipline for impeachment witness FOURTH Stone prosecutor withdraws from the case: Michael Marando. pic.twitter.com/HE93Qo4YOM — Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) February 11, 2020 Aaron Zelinsky, Jonathan Kravis, Adam Jed and Michael Marando — the four prosecutors who tried Roger Stone in November — have exited. After Trump tweeted their sentencing recommendation of 7-9 years for Stone was a “miscarriage of justice,” the justice department changed the recommendation. A spokesperson for the department said there was no coordination with Trump. Even as he criticized the sentencing of Stone, the president appeared to endorse a harsher disciplining of Alexander Vindman, a National Security Council aide who provided damaging testimony in Trump’s impeachment inquiry and was fired from his job last week. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the military may consider disciplinary action against Vindman. “That’s going to be up to the military, we’ll have to see, but if you look at what happened, they’re going to certainly, I would imagine, take a look at that,” Trump said. “The military can handle him.”
Updated at 23.11 GMT
11 Feb 2020 22.22 GMT Exit poll finds 81% of New Hampshire Democratic voters are 'angry' about the Trump administration New Hampshire Democratic voters are angry about the Trump administration, a CNN exit poll found. The majority — 62% — said Democrats should nominate a candidate who can beat Trump rather than someone who agrees with them on issues. Ahead of the election today, Bernie Sanders had been leading in polls, followed closely by Pete Buttigieg. The CNN exit poll found that 60% of the voters in New Hampshire decided who they’d vote for this month — and more than half of them made up their minds in the past few days. The results are based on interviews conducted throughout the day with nearly 2,000 Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire.
Updated at 22.39 GMT
11 Feb 2020 22.15 GMT At the White House, Donald Trump attacked federal prosecutors involved in the Roger Stone case. “I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous,” he said. I thought it was an insult to our country and it shouldn’t happen.” The prosecutors — three of whom have exited the Justice Department after Trump tweeted criticism of their sentencing recommendation in the Stone case — “ are the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell,” Trump added. Meanwhile, Chuck Schumer — the Senate minority leader — has sent a letter to the Justice Department’s watchdog to investigate the reduced sentence recommendation for Stone. NEW: @SenSchumer has sent a letter to the DOJ IG requesting sn investigation into the reduced sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone —> pic.twitter.com/qiN1hY2Hpk — Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 11, 2020
11 Feb 2020 21.52 GMT Summary It’s primary day in New Hampshire and here’s where we are: A close race in the Granite State primary had senator Bernie Sanders facing down former mayor Pete Buttigieg, senator Elizabeth Warren, former veep Joe Biden and others.
had senator Bernie Sanders facing down former mayor Pete Buttigieg, senator Elizabeth Warren, former veep Joe Biden and others. Senator Amy Klobuchar seemed to be heading into election night with a head of steam, but she is working her way up from quite a ways back in the polls and time was short.
seemed to be heading into election night with a head of steam, but she is working her way up from quite a ways back in the polls and time was short. Biden made headlines – the wrong kind of headlines – this morning when he announced he was not sticking around for the results to come in in New Hampshire. He decamped for South Carolina, the next contest, where he hopes to finally gain some traction with voters.
– this morning when he announced he was not sticking around for the results to come in in New Hampshire. He decamped for South Carolina, the next contest, where he hopes to finally gain some traction with voters. The first exit polls, which can indicate features of the electorate including their top issues of concern – but which also can be misleading if too much extrapolation is performed – are due at 5pm.
which can indicate features of the electorate including their top issues of concern – but which also can be misleading if too much extrapolation is performed – are due at 5pm. Most polls close at 7pm ET, though some will stay open as late as 8pm, and results are expected soon after that.
though some will stay open as late as 8pm, and results are expected soon after that. In non-presidential-campaign news, three prosecutors in the case of Donald Trump crony Roger Stone resigned on Tuesday following a Trump tweet criticizing the justice department’s sentencing recommendation in the case and a subsequent announcement that the department was reversing that recommendation.
11 Feb 2020 21.44 GMT Third prosecutor exits Stone case Whatever is happening behind the scenes in the justice department’s prosecution of Roger Stone, a large chunk of the team that had, until the day Donald Trump tweeted about the case, been running the prosecution now wants no part of it: A THIRD Stone prosecutor has now dropped out of the case: Adam Jed. pic.twitter.com/vLzMxJi5Z7 — Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) February 11, 2020
11 Feb 2020 21.32 GMT After Trump tweet and justice department reversal, second prosecutor in Stone case resigns Off the campaign trail for a moment – in an accelerating chain of events initiated by a Donald Trump tweet criticizing federal prosecutors for recommending 7-9 years in prison for Trump pal Roger Stone, two prosecutors in the case have resigned their positions. Former justice department officials warned that the appearance was strong that someone acting on direct or tacit orders from the president had intervened in the case of Stone, the president’s friend and longtime adviser, tipping the scales of justice in Stone’s favor. The departure of the prosecutors was a highly unusual twist after the justice department reversed its sentencing recommendations just one day after making them. No explicit reasoning was given for the resignations but one prosecutor noted the resignation was effective “immediately after this filing”. Following the resignation from the case of prosecutor Aaron Zelinksy earlier today, prosecutor Jonathan Kravis has told the court that “he has resigned as an Assistant United States Attorney and therefore no longer represents the the government in this matter.” Zelinksy will remain assistant US attorney in Maryland while Kravis leaves the justice department. Stone was found guilty of lying to Congress, obstruction of justice and witness tampering in a case related to the special counsel Robert Mueller investigation. After Trump tweeted this morning that the sentencing recommendation was a “miscarriage of justice,” the justice department changed the recommendation of a 7-9 year sentence.
“The department finds the recommendation extreme and excessive and disproportionate to Stone’s offences,” an anonymous source told the Washington Post. “The department will clarify its position later today.” A justice department spokesperson insisted there had been no coordination with Trump. Kerri Kupec has gone on the record with similar assertions. https://t.co/RdHQxbJzC7 pic.twitter.com/EWwfHXRfy0 — southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) February 11, 2020 Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has called for an investigation by the justice department inspector general. The DOJ Inspector General must open an investigation immediately.
I will be sending a formal request to the IG shortly.https://t.co/JkpEzkZQFT — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 11, 2020 And many former justice department officials and others are sounding a note of alarm: This, the 2nd withdrawal notice from a career prosecutor, speaks loudly to those of us who used to work at DOJ. There is a 4-alarm fire at Justice. https://t.co/i1qfsOwTbo — Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) February 11, 2020 Career prosecutors should not have to resign. This is how Trump will re-make the DOJ as his. The political appointees should be a buffer for that. That said, proud of them for standing up and stepping out. They clearly felt there was no choice. https://t.co/oHTfk9HykX — Mimi Rocah (@Mimirocah1) February 11, 2020 The career staff at DOJ are showing the moral courage that has been lacking from the political appointees for three years. https://t.co/C3zAE7scJt — Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) February 11, 2020 As red alarm days go, this is a big one. — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 11, 2020
11 Feb 2020 20.47 GMT 'I got up at 6am to vote for you' Lauren Gambino It’s a quadrennial tradition in New Hampshire: candidates pop up at polling stations as voters cast their ballots in the state’s first-in-the-nation-primary. Elizabeth Warren visited a handful of polling stations today, delivering Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and Munchkins to volunteers who line the sidewalks with posters. At a stop in Nashua, her supporters chanted “Just two cents” – a reference to her wealth tax – and “C-F-P-B. She fights for you. She fights for me.” The art of the primary day polling station stop: selfies, Dunkin’ and lots of handshaking pic.twitter.com/pSmM2uCsak — Lauren Gambino (@laurenegambino) February 11, 2020 When Warren arrived, a crush of cameras and supporters rushed to the senator. One woman wiped tears from her eyes. Another thanked her for running. “I got up at 6am to vote for you,” another volunteer said.
The Massachusetts senator shook hands and took actual selfies – as opposed to the photographs she takes in her famous, if controversially named, “selfie line.” Afterward, she took a handful of questions from journalists. One reporter asked what message it sent to the voters of New Hampshire that Joe Biden was leaving the state for South Carolina on Tuesday night instead of staying to attend his primary night party. “I think it says that he’s not here to fight for the votes in New Hampshire,” she said. “I think that this is what democracy is about. You get out there, you talk to voters and we fight for every vote. That’s who I am. I am a fighter.”
11 Feb 2020 19.57 GMT Pictures Near the Town Hall Building in Franconia, New Hampshire. Photograph: Herb Swanson/EPA Nashua, New Hampshire. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters Sugar Hill, New Hampshire. Photograph: Herb Swanson/EPA Nashua, New Hampshire. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters
11 Feb 2020 19.17 GMT Let s/he among us who has not “eeny-meeny-miny-moe’d it” when faced with a major life decision cast the first stone. Undecided voters are morons pic.twitter.com/4QKrHKBbXD — Steve Morris (@stevemorris__) February 11, 2020 (We disagree strenuously with the notion that undecided voters are morons.)
Updated at 19.17 GMT
11 Feb 2020 18.51 GMT Voters at the polls: who they picked and why Adam Gabbatt It’s a foul day in New Hampshire, but that hasn’t stopped Gail Proctor from standing outside her polling station in Wilton, where she is holding a sign saying: “Make America kind again”. With less than six hours until the polls closed, Proctor, 69, is still undecided, although she has managed to narrow it down to three people. “Elizabeth, because she’s so smart and I feel she’s the one with the skills, the ability and the experience to deal with what’s really wrong in America, which is the money, the corporatists,” Proctor said. “Then my heart’s always with Bernie, but I worry about electability. And then Pete.” Gail, a Klobuchar supporter; also Gail, (still) undecided; and Karon, who voted for Buttigieg pic.twitter.com/f3A2J9md0x — Adam Gabbatt (@adamgabbatt) February 11, 2020 Karon Walker, 61, was also positioned outside Wilton town hall, about 25 miles south-west of Manchester. Walker was encouraging Proctor to vote for Buttigieg. “He’s my man, he’s terrific. The antithesis of what we have in the Oval Office right now,” Walker said. She was a Republican, until Trump won the party’s nomination in 2016. “The Republican party is now Trump’s party, with the exception of Mitt Romney,” Walker said. She decided Buttigieg was her candidate all the way back in April. “Pete’s intelligence and compassion and thoughtfulness and his demeanour, frankly. he’s Not gonna get dragged into the fray,” Walker said. “Wherever Donald Trump goes he creates havoc. And I think that if you allow yourself to be drawn into that and argue with him on his own terms, you’ve already lost. And I don’t think Pete does that.” Proctor and Walker were joined by Gail Hoar, 79, an artist who lives nearby. Hoar was voting for Amy Klobuchar, who has made a late surge in New Hampshire. “She’s bright, she’s non-divisive she has not taken a stand that castigates other people. If she differs on policy she says: ‘We differ on policy but we’re together,’” Hoar said. “Also she is somebody that I think many people can relate to. I can’t find a negative about her. She has not gone too far on the healthcare too quickly. We need to get to where Bernie is but we need to take time to get there.”
11 Feb 2020 18.31 GMT How will tonight go for the candidates? Who’s laying wagers? level of surprise if ________ won New Hampshire
Sanders: 😐
Buttigieg: 😐
Warren: 🤔 🤔
Biden: between 🤔 and 🤯, much closer to 🤯
Klobuchar: between 🤔 and 🤯, much closer to 🤯
Anyone else: full 🤯 — David Byler (@databyler) February 11, 2020 Klob can probably get away with 3rd. Sanders can probably deal with second. Buttigieg might be able to slide to third. Otherwise, accurate. https://t.co/kh6ooMulY6 — Sean T at RCP (@SeanTrende) February 11, 2020 I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Buttigieg’s best town of any size tonight will be Bedford, NH. But I’d expect most of the map (non-major metro NH) to be shaded Bernie. — Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) February 11, 2020 Biden might cut this factoid out to hang on the fridge: Dem candidates who have finished *worse* than 3rd in NH and still gone on to win states:
2004: John Edwards (4th, 12%)
1992: Jerry Brown (5th, 8%)
1988: Jesse Jackson (4th, 8%); Al Gore (5th, 7%)
1984: Jesse Jackson (4th, 6%) — Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) February 11, 2020


theguardian--2020-02-11--Warren and Sanders: Amazon must end culture that puts profit over people

Democratic presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are among more than a dozen senators telling Amazon chief Jeff Bezos of their “ serious concern ” about worker safety at the tech giant .
In a letter to Bezos , the lawmakers called Amazon ’ s record “ dismal ” .
“ Your employees ’ lives and wellbeing depend upon your swift action , ” the letter read , demanding a written response by 21 February .
“ Any practice that puts profits before worker safety is unacceptable.
” Kamala Harris , who ended her campaign for the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 senators urging Bezos “ to take immediate steps to protect employees from workplace injuries ” .
Officials said the senators ’ concerns stemmed from reports about employee safety and mistreatment .
Recent exposés have detailed how Amazon executives dodge regulations to institute warehouse working conditions that include package quotas and speed requirements .
Many critics say such requirements force employees into working through hunger , fatigue , injury or illness .
The senators recommended the adoption of mandatory physician referrals for workers who experience symptoms of illness that don ’ t improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions at Amazon warehouses .
Earlier this month , it detailed efforts by workers at a huge facility in Staten Island , New York to improve working conditions .
Among their demands , the workers sought break times long enough for them to actually reach the warehouse break room .
They also called attention to reports of high injury rates at the facility .
The Atlantic , meanwhile , uncovered “ ruthless quotas ” that worsened ahead of the holiday season , adding to reporting from Gizmodo on often “ gruesome ” injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are required to sign non-compete and non-disclosure agreements that ban them from working for competitors or discussing their jobs once they leave .
In a statement in answer to the senators ’ letter , Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Cheeseman insisted “ nothing is more important … than the safety and wellbeing ” of employees .
Pointing to industry-wide underreporting of such issues , she said Amazon took “ an aggressive stance on recording injuries no matter how big or small ” .
“ The invitation remains open for any of the senators to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Monday , in an editorial for the New York Times , Amazon public relations chief Jay Carney pointed to a November 2018 call from Sanders which praised a minimum wage increase to $ 15 hourly .
“ His call at least recognized a reality often forgotten or ignored in debates about the role a company like ours can and should play in the economy , ” said Carney , formerly White House press secretary under Barack Obama .
He added that the tech company “ deserves scrutiny ” but has “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand of America ’ s leading businesses ” .
The editorial drew criticism from journalists and policymakers who said it omitted to mention how pressure from Sanders ’ office was required before Amazon agreed to the wage increase .
Carney replied by stating that the editorial was submitted prior to the lawmakers ’ letter to Bezos and Sanders ’ congratulatory call was made 15 months ago .

Democratic presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are among more than a dozen senators telling Amazon chief Jeff Bezos of their “serious concern” about worker safety at the tech giant.
In a letter to Bezos, the lawmakers called Amazon’s record “dismal”.
“Your employees’ lives and wellbeing depend upon your swift action,” the letter read, demanding a written response by 21 February. “Any practice that puts profits before worker safety is unacceptable.”
Kamala Harris, who ended her campaign for the White House in December, was also among the 15 senators urging Bezos “to take immediate steps to protect employees from workplace injuries”.
Officials said the senators’ concerns stemmed from reports about employee safety and mistreatment. Recent exposés have detailed how Amazon executives dodge regulations to institute warehouse working conditions that include package quotas and speed requirements.
Many critics say such requirements force employees into working through hunger, fatigue, injury or illness. The senators recommended the adoption of mandatory physician referrals for workers who experience symptoms of illness that don’t improve.
The Guardian has reported extensively on conditions at Amazon warehouses.
Earlier this month, it detailed efforts by workers at a huge facility in Staten Island, New York to improve working conditions. Among their demands, the workers sought break times long enough for them to actually reach the warehouse break room. They also called attention to reports of high injury rates at the facility.
The Atlantic, meanwhile, uncovered “ruthless quotas” that worsened ahead of the holiday season, adding to reporting from Gizmodo on often “gruesome” injuries sustained by warehouse employees.
Amazon employees are required to sign non-compete and non-disclosure agreements that ban them from working for competitors or discussing their jobs once they leave.
In a statement in answer to the senators’ letter, Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Cheeseman insisted “nothing is more important … than the safety and wellbeing” of employees.
Pointing to industry-wide underreporting of such issues, she said Amazon took “an aggressive stance on recording injuries no matter how big or small”.
“The invitation remains open for any of the senators to come take a tour,” she said.
On Monday, in an editorial for the New York Times, Amazon public relations chief Jay Carney pointed to a November 2018 call from Sanders which praised a minimum wage increase to $15 hourly.
“His call at least recognized a reality often forgotten or ignored in debates about the role a company like ours can and should play in the economy,” said Carney, formerly White House press secretary under Barack Obama.
Funny how @JayCarney's op-ed on Bernie Sanders praising @Amazon for being so great to workers in 2018 came out just days after @BernieSanders signed a letter to @JeffBezos citing "Amazon's dismal safety record" that puts profits over its "own workers' safety and health" pic.twitter.com/YOtlTwoCwJ — Ken Bensinger (@kenbensinger) February 10, 2020
He added that the tech company “deserves scrutiny” but has “already done many of the things politicians demand of America’s leading businesses”.
The editorial drew criticism from journalists and policymakers who said it omitted to mention how pressure from Sanders’ office was required before Amazon agreed to the wage increase.
Carney replied by stating that the editorial was submitted prior to the lawmakers’ letter to Bezos and Sanders’ congratulatory call was made 15 months ago.


theguardian--2020-02-11--Tulsi Gabbard's unique campaign brought people together – but looks to be coming apart

If Tulsi Gabbard drops out of the Democratic race in the coming days , her unique campaign is likely to be remembered more for her spats with the Democratic party , accusations of being a Russian operative , and the imagery of her promise to “ bring a soldier ’ s heart to the White House ” than a realistic bid for president .
The Hawaii congresswoman ’ s unusual political journey , which has seen her go from a rising progressive star to a regular Fox News guest supported by Republicans and libertarians , has so far not endeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which goes to the polls Tuesday .
After more than a year campaigning and holding more than 130 events in the Granite state alone , Gabbard is currently at 3.3 % in the polls .
She held 70 events in Iowa , an effort that won her the votes of 342 people on caucus night .
“ As president I will have your back , ” she told a crowd in Rochester this weekend .
“ I promise I will treat every American with respect.
” In all likelihood , Gabbard will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Democratic contest has not been kind to the long-shot candidates so far .
The businessman and former congressman John Delaney , after spending two and a half years and more than $ 25m campaigning , dropped out days before the Iowa caucus .
Joe Sestak , a three-star admiral and two-term congressman , pulled out at the end of 2019 .
Bigger names such as Cory Booker , Julian Castro , Kamala Harris and Beto O ’ Rourke have all fallen to the whims of the Democratic electorate .
Gabbard ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an inauspicious start , when the Elk ’ s Lodge venue misspelled her name : a TV screen displaying a “ Tulsie ” rally alongside listings for “ western night ” and “ meat raffle ” .
Gabbard is 38 and has made physical vitality – along with her military service in the Hawaii national guard – a central feature of her campaign .
She has posted videos of her surfing , taking part in push-up contests and working out in the gym .
Yet for all that she has run a strangely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowly , using lingering pauses , more like a university lecturer than a politician inspiring a crowd .
In Greenland , it didn ’ t bother the crowd .
“ I met Tulsi on New Year ’ s Day , ” said Spiro Paras , an ardent Gabbard supporter .
“ With direct personal contact I realized she has a soul and means what she says .
That ’ s visible in her eyes and face.
” The rally came amid a busy weekend for Gabbard .
On Saturday she went on Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to fire key impeachment witnesses Lt Col Alexander Vindman and EU ambassador Gordon Sondland .
On Sunday , she went on Fox News again , this time appearing on Sean Hannity ’ s show .
Hannity , a friend and informal adviser to the president who has promoted conspiracy theories about Barack Obama , Hillary Clinton and the dead DNC staffer Seth Rich , praised Gabbard for her courage .
“ I think she ’ s taken politically brave acts that have blacklisted her with the Democratic party leadership , ” Paras @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Gabbard ’ s Fox News sojourns .
Gabbard bucked her party ’ s elders to back Bernie Sanders over Clinton in 2016 , and in December did not vote to impeach Trump .
In January , Gabbard sued Clinton for $ 50m in retaliation for Clinton suggesting the Hawaiian was a Russian asset , months after Gabbard filed a $ 50m lawsuit against Google for allegedly suspending her campaign ’ s advertising .
Despite all evidence to the contrary , Gabbard ’ s campaign believes she can outperform expectations in New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show her with more than 5 % support here – those polls exist , they are just few and far between – and Gabbard ’ s supporters seem just as optimistic .
“ Definitely top three , possibly even the top one , ” was Paras ’ s prediction for Tuesday ’ s vote .
Gabbard does have some reason to feel aggrieved at her treatment .
Along with Clinton ’ s Russia accusations , Gabbard was left out of a pair of CNN town halls last week , even as the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower than Gabbard – was invited .
She has regularly complained that her campaign hasn ’ t received enough coverage from the press .
That was the case at her rallies on Saturday and Sunday , where there were comparatively few journalists .
They missed Gabbard , whose central theme is ending wars and diverting military funding to social programs , playing up the political diversity of her supporters , who are often male and skew conservative .
Gabbard asked the Democrats in the crowd to raise their hands , then the Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ libertarians or independents ” to put their hands in the air .
Kevin Frost , 38 , who was at the Greenland event with his wife and daughters , fitted into the independent camp .
“ I feel like some of the field is a little bit far left for where I feel we are as a country , ” Frost said .
He voted for Mitt Romney over Barack Obama in 2012 , and for John McCain in 2008 .
In 2016 , Frost said he voted “ against Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The idea that [ Gabbard ] stepped out and held off the impeachment fiasco , that speaks volumes , ” Frost said .
“ To me it seems like if she ’ s going to do that now , then when she ’ s president she ’ ll maybe think of things a a little bit more too.
” If the vote on Tuesday reflects the polling , Gabbard will probably not be president .
To her fans , her attempt to bring people with different political beliefs together might have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t clear how it helps in winning the Democratic nomination .

Adam Gabbatt in Greenland, New Hampshire

If Tulsi Gabbard drops out of the Democratic race in the coming days, her unique campaign is likely to be remembered more for her spats with the Democratic party, accusations of being a Russian operative, and the imagery of her promise to “bring a soldier’s heart to the White House” than a realistic bid for president.
The Hawaii congresswoman’s unusual political journey, which has seen her go from a rising progressive star to a regular Fox News guest supported by Republicans and libertarians, has so far not endeared her to supporters in New Hampshire, which goes to the polls Tuesday.
Q&A Why is New Hampshire important? Show While Iowa traditionally holds the first caucuses in the presidential election, New Hampshire has held the first primary since 1920. The goal for presidential candidates is to win early-voting states and create name recognition and a sense of momentum, as well to pick up their first delegates, who will eventually choose the nominee in summer. Sometimes a clear favorite for the nomination emerges quickly, but the last two major Democratic primary contests, pitting Barack Obama against Hillary Clinton and then Bernie Sanders against Clinton, have lasted from the Iowa caucuses in January through to late spring. Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback.
After more than a year campaigning and holding more than 130 events in the Granite state alone, Gabbard is currently at 3.3% in the polls. She held 70 events in Iowa, an effort that won her the votes of 342 people on caucus night.
“As president I will have your back,” she told a crowd in Rochester this weekend. “I promise I will treat every American with respect.”
In all likelihood, Gabbard will not get the opportunity to prove that. The Democratic contest has not been kind to the long-shot candidates so far. The businessman and former congressman John Delaney, after spending two and a half years and more than $25m campaigning, dropped out days before the Iowa caucus.
Joe Sestak, a three-star admiral and two-term congressman, pulled out at the end of 2019. Bigger names such as Cory Booker, Julian Castro, Kamala Harris and Beto O’Rourke have all fallen to the whims of the Democratic electorate.
A supporter of Tulsi Gabbard attends a campaign event in Lebanon, New Hampshire on 6 February 2020. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Gabbard’s rally in Rochester had gotten off to an inauspicious start, when the Elk’s Lodge venue misspelled her name: a TV screen displaying a “Tulsie” rally alongside listings for “western night” and “meat raffle”.
Gabbard is 38 and has made physical vitality – along with her military service in the Hawaii national guard – a central feature of her campaign. She has posted videos of her surfing, taking part in push-up contests and working out in the gym.
Yet for all that she has run a strangely joyless campaign.
At rallies she speaks slowly, using lingering pauses, more like a university lecturer than a politician inspiring a crowd. In Greenland, it didn’t bother the crowd.
“I met Tulsi on New Year’s Day,” said Spiro Paras, an ardent Gabbard supporter. “With direct personal contact I realized she has a soul and means what she says. That’s visible in her eyes and face.”
The rally came amid a busy weekend for Gabbard. On Saturday she went on Fox News to defend Donald Trump’s decision to fire key impeachment witnesses Lt Col Alexander Vindman and EU ambassador Gordon Sondland.
On Sunday, she went on Fox News again, this time appearing on Sean Hannity’s show. Hannity, a friend and informal adviser to the president who has promoted conspiracy theories about Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the dead DNC staffer Seth Rich, praised Gabbard for her courage.
“I think she’s taken politically brave acts that have blacklisted her with the Democratic party leadership,” Paras said.
He was referring not just to Gabbard’s Fox News sojourns. Gabbard bucked her party’s elders to back Bernie Sanders over Clinton in 2016, and in December did not vote to impeach Trump. In January, Gabbard sued Clinton for $50m in retaliation for Clinton suggesting the Hawaiian was a Russian asset, months after Gabbard filed a $50m lawsuit against Google for allegedly suspending her campaign’s advertising.
Despite all evidence to the contrary, Gabbard’s campaign believes she can outperform expectations in New Hampshire. One aide pointed to polls that show her with more than 5% support here – those polls exist, they are just few and far between – and Gabbard’s supporters seem just as optimistic.
“Definitely top three, possibly even the top one,” was Paras’s prediction for Tuesday’s vote.
Tulsi Gabbard takes a selfie with members of the staff at Cranmore Mountain Resort on 28 January 2020 in North Conway, New Hampshire. Photograph: Mary Altaffer/AP
Gabbard does have some reason to feel aggrieved at her treatment. Along with Clinton’s Russia accusations, Gabbard was left out of a pair of CNN town halls last week, even as the former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick – polling even lower than Gabbard – was invited. She has regularly complained that her campaign hasn’t received enough coverage from the press.
That was the case at her rallies on Saturday and Sunday, where there were comparatively few journalists. They missed Gabbard, whose central theme is ending wars and diverting military funding to social programs, playing up the political diversity of her supporters, who are often male and skew conservative.
Gabbard asked the Democrats in the crowd to raise their hands, then the Republicans to raise their hands, and then the “libertarians or independents” to put their hands in the air.
Kevin Frost, 38, who was at the Greenland event with his wife and daughters, fitted into the independent camp.
“I feel like some of the field is a little bit far left for where I feel we are as a country,” Frost said.
He voted for Mitt Romney over Barack Obama in 2012, and for John McCain in 2008. In 2016, Frost said he voted “against Clinton, but not for Trump”.
“The idea that [Gabbard] stepped out and held off the impeachment fiasco, that speaks volumes,” Frost said. “To me it seems like if she’s going to do that now, then when she’s president she’ll maybe think of things a a little bit more too.”
If the vote on Tuesday reflects the polling, Gabbard will probably not be president.
To her fans, her attempt to bring people with different political beliefs together might have been a noble effort, but it just isn’t clear how it helps in winning the Democratic nomination.


theguardian--2020-02-11--Rhode Island priest claims 'pedophilia doesn't kill anyone' in abortion row

A Rhode Island priest who sought to ban pro-choice lawmakers from receiving communion has suggested abortion is worse than child abuse .
“ We are not talking about any other moral issue , where some may make it a comparison between pedophilia and abortion , ” the Rev Richard Bucci told local TV station WJAR .
“ Pedophilia doesn ’ t kill anyone and this does.
” The priest made headlines last week after posting a list of 44 state lawmakers who would be barred from communion because of their support for reproductive rights .
The note in the Sacred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted for the state ’ s Reproductive Privacy Act , which formally adopts into state law the 1973 US supreme court ruling legalizing abortion , also known as Roe v Wade .
Citing “ 2,000 years ” of Catholic teachings , Bucci also barred the officials from witnessing marriages , reading during funerals and serving as godparents .
Adam Satchell , a Democratic state senator , told WJAR he had learned of his inclusion on the list and was concerned about a request to be godfather to his niece .
“ My wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It was going to be her first godchild , and now we can ’ t. ” The Democratic state representative Carol Hagan McEntee alleged she was asked to leave a relative ’ s funeral and banned from delivering the eulogy by Bucci .
According to CBS News , Hagan McEntee led the passage of a state law which extended the statute of limitations for cases of child sex abuse and her older sister previously testified about sexual abuse by a then priest at the same Sacred Heart church .
Hagan McEntee added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bucci ’ s ] predecessor committed on my sister ” did not compare “ to what he believes I did wrong by voting ” .
“ When he says that pedophilia doesn ’ t kill people , well , he clearly doesn ’ t understand , ” she told CBS .
“ He should ’ ve come to the statehouse and listened to the testimonies because there are lot of victims who are no longer with us .
“ The injured voices that I heard – they ’ ve stolen their childhoods .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And the ones we still hear from are the lucky ones because they ’ re the ones who are still alive ; they didn ’ t die of an overdose or suicide .
You know , there ’ s plenty of those that never made it long enough to come forward.
” The state representative Julie Casimiro was also named in the church flyer .
In a statement , she told CBS “ the Catholic church needs to take a look at themselves ” to see “ why they are closing churches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it be because Fr Bucci ’ s most recent statement was that ‘ No one has ever died from pedophilia ’ , ” the statement read .
The Roman Catholic diocese of Providence did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Carolyn Cronin , a diocese spokeswoman , told WJAR the Catholic church provides detailed instructions for sacraments but ultimately it is “ the pastor ’ s duty to apply them within his parish , in accord with church law ” .
“ Because the church entrusts to each pastor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his parish , ” she said , “ the daily pastoral and administrative decisions are made at the local parish level .
”

A Rhode Island priest who sought to ban pro-choice lawmakers from receiving communion has suggested abortion is worse than child abuse.
“We are not talking about any other moral issue, where some may make it a comparison between pedophilia and abortion,” the Rev Richard Bucci told local TV station WJAR. “Pedophilia doesn’t kill anyone and this does.”
The priest made headlines last week after posting a list of 44 state lawmakers who would be barred from communion because of their support for reproductive rights.
The note in the Sacred Heart church community bulletin included lawmakers who voted for the state’s Reproductive Privacy Act, which formally adopts into state law the 1973 US supreme court ruling legalizing abortion, also known as Roe v Wade.
Citing “2,000 years” of Catholic teachings, Bucci also barred the officials from witnessing marriages, reading during funerals and serving as godparents.
Here’s a photo of the notice received by lawmakers including @repmcentee33 pic.twitter.com/diBYuAVod9 — Ian Donnis (@IanDon) January 31, 2020
Adam Satchell, a Democratic state senator, told WJAR he had learned of his inclusion on the list and was concerned about a request to be godfather to his niece.
“My wife was excited,” he said. “It was going to be her first godchild, and now we can’t.”
The Democratic state representative Carol Hagan McEntee alleged she was asked to leave a relative’s funeral and banned from delivering the eulogy by Bucci.
According to CBS News, Hagan McEntee led the passage of a state law which extended the statute of limitations for cases of child sex abuse and her older sister previously testified about sexual abuse by a then priest at the same Sacred Heart church.
Hagan McEntee added that “the heinous crime that [Bucci’s] predecessor committed on my sister” did not compare “to what he believes I did wrong by voting”.
“When he says that pedophilia doesn’t kill people, well, he clearly doesn’t understand,” she told CBS. “He should’ve come to the statehouse and listened to the testimonies because there are lot of victims who are no longer with us.
“The injured voices that I heard – they’ve stolen their childhoods. They’ve practically destroyed their lives. And the ones we still hear from are the lucky ones because they’re the ones who are still alive; they didn’t die of an overdose or suicide. You know, there’s plenty of those that never made it long enough to come forward.”
The state representative Julie Casimiro was also named in the church flyer. In a statement, she told CBS “the Catholic church needs to take a look at themselves” to see “why they are closing churches and losing worshipers”.
“Could it be because Fr Bucci’s most recent statement was that ‘No one has ever died from pedophilia’,” the statement read.
The Roman Catholic diocese of Providence did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Carolyn Cronin, a diocese spokeswoman, told WJAR the Catholic church provides detailed instructions for sacraments but ultimately it is “the pastor’s duty to apply them within his parish, in accord with church law”.
“Because the church entrusts to each pastor the duty of teaching, sanctifying and governing his parish,” she said, “the daily pastoral and administrative decisions are made at the local parish level.”


theguardian--2020-02-11--Bloomberg and Trump are two sides of the same sinister coin | Derecka Purnell

Donald Trump is president of the United States .
He must lose the next presidential election and leave office .
Stakes feel higher than ever , which makes me suspicious of anyone who refuses to support the Democratic presidential nominee in the general election .
Well , with one major exception : Michael Bloomberg .
Bloomberg must never become president of the United States .
He and Trump are two sides of the same white supremacist billionaire coin .
Heads for a national Muslim ban , tails for spying on thousands of Muslims in New Jersey and New York .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his intolerable views on people of color .
Political commentator Benjamin Dixon recently unearthed and shared a clip of Michael Bloomberg ’ s 2015 speech at the Aspen Institute : “ 95 % … murderers and murder victims fit one MO .
You can just take the description , Xerox it , and pass it out to all the cops .
They are male , minorities , 16 to 25 .
That ’ s true in New York , that ’ s true in virtually every city .
And that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got to get the guns out of the hands of the people that are getting killed .
You want to spend the money on a lot of cops in the streets .
Put the cops where the crime is , which means in minority neighborhoods .
So one of the unintended consequences is people say , ‘ Oh my God , you ’ re arresting kids for marijuana that are all minorities !
’ Yes , that ’ s true .
Why ?
Because we put all the cops in minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true .
Why we do it ?
Because that ’ s where all the crime is .
And the way you get the guns out of the kids ’ hands is to throw them up against the walls and frisk them .
And then they start , ‘ Oh , I don ’ t want to get caught.
’ So they don ’ t bring the gun .
They still have a gun , but they leave it at home.
” The billionaire mayor is not only racist , but wrong .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported for murder were 26 % white , 44 % black and 29 % unknown .
And 60 % of the victims were black and more than 30 % were white .
Under Bloomberg ’ s paradigm , white people could go into black neighborhoods and kill endless amounts of people , but the police would never search or any other suspect who is not a “ minority.
” Black boys and men are disproportionately victims of homicides , but prisons increase violence , not decrease it .
Additionally , the strongest indicator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race .
Studies show that “ violent crime rates for extremely disadvantaged white neighborhoods are more similar to rates for extremely disadvantaged black areas than to rates for other types of white neighborhoods.
” Rather than putting more cops on the streets , Bloomberg , or any mayor , could have used community development and investment to reduce violence .
But as recently as 2015 , Bloomberg doubled down on his faulty claims .
Bloomberg ’ s logic illustrates Michelle Alexander ’ s argument in The New Jim Crow , that politicians exploit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to push racially biased and punitive approaches to harass and incarcerate black people for all types of harm .
The murder rate is in significant decline across the United States , but the government still pours resources into police and prisons to solve problems that are not there .
What Bloomberg calls “ unintended consequences ” are actually a foundational piece of mass incarceration - the raids , frisks , arrests and jail .
The results are fatal .
Police kill around 1,000 people every year , and injure , assault , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will never know simply because they do not die and become hashtags .
Unfortunately , Bloomberg , like Trump , does have some black support .
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Francisco Mayor London Breed have both endorsed Bloomberg .
Why ?
Birds of a feather stop and frisk together .
San Francisco has notoriously bad stop and frisk policies that shape the city ’ s police , and the DC police underreported stop and frisk for years , even after the unconstitutional program failed in New York City .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their pockets .
Bloomberg has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to initiatives that Mayor Breed supports ; $ 4 million to Mayor Bowser ’ s causes , and a recent $ 5 million donation to Stacey Abrams for her voting rights political action committee .
Although Abrams has yet to endorse anyone , no black woman could sway my vote that way .
Not Stacey , London , or Muriel .
It is clear what is going on here .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign agenda does not threaten the black political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more progressive presidential candidates like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren do .
Bloomberg is a gift to the black elite .
Actually , Bloomberg is a gift to all elites .
With the help of the Democratic National Convention , he is buying an election and using favorable rule changes to rise in the polls .
Despite the obvious conflict of interest , two of the people responsible for changing the unique donor fundraising requirement are actively working on Bloomberg ’ s campaign .
If this is what it takes to defeat Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamophobic billionaire - then we will lose much more than an election in November .
• None Derecka Purnell is a social movement lawyer and writer based in Washington DC

Donald Trump is president of the United States. He must lose the next presidential election and leave office. Stakes feel higher than ever, which makes me suspicious of anyone who refuses to support the Democratic presidential nominee in the general election. Well, with one major exception: Michael Bloomberg.
Bloomberg must never become president of the United States. He and Trump are two sides of the same white supremacist billionaire coin. Heads for a national Muslim ban, tails for spying on thousands of Muslims in New Jersey and New York. Actually, Bloomberg is much more explicit in his intolerable views on people of color. Political commentator Benjamin Dixon recently unearthed and shared a clip of Michael Bloomberg’s 2015 speech at the Aspen Institute:
“95% … murderers and murder victims fit one MO. You can just take the description, Xerox it, and pass it out to all the cops. They are male, minorities, 16 to 25. That’s true in New York, that’s true in virtually every city. And that’s where the real crime is. You’ve got to get the guns out of the hands of the people that are getting killed. You want to spend the money on a lot of cops in the streets. Put the cops where the crime is, which means in minority neighborhoods. So one of the unintended consequences is people say, ‘Oh my God, you’re arresting kids for marijuana that are all minorities!’ Yes, that’s true. Why? Because we put all the cops in minority neighborhoods. Yes, that’s true. Why we do it? Because that’s where all the crime is. And the way you get the guns out of the kids’ hands is to throw them up against the walls and frisk them. And then they start, ‘Oh, I don’t want to get caught.’ So they don’t bring the gun. They still have a gun, but they leave it at home.”
The billionaire mayor is not only racist, but wrong. In New York state from 2008-2018, people reported for murder were 26% white, 44% black and 29% unknown. And 60% of the victims were black and more than 30% were white. Under Bloomberg’s paradigm, white people could go into black neighborhoods and kill endless amounts of people, but the police would never search or any other suspect who is not a “minority.”
Black boys and men are disproportionately victims of homicides, but prisons increase violence, not decrease it. Additionally, the strongest indicator of murder is socioeconomic disadvantage, not race. Studies show that “violent crime rates for extremely disadvantaged white neighborhoods are more similar to rates for extremely disadvantaged black areas than to rates for other types of white neighborhoods.” Rather than putting more cops on the streets, Bloomberg, or any mayor, could have used community development and investment to reduce violence. But as recently as 2015, Bloomberg doubled down on his faulty claims.
Bloomberg’s logic illustrates Michelle Alexander’s argument in The New Jim Crow, that politicians exploit real concerns and fears about violent crime to push racially biased and punitive approaches to harass and incarcerate black people for all types of harm. The murder rate is in significant decline across the United States, but the government still pours resources into police and prisons to solve problems that are not there. What Bloomberg calls “unintended consequences” are actually a foundational piece of mass incarceration - the raids, frisks, arrests and jail.
The results are fatal. Police kill around 1,000 people every year, and injure, assault, and harass hundreds of thousands more whose names we will never know simply because they do not die and become hashtags.
Unfortunately, Bloomberg, like Trump, does have some black support. Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Francisco Mayor London Breed have both endorsed Bloomberg. Why? Birds of a feather stop and frisk together. San Francisco has notoriously bad stop and frisk policies that shape the city’s police, and the DC police underreported stop and frisk for years, even after the unconstitutional program failed in New York City.
He’s on their ballots and in their pockets. Bloomberg has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to initiatives that Mayor Breed supports; $4 million to Mayor Bowser’s causes, and a recent $5 million donation to Stacey Abrams for her voting rights political action committee. Although Abrams has yet to endorse anyone, no black woman could sway my vote that way. Not Stacey, London, or Muriel.
It is clear what is going on here. Bloomberg’s campaign agenda does not threaten the black political establishment. On their other hand, more progressive presidential candidates like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren do. Bloomberg is a gift to the black elite.
Actually, Bloomberg is a gift to all elites. With the help of the Democratic National Convention, he is buying an election and using favorable rule changes to rise in the polls. Despite the obvious conflict of interest, two of the people responsible for changing the unique donor fundraising requirement are actively working on Bloomberg’s campaign.
If this is what it takes to defeat Trump - supporting a scheming, racist, Islamophobic billionaire - then we will lose much more than an election in November.


theguardian--2020-02-11--Joe Biden calls student 'lying, dog-faced pony soldier' at rally – video

In an exchange between Joe Biden and a 21-year-old college student in New Hampshire , she challenges him about his @ @ @ @ @ caucuses .
Biden responds by asking her if she has ever been to a caucus @ @ @ @ @ , he says – reportedly believing that he was quoting from a film – 'No @ @ @ @ @ 're a lying , dog-faced pony soldier . '
A videoclip of the exchange has @ @ @ @ @ lying , dog-faced pony soldier ' : just what was Joe Biden talking about ?
@ @ @ @ @ voter a 'lying , dog-faced pony soldier ' .
His time is up

In an exchange between Joe Biden and a 21-year-old college student in New Hampshire, she challenges him about his poor performance in the Iowa caucuses. Biden responds by asking her if she has ever been to a caucus. When she replies yes, he says – reportedly believing that he was quoting from a film – 'No you haven't! You're a lying, dog-faced pony soldier.' A videoclip of the exchange has goes viral


theguardian--2020-02-12--New Hampshire Democratic primary: Sanders beats Buttigieg in tight race – live coverage

When the results came in from the three tiny towns that traditionally vote first in New Hampshire , Amy Klobuchar posted them straight to Instagram .
“ We ’ re off to a great start in New Hampshire today !
” the Minnesota senator wrote about the midnight vote tallies from Dixville Notch , Millsfield , and Hart ’ s Location that showed her ahead of the Democratic pack with a total of eight votes .
But her joke presaged a successful night which has saved her campaign – for now at least .
Klobuchar came in a strong third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vote , behind her fellow moderate Pete Buttigieg on 24.4 % and Vermont socialist Bernie Sanders with 25.7 % .
Some of the credit can go to her punchy performance in Friday ’ s debate , in which she attacked Buttigieg for his youth and inexperience , telling him that “ 59 — my age — is the new 38 up here ” .
The jab also drew attention to the fact that the other top contenders Sanders , Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden are all in their 70s .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Bend mayor , slamming him for saying he would rather watch cartoons than Trump ’ s “ exhausting ” impeachment trial .
“ It is easy to go after Washington , ’ cause that ’ s a popular thing to do , ” said Klobuchar .
“ It is much harder… to lead , and much harder to take those difficult positions.
” While Buttigieg presented himself as a “ cool newcomer ” , she said , “ I don ’ t think that ’ s what people want right now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House , and look where it got us .
I think having some experience is a good thing.
” Klobuchar was born in Plymouth , Minnesota in 1960 , and practiced as a lawyer after studying at Yale and the University of Chicago Law School and then moving into politics .
She joined the Senate in 2006 , and gained a reputation for working across the aisle , taking a trip to the Baltic states and Ukraine with Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham in 2016 .
She played a memorable role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 , asking the judge if he had ever been blackout drunk .
“ I don ’ t know .
Have you ?
” he asked , repeating the question aggressively .
“ I have no drinking problem , ” she replied calmly .
She had talked about her father ’ s struggles with alcoholism minutes before , and Kavanaugh later apologised .
But Klobuchar has also been accused of bullying former staff members , with one aide allegedly being hit by a flying binder .
One bizarre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed she used a comb to eat a salad in the absence of a fork and then gave it a staff member , telling them to clean it .
“ Am I a tough boss sometimes ?
Yes , ” she has said when asked about the allegations .
“ Have I pushed people too hard ?
Yes.
” Her policies as a presidential candidate are probably best described in relation to her more leftwing rivals .
She thinks the Green New Deal – a proposed programme to tackle climate change and create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and makes the same argument about Medicare for All , the policy backed by Sanders and Elizabeth Warren that would replace the health insurance industry with a publically-run scheme .
Aware that she needed to seize her moment in the national spotlight , Klobuchar used her speech in New Hampshire on Tuesday night to look past her party and address the nation .
“ Hello America , my name is Amy Klobuchar and I will beat Donald Trump , ” she vowed .
But she faces an uphill struggle to unite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ split between Klobuchar , Buttigieg , Joe Biden and Mike Bloomberg , who plans to join the race on March 3 for Super Tuesday .
She is polling in low single digits in Nevada and South Carolina – the next state to vote – and is doing only marginally better nationally .
But as Sanders surges forward on the left and Biden fades , the Democratic establishment will eventually need to settle on a candidate .
Klobuchar has a small window now to make the case that it should be her .

13 Feb 2020 01.00 GMT Marie Yovanovitch was awarded the Trainor Award For Excellence In Diplomacy At Georgetown.
Photograph: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Marie Yovanovitch, the US ambassador to Ukraine who provided key testimony in the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump said the state department is in trouble. “We need to re-empower our diplomats to do their job. We can’t be afraid to share our expertise or challenge false assumptions,” Yovanovitch said, speaking at Georgetown University, where she was being awarded by the School of Foreign Service. “Working off of facts is not the trademark of the deep state but of the deeply committed state ... Truth matters,” she added, echoing the words of National Security Council officer Alexander Vindman, who also testified about Trump’s conduct toward Ukraine. Yovanovitch retired from the state department last month. In May, she was abruptly recalled from her post in Kyiv, after she was targeted by allies of the president, including his personal lawyer Rudy Guiliani and his associates. The ambassador’s appearence at Georgetown was her first public appearance since she testified before Congress. The university invited her to a ceremony where she was honored for “Excellence in the Conduct of Diplomacy”. The award has been previously presented to secretary of state Madeleine Albright, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
12 Feb 2020 23.46 GMT Donald Trump has conditionally approved a peace deal with the Taliban, which would withdraw American troops from Afghanistan more than 18 years after the US invaded, according to reports. From the New York Times: The deal will only be signed if the Taliban prove their commitment to a durable reduction of violence over a test period of about seven days later this month. If the Taliban do end hostilities and a deal is signed, the United States would then begin a gradual withdrawal of American troops, and direct negotiations would start between the Taliban and Afghan leaders over the future of their country. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed Afghanistan’s top leaders in separate phone calls on Tuesday that Mr. Trump had given tentative approval to this approach, according to a senior Afghan official briefed on one of the calls. The administration has said it was working on a deal for months. Talks with the Taliban were temporarily stalled in September. Plans to invite the militants to Camp David in Maryland fell apart after the death of the US soldier and once press and lawmakers realized the meeting would coincide with the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In November, Trump said talks were back on.
Updated at 23.46 GMT
12 Feb 2020 22.57 GMT Amy Klobuchar has raised $2.5m million after finishing third in New Hampshire. About 60% of donations were from first-time donors, according to her campaign. The Minnesota senator has promoted herself as the most promising centrist candidate, an antidote to the “extremes in our politics”. Her centrist competitor Joe Biden had raised about $4m since the Iowa caucuses. After his lackluster performance in Iowa and New Hampshire, Biden is betting on Nevada and South Carolina, where he’s running radio ads in a push to regain lost ground.
12 Feb 2020 22.34 GMT Influential Nevada union says Bernie Sanders would ‘end’ its hard-won healthcare Bernie Sanders arrives to speak at a Primary Night event at the SNHU Field House in Manchester, New Hampshire on February 11, 2020. Photograph: Timothy A Clary/AFP via Getty Images The Culinary Union, an influential force in Nevada politics, released a flier yesterday warning that Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for all plan would “End Culinary Healthcare” . Ahead of the Nevada caucuses next week, the group, which has not endorsed a candidate in the primaries, singled out Sanders among the top six Democratic candidates running for president as the one who will end union healthcare. The Culinary Union represents 60,000 hotel and casino workers in Nevada and it provides health coverage for more than 130,000 people. Although Elizabeth Warren’s healthcare plan is similar to Sanders’ plan, the union flier says that hers would “Replace Culinary Healthcare after 3-year transition or at end of collective bargaining agreements”. The Nevada Independent first reported the news. The union had previously cast both Sanders and Warren as candidates who want to take away hard-won union healthcare. In a statement issued today, the group’s secretary-treasurer Geoconda Argüello-Kline said, “It’s disappointing that Senator Sanders’ supporters have viciously attacked the Culinary Union and working families in Nevada simply because our union has provided facts on what certain healthcare proposals might do to take away the system of care we have built over 8 decades.” It’s unclear what effect the union’s despite with Sanders’ will have on his chances in Nevada . The group is encouraging members to participate, and directing them to early voting sites. Sanders’s Nevada state director responded: “We will guarantee that coverage is as comprehensive or more so than the health care benefits union workers currently receive, and union health clinics, including the Culinary’s health clinic, will remain open to serve their members.”
Updated at 06.55 GMT
12 Feb 2020 21.53 GMT Summary Here’s a summary of where things stand: Stunned reaction continued to unfold to a justice department reversal of a sentencing recommendation in the case of Roger Stone after Donald Trump complained on Twitter about the original recommendation.
to a justice department reversal of a sentencing recommendation in the case of Roger Stone after Donald Trump complained on Twitter about the original recommendation. Four career prosecutors stood down from their posts in apparent protest following the reversal, and one of them left the justice department entirely.
in apparent protest following the reversal, and one of them left the justice department entirely. Trump said he did not want to comment on whether he was considering a pardon of Stone “yet” . “No one even knows what he did,” Trump said.
. “No one even knows what he did,” Trump said. Stone was convicted in October by a jury of his peers on seven felony charges including obstruction of justice and witness tampering for misinformation he gave to investigators examining Trump campaign ties to Russia.
by a jury of his peers on seven felony charges including obstruction of justice and witness tampering for misinformation he gave to investigators examining Trump campaign ties to Russia. The House judiciary committee said attorney general William Barr, whom Trump congratulated for acting on his complaint about the Stone case, had agreed to testify on 31 March.
whom Trump congratulated for acting on his complaint about the Stone case, had agreed to testify on 31 March. Justice department veteran s reacted to the Stone case news with distress, saying that Barr was enabling Trump’s efforts to use justice as a sword against his political enemies and as a shield for his friends.
s reacted to the Stone case news with distress, saying that Barr was enabling Trump’s efforts to use justice as a sword against his political enemies and as a shield for his friends. A week after voting to acquit Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, Republican senators dismissed concerns about the sudden twists in the justice department:
GOP senators downplay Barr move to lessen Stone sentence. Some critical of timing of Trump tweet, but say they believe DOJ that it made the decision on Stone before Trump tweeted his fury at the sentencing recommendation of 7-9 years. https://t.co/wFvAmBZau0 pic.twitter.com/hfboOxsO6k — Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 12, 2020 In the Democratic presidential race, Bernie Sanders declared victory in New Hampshire, with Pete Buttigieg coming in second.
Bernie Sanders declared victory in New Hampshire, with Pete Buttigieg coming in second. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s campaign showed new life after a strong third-place finish, underscoring that it could be awhile before Democrats arrive at a nominee.
12 Feb 2020 21.02 GMT And here’s video of Trump saying he’s not ready to say he’s considering a pardon for Stone “yet”: President Trump: "The fact is Roger Stone was treated horribly…Roger Stone for doing – nobody even knows what he did."
Q:"Are you considering a pardon for Roger Stone?"
Trump: "I don't want to say that yet." pic.twitter.com/PCnqpyU8dg — CSPAN (@cspan) February 12, 2020
12 Feb 2020 21.00 GMT Here’s video of Donald Trump talking about what he learned from impeachment: Q: "Some Republicans have said they hoped you would learn a lesson from impeachment. What lesson did you learn from impeachment?"
President Trump: "That the democrats are crooked…that they shouldn't have brought impeachment and my poll numbers are 10 points higher." pic.twitter.com/N7ToHqdKfY — CSPAN (@cspan) February 12, 2020


theguardian--2020-02-12--New Hampshire: Bernie Sanders declares victory with Buttigieg a close second

Bernie Sanders declared victory in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday night , with Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , coming in a close second .
“ Let me say that this victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump , ” the Vermont senator said , hailing his “ unprecedented grassroots movement ” from coast to coast .
“ It is not just about beating Trump it is about transforming this country , ” he said , ending his remarks with a nod to the next contests later this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada .
It ’ s on to South Carolina .
It ’ s on to win the Democratic nomination.
” With more than 91 % of New Hampshire precincts reporting , Sanders had taken 26 % of the vote compared with Buttigieg ’ s25 % , with Senator Amy Klobuchar making a surprise surge into third place with 20 % .
The Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren appeared to place fourth , with the former vice-president Joe Biden in fifth , another disappointing result for the long-favoured frontrunner following last week ’ s chaotic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second Democratic presidential nominating contest of the election year did not yield a clear frontrunner among the candidates , and highlighted the divided support for presidential candidates with rival ideologies for the future of the party and a post-Trump America .
While Sanders and Warren are on the furthest left flank of the party , Buttigieg , Klobuchar and Biden are more moderate .
In his speech to supporters , 38-year-old Buttigieg , who is gay and campaigns with his husband , congratulated Sanders but then offered a thinly veiled criticism of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to choose between “ revolution ” and the “ status quo ” .
“ Most Americans don ’ t see where they fit in that polarizing vision , ” Buttigieg said .
New Hampshire put an end to some long-shot candidacies .
Businessman and political newcomer Andrew Yang had attracted a small but loyal following with his signature policy offering Americans a universal basic income , but said the numbers were not there for him to claim a path to the nomination , calling it “ bitterly disappointing ” .
The Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday night , with Deval Patrick , the former Massachusetts governor , expected to suspend his on Wednesday .
That would leave eight candidates still in the race to become the Democratic presidential candidate to take on Donald Trump in the November election .
While the Democratic field once boasted an historically diverse choice of candidates , it has become more white and male as it has narrowed .
After more than a year of campaigning , hundreds of events and millions of dollars spent , the New Hampshire primary came just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses , which ended in chaos over the reporting of the results .
No clear single victor has been officially declared .
Speaking to her supporters on Tuesday , Warren said it had been a good night for Sanders and Buttigieg , and congratulated Klobuchar on “ showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out ” .
But she also highlighted that it was still early days in the race – just “ two states in , with 55 states and territories to go ” – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the candidate who can “ unite this party and this country ” .
After her strong performance at a televised debate on Friday , Klobuchar surged to third place , after placing fifth in Iowa , where she had devoted the majority of her resources .
“ Hello America , my name is Amy Klobuchar and I will beat Donald Trump , ” the senator told a crowd of about 400 people in New Hampshire .
“ My heart is full tonight … While there are still ballots left to count , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way.
” Anticipating his disappointing result , Biden headed to South Carolina hours before the results were released .
His campaign is banking on strong support from black voters – who remember him fondly for his role in Obama ’ s historic presidency – in South Carolina , which votes at the end of the month .
Biden polls ahead of Sanders and Buttigieg among minority voters .
“ We need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond , ” said Biden , speaking to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ain ’ t over , man .
We ’ re just getting started.
” After a lackluster turnout in Iowa , the New Hampshire primary yielded much better news for Democrats .
With 90 % of the estimated vote reporting , the vote tally had already surpassed 2016 ’ s 250,983 , according to NBC News , and was approaching 2008 ’ s record of 288,672 voters .
Trump ’ s 2016 win was attributed , in part , to an enthusiasm gap , with some Barack Obama voters staying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After Iowa fears had mounted that Democratic voters might again be less enthused by their choices , but New Hampshire ’ s turnout is a source of encouragement .
Trump , who faces no serious challenger for his party ’ s nomination , easily won the New Hampshire Republican primary on Tuesday night .
The president mocked the Democratic candidates , saying Warren was having a “ really bad night ” and asking why billionaire candidate Tom Steyer had “ got only 3 % of the Vote in New Hampshire ” despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money on his campaign .
Despite Sanders ’ win , it was a very good night for Buttigieg and Klobuchar , who came much closer to his tally than expected .
For days Democratic strategists had viewed Sanders as the heavy favourite to win New Hampshire .
He won the state in 2016 , beating Clinton by 22 points , or 56,838 votes .
Buttigieg has argued throughout his campaign stops that a strong showing in New Hampshire would cement his frontrunner status in the primary field .
But one person was conspicuously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow candidate and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg , a billionaire who decided to completely forgo New Hampshire and all other early primary states to instead invest heavily in the crucial set of Super Tuesday states that vote on 3 March – an unconventional and risky strategy .
Another centrist , who banked on a poor performance from Biden in the early states to validate his own decision to run for the presidency , Bloomberg ’ s candidacy throws another curveball into the still crowded field .
Eric Goldman , a veteran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2020 Democratic primary contest would come in a few weeks , with the Nevada caucuses on 22 February and the South Carolina primary on the 29th .
“ The big question mark that is outstanding and will be outstanding for the next couple of weeks is how any of these candidates do when black people show up to vote , ” Goldman said .
“ The last two nominees on the Democratic side were determined in great part by how African Americans voted and I think that that is still the @ @ @ @ @

Daniel Strauss in Manchester, New Hampshire

Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday night, with Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, coming in a close second.
“Let me say that this victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump,” Sanders said, hailing his “unprecedented grassroots movement” from coast to coast.
“It is not just about beating Trump it is about transforming this country,” Sanders said, ending his remarks with a nod to the next contests later this month. “It’s on to Nevada. It’s on to South Carolina. It’s on to win the Democratic nomination.”
On Wednesday morning, with 97% of New Hampshire precincts reporting, Sanders had taken 25.7% of the vote compared with Buttigieg’s 24.4%. Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar celebrated a surprise surge into third place with 20%.
The Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren slumped in fourth with just 9% of the vote, a shade ahead of the now-ailing campaign of former vice-president Joe Biden, who came in fifth with 8.4% support – another disappointing result for the long-favoured frontrunner following last week’s chaotic Iowa caucuses.
Q&A What are the primaries? Show The primaries and caucuses are a series of contests, in all 50 US states plus Washington DC and outlying territories, by which each party selects its presidential nominee. The goal for presidential candidates is to amass a majority of delegates, whose job it is to choose the nominee at the party’s national convention later in the year. In some states, delegates are awarded on a winner-take-all basis; other states split their delegates proportionally among top winners. Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback.
The New Hampshire results underscore Sanders’ position as the new frontrunner. The results also call into question the long-term viability of Biden and Warren’s respective campaigns. At the same time, Klobuchar’s third place showing suggests her campaign could outlast some of her better-known rivals.
In his speech to supporters, 38-year-old Buttigieg congratulated Sanders, but then offered a thinly veiled criticism of his 78-year-old competitor, saying voters should not have to choose between “revolution” and the “status quo”.
“Most Americans don’t see where they fit in that polarizing vision,” Buttigieg said.
New Hampshire put an end to some long-shot candidacies. Businessman and political newcomer Andrew Yang had attracted a small but loyal following with his signature policy offering Americans a universal basic income, but said the numbers were not there for him to claim a path to the nomination. He called it “bitterly disappointing”.
Colorado senator Michael Bennet also suspended his campaign on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick dropped out, saying: “The vote in New Hampshire last night was not enough for us to create the practical wind at the campaign’s back to go on to the next round of voting. So I have decided to suspend the campaign, effective immediately.”
Those announcements left just eight candidates in the Democratic primary. None of the remaining major candidates are African American, a stark contrast to the early months of the primary.
Elizabeth Warren answers questions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Monday. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters
After more than a year of campaigning, hundreds of events and millions of dollars spent, the New Hampshire primary came just over a week after the Iowa caucuses, which ended in chaos over the reporting of the results. No clear single victor has been officially declared.
Speaking to her supporters on Tuesday, Warren said it had been a good night for Sanders and Buttigieg, and congratulated Klobuchar on “showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out”.
But she also said that it was still in the race – just “two states in, with 55 states and territories to go” – and once again attempted to cast herself as the candidate who can “unite this party and this country”.
After her strong performance at a televised debate on Friday, Klobuchar surged to third place, after placing fifth in Iowa, where she had devoted the majority of her resources.
“Hello America, my name is Amy Klobuchar and I will beat Donald Trump,” the senator told a crowd of about 400 people in New Hampshire. “My heart is full tonight. While there are still ballots left to count, we have beaten the odds every step of the way.”
Anticipating a lackluster result, Biden headed to South Carolina hours before the results were released.
His campaign is banking on strong support from black voters in South Carolina, which votes at the end of the month. Biden polls ahead of Sanders and Buttigieg among minority voters.
Democratic turnout was better in New Hampshire than Iowa. With 90% of the estimated vote reporting, the vote tally had already surpassed 2016’s 250,983, according to NBC News, and was approaching 2008’s record of 288,672 voters.
Trump’s 2016 win was attributed, in part, to an enthusiasm gap, with some Barack Obama voters staying home instead of voting for Hillary Clinton. After Iowa, fears had mounted that Democratic voters might again be less enthused by their choices, but New Hampshire’s turnout is a source of encouragement.
Trump, who faces no serious challenger for his party’s nomination, easily won the New Hampshire Republican primary on Tuesday night.
One person looming over the Democratic race was fellow candidate and former New York mayor and centrist Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire who decided to completely forgo New Hampshire and all other early primary states to instead invest heavily in the crucial set of Super Tuesday states that vote on 3 March – an unconventional and risky strategy.
Additional reporting by Joan E Greve, Lauren Gambino and Adam Gabbatt


theguardian--2020-02-12--Democratic field narrows after New Hampshire but race is far from settled

After the Iowa caucuses failed to produce a clear winner last week , the results of the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday night helped crystalize the presidential primary - only insomuch as it appears to be a fiercely contested battle between Bernie Sanders and any candidate who can stop him .
From a sports arena in Manchester on Tuesday night , the Vermont senator and self-declared democratic socialist claimed “ a great victory ” and declared the “ beginning of the end of Donald Trump ” while his rivals sought to convince Democrats nervous about a Sanders nomination that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was trailed closely by a pair of midwestern moderates : Pete Buttigieg , the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , who rose from political obscurity to effectively tie Sanders in the Iowa caucuses last week , and Senator Amy Klobuchar , who finished a promising and surprise third after presenting herself as an antidote to the “ extremes in our politics ” .
In a dismal finish , Senator Elizabeth Warren , from neighboring Massachusetts , and the former vice-president Joe Biden , who has led the field nationally since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not meet the threshold to earn delegates in the state .
But the primary race remains deeply unsettled , with everything to play for .
All five leading candidates in New Hampshire determined to move ahead to the next series of contests in Nevada , South Carolina and beyond to Super Tuesday on 3 March , where a self-funding billionaire candidate – the former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg – lies in wait , having made the risky decision to skip the traditionally crucial early voting states .
Many in the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposition to Sanders will allow the senator to slip by , charting a similar path to the nomination as Trump did in 2016 .
But the road for Sanders is hardly straightforward .
In 2016 , he carried the state by 22 points over Hillary Clinton .
In 2020 , he won by less than 2 points , raising questions about his ability to expand beyond his core base of support from young voters and liberals .
“ We have been told by some that you must either be for revolution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Buttigieg told his raucous supporters on Tuesday night in Nashua .
“ Most Americans don ’ t see where they fit in that polarizing vision.
” At Klobuchar ’ s rally in Concord on Tuesday night she said Trump ’ s “ worst nightmare ” would be to give the “ people in the middle ” someone to rally behind in November .
But there are immediate questions about where these two go next .
With a higher national profile and and a more robust fundraising operation , Buttigieg is perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the early state contests .
But he has failed to prove he can win support from black and Latino voters that will be critical in the days to come .
Klobuchar , who only recently jumped into the top three after a well-reviewed debate performance on Friday and an influx of campaign donations , has even less of a footprint in the forthcoming contests .
She ’ s scrambling to send staff to Nevada , which holds a caucus in just 10 days , on 22 February .
Warren , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate ” and Biden , who has staked his campaign on the promise that he is the most electable general election nominee , now face serious questions about how much longer they can afford to continue .
In an election day memo to supporters , Warren ’ s campaign manager , Roger Lau , sought to reassure supporters that the senator was prepared to go the distance .
“ The road to the Democratic nomination is not paved with statewide winner-take-all victories , ” he wrote , adding : “ Warren has proven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign argues that a reversal of fortunes awaits the former vice-president in the diverse states to come , but national polling has already recorded a significant drop in his support .
Sanders edged past him for the first time in a Monmouth poll this week as a pair of billionaires , Bloomberg and fellow candidate Tom Steyer peel away critical support from black voters .
On Tuesday , Biden canceled plans to spend primary night in Nashua and instead flew to South Carolina , which has become a must-win for the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ain ’ t over , man , ” Biden told supporters at an event in Columbia , South Carolina , on Tuesday night .
“ We ’ re just getting started.
” The chaotic spectacle in Iowa , and the specter of a lengthy primary filled with jostling candidates , has left Americans with a dim view of the Democrats ’ chances in November .
Two-thirds of voters believe Trump will be re-elected , even though most Americans disagree that he deserves a second term , according to a Monmouth University poll released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial last week , has delighted in the early chaos consuming the effort to choose his opponent .
At a rally on the eve of the New Hampshire primary , he asked why voters would trust the Democrats when they “ can ’ t even run a caucus in Iowa ” .
Ever the pundit , Trump offered his snap analysis on the evening ’ s developments on Tuesday , claiming on Twitter that Warren is “ sending signals that she wants out ” .
“ Calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , going home , and having a “ nice cold beer ” with her husband !
, ” he said .
After the race was called for Sanders , he tweeted : “ Bootedgeedge ( Buttigieg ) is doing pretty well tonight .
Giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money .
Very interesting !
”

After the Iowa caucuses failed to produce a clear winner last week, the results of the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday night helped crystalize the presidential primary - only insomuch as it appears to be a fiercely contested battle between Bernie Sanders and any candidate who can stop him.
From a sports arena in Manchester on Tuesday night, the Vermont senator and self-declared democratic socialist claimed “a great victory” and declared the “beginning of the end of Donald Trump”, while his rivals sought to convince Democrats nervous about a Sanders nomination that they were the most viable alternative.
Sanders was trailed closely by a pair of midwestern moderates: Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who rose from political obscurity to effectively tie Sanders in the Iowa caucuses last week, and Senator Amy Klobuchar, who finished a promising and surprise third after presenting herself as an antidote to the “extremes in our politics”.
In a dismal finish, Senator Elizabeth Warren, from neighboring Massachusetts, and the former vice-president Joe Biden, who has led the field nationally since entering the race early last year, did not meet the threshold to earn delegates in the state.
But the primary race remains deeply unsettled, with everything to play for. All five leading candidates in New Hampshire determined to move ahead to the next series of contests in Nevada, South Carolina and beyond to Super Tuesday on 3 March, where a self-funding billionaire candidate – the former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg – lies in wait, having made the risky decision to skip the traditionally crucial early voting states.
Amy Klobuchar speaks to supporters on Tuesday night. Photograph: Gretchen Ertl/Reuters
Many in the party are worried that the fractured state of the opposition to Sanders will allow the senator to slip by, charting a similar path to the nomination as Trump did in 2016.
But the road for Sanders is hardly straightforward. In 2016, he carried the state by 22 points over Hillary Clinton. In 2020, he won by less than 2 points, raising questions about his ability to expand beyond his core base of support from young voters and liberals.
“We have been told by some that you must either be for revolution, or you are for the status quo,” Buttigieg told his raucous supporters on Tuesday night in Nashua. “Most Americans don’t see where they fit in that polarizing vision.”
At Klobuchar’s rally in Concord she said Trump’s “worst nightmare” would be to give the “people in the middle” someone to rally behind in November.
But there are immediate questions about where these two go next. With a higher national profile and and a more robust fundraising operation, Buttigieg is perhaps better poised to capitalize on the momentum from these early contests. But he has failed to prove he can win support from black and Latino voters, which will be critical.
Klobuchar, who only recently jumped into the top three after a well-reviewed debate performance on Friday and an influx of campaign donations, has even less of a footprint in the forthcoming contests. She’s scrambling to send staff to Nevada, which holds a caucus in just 10 days, on 22 February.
Warren, who has billed herself as the “unity candidate”, and Biden, who has staked his campaign on the promise that he is the most electable general election nominee, now face serious questions about how much longer they can continue.
In an election day memo to supporters, Warren’s campaign manager, Roger Lau, sought to reassure supporters that the senator was prepared to go the distance.
“The road to the Democratic nomination is not paved with statewide winner-take-all victories,” he wrote. “Warren has proven the doubters wrong before.”
Biden’s campaign argues that a reversal of fortunes awaits in the diverse states to come. But national polling has already recorded a significant drop in his support.
Sanders edged past him for the first time in a Monmouth poll this week as a pair of billionaires, Bloomberg and fellow candidate Tom Steyer, peel away critical support from black voters.
On Tuesday, Biden canceled plans to spend primary night in Nashua and instead flew to South Carolina, which has become a must-win after back-to-back losses.
Supporters of Pete Buttigieg cheer during his speech at his primary night rally at Nashua Community College on 11 February 2020. Photograph: Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
“It ain’t over, man,” Biden told supporters at an event in Columbia, South Carolina, on Tuesday night. “We’re just getting started.”
The chaotic spectacle in Iowa, and the specter of a lengthy primary filled with jostling candidates, has left Americans with a dim view of the Democrats’ chances in November. Two-thirds of voters believe Trump will be re-elected, even though most Americans disagree that he deserves a second term, according to a Monmouth poll released on Tuesday.
Trump, emboldened by his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial last week, has delighted in the early chaos consuming the effort to choose his opponent. At a rally on the eve of the New Hampshire primary, he asked why voters would trust the Democrats when they “can’t even run a caucus in Iowa”.
Ever the pundit, Trump offered his snap analysis on the evening’s developments on Tuesday, claiming on Twitter that Warren is “sending signals that she wants out”.
“Calling for unity is her way of getting there, going home, and having a “nice cold beer” with her husband!,” he said.
After the race was called for Sanders, he tweeted: “Bootedgeedge (Buttigieg) is doing pretty well tonight. Giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money. Very interesting!”


theguardian--2020-02-12--Winners and losers: Sanders takes first as Biden flees a New Hampshire loss

A little more than a week after the Iowa caucus descended into a chaotic mess that was unable to produce a clear winner , the contest in New Hampshire was also narrow but a little more definitive .
As the votes were counted in the Democratic primary , winners and losers amongst the much winnowed field emerged as the candidates already headed off to the next contests in Nevada and South Carolina , where they will encounter far more diverse electorates .
The Vermont democratic socialist senator should now be considered the frontrunner in the race after winning this contest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resilience that has seen him ascend to the top of the contest .
His detractors will point to worries over uniting the party and sign of a waning enthusiasm compared to 2016 .
The Minnesota senator is the one true surprise of the night , powering her way into third place off the back of a strong last debate performance where she successfully made an emotional appeal to the voters – and took effective swipes at her centrist rivals , especially Pete Buttigieg .
The supporters of the former South Bend mayor might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result in Iowa that allowed him to declare a victory – even as others declined to do so amid the chaos of the count .
But a strong second in New Hampshire is still much to crow about as he heads off to political turf that might prove more challenging to a candidate with a clear problem attracting minority voters .
He isn ’ t running in the Democratic race but Trump will probably relish the ongoing fight between the leftwing and centrists factions of the party – one that the New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coverage of the election also dulled media attention to Trump ’ s apparently successful , and shocking , intervention in the sentencing of his old friend and ally Roger Stone .
Joe Biden fled New Hampshire before the polls closed and now we know why .
Crashing to a fifth-place finish , even behind a rapidly ailing Elizabeth Warren , is a hammer blow to a candidate whose core message is meant to be his electability and ability to win elections .
He headed straight to South Carolina – skipping the next state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his candidacy must be raging .
The Massachusetts senator with a progressive record expected more than fourth place from a neighboring New England state .
But having disappointed twice in a row , and with a trajectory that appears headed downwards , the Warren campaign now looks seriously holed below the water line .
Goodbye to the Yang Gang .
The tech entrepreneur who wants to give every American a monthly income certainly added to the conversation and won himself a small army of fanatic supporters .
But it didn ’ t win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began .
He dropped out last night .

A little more than a week after the Iowa caucus descended into a chaotic mess that was unable to produce a clear winner, the contest in New Hampshire was also narrow but a little more definitive.
Q&A Why is New Hampshire important? Show While Iowa traditionally holds the first caucuses in the presidential election, New Hampshire has held the first primary since 1920. The goal for presidential candidates is to win early-voting states and create name recognition and a sense of momentum, as well to pick up their first delegates, who will eventually choose the nominee in summer. Sometimes a clear favorite for the nomination emerges quickly, but the last two major Democratic primary contests, pitting Barack Obama against Hillary Clinton and then Bernie Sanders against Clinton, have lasted from the Iowa caucuses in January through to late spring. Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback.
As the votes were counted in the Democratic primary, winners and losers amongst the much winnowed field emerged as the candidates already headed off to the next contests in Nevada and South Carolina, where they will encounter far more diverse electorates.
WINNERS
Bernie Sanders
The Vermont democratic socialist senator should now be considered the frontrunner in the race after winning this contest. His supporters will cheer a remarkable resilience that has seen him ascend to the top of the contest. His detractors will point to worries over uniting the party and sign of a waning enthusiasm compared to 2016.
Amy Klobuchar
The Minnesota senator is the one true surprise of the night, powering her way into third place off the back of a strong last debate performance where she successfully made an emotional appeal to the voters – and took effective swipes at her centrist rivals, especially Pete Buttigieg.
Pete Buttigieg
The supporters of the former South Bend mayor might have hoped for more after a strong result in Iowa that allowed him to declare a victory – even as others declined to do so amid the chaos of the count. But a strong second in New Hampshire is still much to crow about as he heads off to political turf that might prove more challenging to a candidate with a clear problem attracting minority voters.
Donald Trump
He isn’t running in the Democratic race but Trump will probably relish the ongoing fight between the leftwing and centrists factions of the party – one that the New Hampshire results have done nothing to heal. Coverage of the election also dulled media attention to Trump’s apparently successful, and shocking, intervention in the sentencing of his old friend and ally Roger Stone.
LOSERS
Joe Biden
Joe Biden fled New Hampshire before the polls closed and now we know why. Crashing to a fifth-place finish, even behind a rapidly ailing Elizabeth Warren, is a hammer blow to a candidate whose core message is meant to be his electability and ability to win elections. He headed straight to South Carolina – skipping the next state of Nevada – but the doubts over his candidacy must be raging.
Elizabeth Warren
The Massachusetts senator with a progressive record expected more than fourth place from a neighboring New England state. But having disappointed twice in a row, and with a trajectory that appears headed downwards, the Warren campaign now looks seriously holed below the water line.
Andrew Yang
Goodbye to the Yang Gang. The tech entrepreneur who wants to give every American a monthly income certainly added to the conversation and won himself a small army of fanatic supporters. But it didn’t win him many votes when the actual contests began. He dropped out last night.