cnbc--2020-03-04--Joe Biden is the front-runner again after he shocked the world on Super Tuesday

4:15 am : California still to early to call 1:14 am : The next states 1:06 am : Ilhan Omar appears to take a shot at Warren 12:16 am : Waiting on California , Texas and Maine 11:43 pm : Pressure grows for Bloomberg to drop out Mike Bloomberg 's team , according to people familiar with the matter , will be hearing from business allies of the former New York mayor who are planning to ask whether he will drop out of the race .
Those calls are expected to amplify in the wake of him failing to win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an estimated $ 400 million on ads and ground support .
The hope among Democratic moderates and power players is that Bloomberg will drop out and spend heavily in support of Joe Biden in order to overtake Sen. Bernie Sanders .
Politico reported that Bloomberg could drop out of the race as early as Wednesday , but a spokeswoman pushed back to CNBC on him withdrawing from the race , saying there 's `` no truth '' to him considering walking away .
`` Not super clear that any one candidate is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Julie Wood , a Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman .
There is growing concern within the Democratic Party that if Bloomberg stays in the race , he will take away moderate votes from Biden The former vice president dominated on Super Tuesday in states such as Alabama , Arkansas , Massachusetts and Tennessee .
Bloomberg spent tons of money on his efforts in these states .
Biden , who has struggled with fundraising in the past , did n't even come to close to the former New York mayor 's investment spree .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is too early to call 10:35 pm : Biden says 'we are very much alive' 10:32 pm : Sanders knocks Biden without saying his name 9:59 pm : Clyburn : ' I think ' Biden 's making the right changes 9:25 pm : CNBC trader Brown says investors may be as happy to see Warren behind as Biden ahead 9:02 pm : Polls close in two of the night 's bigger states 9:00 pm : Too early to call in Texas 8:51 pm : Bloomberg slams Trump , gives no hint of dropping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four other states 8:00 pm : Biden continues his dominance in the South 7:34 pm : Warren rallies voters as Biden , Sanders projected to clinch first states 6:36 : Biden says he raised $ 15 million in March 5:31 pm : Health care is top of mind for Super Tuesday voters 2:32 pm : Trump vs. the media in 2020 2:21 pm : Dem donor says Super Tuesday is crucial for Biden 12:36 pm : Tulsi Gabbard is still in the race Bernie Sanders may pitch himself as a unity candidate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one notable breakup .
Legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy dumped co-founder and clock-wearing hype man Flavor Flav after a spat over the group 's appearance at the senator 's rally in Los Angeles on Sunday .
Vaunted MC Chuck D and an offshoot known as Public Enemy Radio joined Sanders as he made his final push for Tuesday 's pivotal California primary .
Flavor Flav was n't believing the hype around Sanders .
After the event , which the Sanders campaign promoted with the title of one of Public Enemy 's most famous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Flavor Flav 's lawyer issued a cease and desist letter arguing the campaign used his client 's likeness without permission .
Public Enemy then issued a statement saying it was `` moving forward '' without its core member .
A Twitter spat between Chuck D and Flavor Flav ensued .
Early Monday , Chuck D wrote that his former bandmate will `` NOT do free benefit shows , '' adding that he `` better find REHAB . ''
Flavor Flav later shot back : `` You wan na destroy something we 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
? ''
He went on to say that he has been `` clean for 10 years , '' adding that `` you ca n't fire me '' and `` there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav . ''
The group issued a statement late Monday saying it `` did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views . ''
It wrote that the dispute over Sanders `` was the last straw for the group '' after the hype man missed several public appearances in recent years .
The statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move on and everyone wishes Flavor well . ''
– Pramuk 9:40 am : There are key Senate primaries , too 9 am : And we 're off !

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CNBC's live blog covering everything that happens on Super Tuesday is closed. All times below are Eastern. Here's what you need to know: Former Vice President Joe Biden racked up big wins in delegate-rich states like Texas, North Carolina and Virginia, according to NBC News projections.
Sen. Bernie Sanders won Colorado, Utah and his home state of Vermont. He was favored to win in California, although NBC had yet to make a call in that state.
So far, Biden's delegate total was at 453, ahead of Sanders' 373, NBC News said.
Billionaire Mike Bloomberg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren are facing intensifying pressure to drop out after flaming out.
4:15 am: California still to early to call
California's 415 delegates was the golden prize of Super Tuesday. As of early Wednesday, the race in California remained too early to call, according to NBC News. At 4:15 a.m. ET, Sen. Bernie Sanders led former Vice President Joe Biden by 32.1% to 23.1%, with 46% of the vote in. Biden's delegate total was at 453, ahead of Sanders' 373, NBC News said. — Steinberg
1:53 am: A runoff in Alabama
One of the most intriguing races of Super Tuesday involved the Senate. Jeff Sessions, the former Trump attorney general, is trying to get his old seat back. But before he can think about challenging vulnerable Democratic Sen. Doug Jones this November, he has to go through Tommy Tuberville first. Sessions and the former Auburn football coach were the top two vote-getters in the state's GOP Senate primary, but neither hit 50%, so they'll face each other once more in a runoff election on March 31. – Calia
1:47 pm: Biden takes Texas
Joe Biden's stunning Super Tuesday surge continued in the wee hours of Wednesday. Just past 1:30 a.m. ET, NBC News projected that the former vice president won the Texas primary. Results pointed to a close race between Biden and Bernie Sanders, but the result seemed unthinkable days ago. Biden's campaign was effectively dead in the water until South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn's endorsement and Biden's subsequent huge win in that state Saturday.
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There are 228 delegates at stake in the Lone Star State, making it the second-biggest prize of Super Tuesday, behind California. While Sanders is favored to win California, Biden is in great position to claim the overall delegate lead in the race after Tuesday's blockbuster performance. – Calia
1:14 am: The next states
Super Tuesday is the biggest day of the primary election campaign, but there are still a few more big voting days left. There is also yet another debate, set for March 15 in Arizona. Here are the primaries lined up over the next few weeks: March 10 Idaho: 20 delegates
Michigan: 125 delegates
Mississippi: 36 delegates
Missouri: 68 delegates
North Dakota: 14 delegates
Washington: 89 delegates March 17 Arizona: 67 delegates
Florida: 219 delegates
Illinois: 155 delegates
Ohio: 136 delegates March 24 Georgia: 105 delegates – Calia
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1:06 am: Ilhan Omar appears to take a shot at Warren
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., appeared to criticize Elizabeth Warren late Tuesday as it became clear that Joe Biden's campaign had been revived. The former vice president won several big and surprising states Tuesday, including Minnesota, after fellow moderates Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar dropped out and endorsed him. Omar, a member of the left-wing "Squad" in the House, has endorsed Bernie Sanders, Warren's fellow progressive in the race. In a tweet, the freshman congresswoman suggested that if "progressives consolidated," Sanders might be in better shape as the primary campaign enters a new phase. – Calia TWEET
12:45 am: Updated delegate count
The latest national delegate count has Joe Biden in the lead with 351, and Bernie Sanders is in second with 295. Pete Buttigieg, who dropped out of the race over the weekend, is in third with 26. There are three states still outstanding, including dozens of delegates still at stake in California, which offers 415 delegates. – Calia
12:16 am: Waiting on California, Texas and Maine
It's past midnight on the East Coast, as Super Tuesday bleeds into Wednesday, and we're still waiting on projections out of Maine, California and Texas. Sanders is leading as the early vote comes in from California, while Biden holds narrow leads in Maine and Texas. California is the night's biggest prize, with 415 delegates, but it may take a while to sort out how many delegates the viable candidates will get. So while Sanders may be in a good position in the state, it's not exactly shaping up to be a gimme. – Calia
11:43 pm: Pressure grows for Bloomberg to drop out
Democratic presidential candidate former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg waves to his supporters at his Super Tuesday night event on March 03, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images
Mike Bloomberg's team, according to people familiar with the matter, will be hearing from business allies of the former New York mayor who are planning to ask whether he will drop out of the race. Those calls are expected to amplify in the wake of him failing to win any states Super Tuesday after he invested an estimated $400 million on ads and ground support. The hope among Democratic moderates and power players is that Bloomberg will drop out and spend heavily in support of Joe Biden in order to overtake Sen. Bernie Sanders. Politico reported that Bloomberg could drop out of the race as early as Wednesday, but a spokeswoman pushed back to CNBC on him withdrawing from the race, saying there's "no truth" to him considering walking away. "Not super clear that any one candidate is going to get a pledged delegate majority," said Julie Wood, a Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman. There is growing concern within the Democratic Party that if Bloomberg stays in the race, he will take away moderate votes from Biden The former vice president dominated on Super Tuesday in states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Massachusetts and Tennessee. Bloomberg spent tons of money on his efforts in these states. Biden, who has struggled with fundraising in the past, didn't even come to close to the former New York mayor's investment spree. – Schwartz
11:18 pm: Dow futures point to a strong open
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher Wednesday open as early results on Super Tuesday showed former Vice President Joe Biden notching key wins and reassuring investors of his place amid the top candidates in the Democratic pool. As of 11:15 p.m. ET, Dow Jones industrial average futures indicated a rise of 290 points at the open. – Franck
11:02 pm: Biden tops Sanders, Warren in Massachusetts
Former Vice President Joe Biden will win the Massachusetts Democratic primary, according to an NBC News projection. The result is a crushing blow to rival Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who represents the state. Biden will win at least 28 of the state's 91 delegates, according to NBC News. Sanders will score at least 13, and Warren, the home state candidate, will chalk up at least seven. – Breuninger
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, appears at his Super Tuesday night rally in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 3, 2020. Mike Blake | Reuters
11:02 pm: Pivotal California is too early to call
California, which will award a highly sought after trove of delegates, is too early to call as polls close, according to NBC News. Bernie Sanders is leading, according to NBC. As Joe Biden piles on delegates early in the night, Sanders will need a big win in California to keep pace. Sanders will win at least 48 of California's 415 delegates, according to NBC. — Pramuk
11 pm: Trump taunts Warren and Bloomberg
President Donald Trump used his Twitter account Tuesday night to attack the two Democratic candidates who appeared to be underperforming in Super Tuesday contests: former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. As of 10:30 p.m., Bloomberg had won a total of nine delegates, four of whom stemmed from his primary victory in American Samoa. TRUMP BLOOMBERG TWEET Warren had won six delegates by 10:30 p.m. on Super Tuesday, five of which came from her home state, which NBC projected that former Vice President Joe Biden would win. Trump reverted to his familiar nickname for the senator, who has said her family ancestry includes Native Americans. — Wilkie TRUMP WARREN TWEET
10:53 pm: Don't expect a quick call in California
Polls in the largest Super Tuesday state are due to close in just a few minutes, but don't expect a quick call. Last cycle, California was not called until the following morning, and state officials have warned that final results could take several weeks this time around. California will award 415 delegates in total, or nearly a third of those being awarded from states voting Tuesday. The second biggest state, Texas, remains too close to call, according to NBC News projections. Notably, Biden, who has been over-performing in states that have been called so far, has faced disadvantages in early voting, which makes up a significant portion of the California electorate. Nearly 4 million votes were cast via mail-in ballots in California by Tuesday, Secretary of State Alex Padilla said earlier in the day on MSNBC. Those mail-in ballots will be accepted until Friday. – Higgins
10:35 pm: Biden says 'we are very much alive'
"It's a good night," Joe Biden said, after he finally broke through nationwide in his third presidential bid. As he racked up wins across the South and in Minnesota, according to NBC News, Biden took a solid pledged delegate lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders. A candidate who looked close to flaming out before the South Carolina primary three days ago, Biden appeared energized, even after a protester rushed the stage where he spoke in Los Angeles. Biden said people had predicted his campaign may be done. But without naming Sanders, he said, "it may be over for the other guy." "I'm here to report we are very much alive," Biden said. As he spoke, Biden had a 248 to 177 national delegate lead over Sanders. As results came in, a massive slate of delegates were still up for grabs in Texas and California. – Pramuk
10:32 pm: Sanders knocks Biden without saying his name
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders is accompanied by his relatives, including his wife Jane, as he addresses supporters at his Super Tuesday night rally in Essex Junction, Vermont, U.S., March 3, 2020 Caitlin Ochs | Reuters
Bernie Sanders told supporters in Vermont that he — not Joe Biden — was the best candidate to beat Trump because of the "contrast" in their ideas. While referring to Biden simply as "another candidate" in the race, Sanders criticized Biden's past positions on the Iraq War, protecting entitlement programs and "disastrous" trade deals. "You cannot beat Trump with the same old, same old kind of politics," Sanders said. Sanders appeared to acknowledge that Biden had far exceeded expectations on Super Tuesday. "I'm cautiously optimistic that later in the evening we can win" in California, said Sanders, who was expected to easily clinch that state. "I don't know what will happen," Sanders said. "If it comes out to be a campaign in which we have one candidate who is standing up for the working class and the middle class, we're going to win that election." Sanders added: "And if we have another candidate who has received contributions from at least 60 billionaires, we're going to win that election." – Breuninger
10:30 pm: George Conway donates individual max to Biden
Republican lawyer George Conway, who is married to senior White House senior advisor Kellyanne Conway, appears to have donated $2,800 to former Vice President Joe Biden. TWEET That sum is the individual personal maximum donation allowed under federal campaign finance rules. – Wilkie
10:27 pm: Sanders takes Utah
Bernie Sanders will win Utah's primary, NBC News projected. He had already won Colorado and his home state of Vermont earlier in the evening. There are 29 delegates at stake in Utah, and Sanders was projected to win at least three of them. – Calia
10:25 pm: A grim sign for Elizabeth Warren
With 37% of the vote in, Elizabeth Warren was trailing in her home state of Massachusetts. In fact, she was in third place behind Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders at the latest look. There are 91 delegates at stake in the state, and Warren seems to be on track to win some of them. But failing to win your home state is not terribly encouraging if you describe your campaign as built to last. – Calia
10:21 pm: Biden takes Minnesota after Klobuchar endorsement
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks into the microphone as his former rival for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, Senator Amy Klobuchar, endorses him during a campaign event in Dallas, Texas, U.S., March 2, 2020. Eric Thayer | Reuters
Joe Biden's Super Tuesday surge isn't limited to the South. Biden will win Minnesota, NBC News projected, only a few days after he seemed unlikely to win the state. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota dropped out of the race and endorsed Biden, opening up a massive pocket of support for the former vice president in the state. He will take at least 10 delegates from Minnesota, while Sanders will win at least seven, according to NBC. – Pramuk
10:12 pm: Donors flock to Biden
Former Vice President Joe Biden went into Super Tuesday with fewer financial resources than other candidates. But he will be in much better shape by the end of the night. Bundlers loyal to Biden are seeing dozens of new donors, several maxing out with with the top allowable $2,800, as he picks up victories in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. These people declined to be named because these developments were yet to be announced. Biden fundraising events started to sell out early in the night, the people added. Read our story here. – Schwartz
10:07 pm: Biden projected to win Arkansas
Joe Biden is projected to win the Arkansas Democratic primary, according to NBC News, adding to his string of victories in the South on Tuesday night. He will get at least eight of the state's 31 delegates, according to NBC. With about a third of the results in, Biden had about 32% of the vote. Sanders and Bloomberg followed with about 20% each, above the statewide threshold for delegates. – Pramuk
9:59 pm: Clyburn: 'I think' Biden's making the right changes
James Clyburn, D-S.C. introduces Democratic nomination hopeful Joe Biden at University of South Carolina in Columbia. Jeremy Hogan | Barcroft Media | Getty Images
House Majority Whip James Clyburn, the South Carolina representative partly credited with giving Joe Biden the boost he needed to revive his campaign, said that he thinks the former vice president is doing what he needs to win the nomination. Asked on MSNBC if Biden is making the right adjustments to his campaign — which looked to be on the decline before his massive win in South Carolina over the weekend — Clyburn said, "I think so." "I thought fundraising was lacking" in Biden's campaign "and needed to be more professionalized," Clyburn said. Biden's speeches also needed to convey more feeling than simply being a list of policy proposals, the South Carolina congressman added. Biden "has a tremendous history" and is "just a good guy," Clyburn said, "but people were not feeling it." But his roll out of endorsements Monday night from former rivals Beto O'Rourke, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg showed "professionalism at his best," Clyburn said. If that level of campaigning continues, Clyburn said, then Biden "is going to be very successful, and he will be our nominee and I really, deeply feel he will be the next president of the United States." – Breuninger
9:35 pm: Sanders gets a needed win in Colorado
Sanders will win the Colorado Democratic primary, NBC News projects. He will come away with at least seven of the state's 67 delegates, according to NBC. With nearly 70% of data in, Sanders led with about 36% of the vote, followed by Bloomberg at 24%. Both Biden and Warren were above the state's 15% viability threshold at that time. — Pramuk
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to a large crowd of supporters at a rally in the Colorado Convention Center on February 16, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. Marc Piscotty | Getty Images
9:25 pm: CNBC trader Brown says investors may be as happy to see Warren behind as Biden ahead
CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management and CNBC regular Josh Brown says markets may be as happy to see former Vice President Joe Biden winning as they are to see Sen. Elizabeth Warren behind in the delegate count on Super Tuesday. Warren, a former law school professor who specialized in bankruptcy law, is not a favorite on Wall Street as she proposes detailed plans to break up big banks and technology companies and raise taxes. "Stocks will be even more relieved at Warren's coming concession as they are at Biden's big showing," Brown tweeted. "Wall Streeters have always secretly been more afraid of her than anyone else given her domain expertise." — Franck Brown tweet
9:18 pm Biden projected to win Oklahoma
Joe Biden will win Oklahoma's primary, NBC News projected. It adds to a string of early projected victories for the former vice president as he rolls to a pledged delegate lead for the moment. Biden will win at least four delegates from the state, according to NBC. It has 37 delegates up for grabs. – Pramuk
9:11 pm: Biden projected to win Tennessee
Joe Biden has won the Tennessee Democratic primary, according to NBC News' projection. Poll closings in the state had been delayed due to damage from a deadly tornado that ripped through the state early Tuesday morning. Support among black voters appeared to help Biden. He had 62% of support among black voters, versus 18% for Sanders, according to exit polls. The surveys said black voters made up about a quarter of the Tennessee electorate. Biden was projected to win at least 8 of the state's 64 delegates. – Calia
9:09 pm: Cunningham projected to win in NC
Former state Sen. Cal Cunningham will win North Carolina's Democratic Senate primary, NBC News projected. The victory sets him up to take on Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who has tied himself closely to President Trump ahead of his November reelection bid. A recent NBC News/Marist poll found Cunningham narrowly leading Tillis in a hypothetical contest. – Pramuk
9:05 pm: Biden's early wins vault him to delegate lead
By about 9 p.m. ET, Biden had picked up 114 pledged delegates on Tuesday, compared to 46 for Sanders, according to NBC News. The haul vaulted Biden to 167 total delegates in the 2020 primary, versus 106 for Sanders. Sanders could pick up some ground in California. – Pramuk
9:02 pm: Polls close in two of the night's bigger states
Polls closed at 9 p.m. ET in Minnesota and Colorado, two states with relatively large delegate hauls on Tuesday night. Both states are too early to call, according to NBC News. Biden hopes Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's decision to drop out of the race and endorse him will propel him to success in the state. Minnesota awards 75 delegates, while Colorado has 67 delegates up for grabs. – Pramuk
9:00 pm: Too early to call in Texas
Texas, one of the states that could swing the Democratic primary race, is too early to call as polls close at 9 p.m. ET, according to NBC News. With early results trickling in, Biden and Sanders were jockeying for first place. Sanders may need a strong showing in the Lone Star State to keep up with the delegate lead his rival built early in the night as he romped across the South. Texas awards 228 delegates, the second most of any Super Tuesday contest. Hispanic or Latino voters made up 32% of the Texas electorate, and Sanders won 41% of those voters, according to exit polls. Biden followed at 23% of support among Latino voters, while Bloomberg garnered 20% of support. Sanders tends to do better with younger voters of color, while Biden fares well with older voters of color. — Pramuk
8:54 pm: Markets comfortable with Biden, analyst says
Fundstrat policy strategist Tom Block tells CNBC that "market participants should be comfortable with the rise of Joe Biden." "Markets don't like uncertainty and Biden is steady Eddie," he added. "From health care to tax policy, Biden is to the left of Trump but more traditional than Sanders." Block's comments came as the former vice president built an early lead in the early delegate count with 167 versus Sanders' 106. Dow Jones futures indicated an opening gain of about 0.5% at 8:51 p.m. ET, but those results could change overnight. — Franck
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden greets patron at the Buttercup diner on March 03, 2020 in Oakland, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
8:51 pm: Bloomberg slams Trump, gives no hint of dropping out
Mike Bloomberg took the stage of his rally in south Florida to assure his supporters that he was staying in the race — and that he isn't afraid of President Trump. "I know we can do it, and you know who else knows it? Donald Trump," Bloomberg told his enthusiastic West Palm Beach crowd. "And that's why he keeps attacking us on Twitter." Trump had lashed out at Bloomberg on social media earlier Tuesday night, by mocking a viral video of the Democrat licking his fingers after ripping up a slice of pizza. Bloomberg's well-funded social media operation has been quick to hit back at Trump, and the candidate himself brought that same pugnacious attitude to his Florida rally. "Trump the other day called me short," Bloomberg said. "I said, 'Donald, where I come from we measure people from the neck up.'" But the billionaire and former New York mayor had only clinched a projected win in the U.S. territory of American Samoa by the time he began speaking. TWEET "No matter how many delegates we win tonight, we have done something that no one else thought was possible," he said, referring to his building a competitive campaign in three months. "While my fellow candidates spent a whole year focusing on the first four states, I was out campaigning against Donald Trump in the states where the election will actually be decided," he said. – Breuninger
8:45 pm: National delegate count update
As of just after 8 p.m., Joe Biden held a lead in the national delegate count, with 127. Bernie Sanders is second with 82. Of the remaining candidates, Elizabeth Warren had eight, Mike Bloomberg had four, and Tusli Gabbard had one. All of these counts are according to NBC News projections. – Calia
8:32 pm: UnitedHealth up 4% as Biden tops Sanders early
UnitedHealth , one of the largest health insurers in the United States, rallied more than 4% in after-hours trading Tuesday as early voting results showed former Vice President Joe Biden projected to win in Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama. That stock was one named by CFRA analyst Sel Hardy as one to watch as a potential bellwether on Super Tuesday. Dow Jones futures indicated an opening gain of about 0.7% at 8:26 p.m. ET, but those results could change significantly with more than 12 hours until the opening bell on Wednesday. — Franck
8:30 p.m. Arkansas too early to call
Polls in Arkansas closed at 8:30 p.m. ET. NBC News said the Democratic primary there was still too early to call. Joe Biden, meanwhile, has been scoring quick projected victories in the South. Thirty-one delegates are at stake in Arkansas. – Calia
8:14 pm: Biden announces travel to Missouri and Mississippi
Former Vice President Joe Biden announced weekend travel to two states with upcoming primaries as his Super Tuesday odds appeared to be looking up. In a release, the campaign said that Biden will travel to Missouri on Saturday and Mississippi on Sunday. Both states vote on March 10, one week from Tuesday. "Biden will lay out his vision for America and listen to voters' concerns and ideas around restoring the soul of the nation, rebuilding the middle class, and unifying the country," the campaign said. – Higgins
8:06 pm: Trump taunts Bloomberg over finger-lickin' meme
After Mike Bloomberg failed to triumph in the first few races of the night, President Trump quickly lashed out on Twitter — not about the election results, but about a viral video. The president zeroed in on a video of Bloomberg ripping a chunk off of a slice of pizza, leaving the rest of that slice in the pizza box and then licking his fingers. "Mini Mike, don't lick your dirty fingers," Trump tweeted. "Both unsanitary and dangerous to others and yourself!" Tweet The video was posted by the Bloomberg campaign's own Instagram page, according to Mediaite. The video quickly made the rounds on social media. Commenters often noted that Bloomberg's etiquette didn't comport with the sanitary measures that health officials have advised Americans to take to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus. – Breuninger
8:00 pm: Dow implied open up 200 points as Biden scores early wins
Dow Jones futures indicated an opening jump of 200 points around 7:40 p.m. ET after early Super Tuesday results showed former Vice President Joe Biden projected to win Virginia and North Carolina. Many investors on Wall Street say they prefer Biden to win the Democratic nomination because they see him as less likely to introduce strict regulations or crack down on corporations to the same degree as Sens. Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren could. — Franck TWEET
8:00 pm: Polls close in four other states
Along with Alabama, polls closed at 8 p.m. ET in Massachusetts, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Maine. Here are NBC News' characterizations of the primaries in those states: Mass.: Too early to call
Tenn.: Too early to call
Okla.: Too early to call
Maine: Too early to call — Pramuk
8:00 pm: Biden continues his dominance in the South
Biden will win Alabama's primary, NBC News projects, adding to an early run of victories in the South. The former vice president's success with black voters in South Carolina's primary has carried over to Super Tuesday. In Alabama, 44% of Democratic primary voters identified as black, according to exit polls. Biden had more than 70% of support among black voters in Alabama, the surveys found. Biden will win at least 19 of Alabama's 52 delegates, according to NBC. After the call, Biden led Sanders by a 120 to 68 margin in national pledged delegates. — Pramuk
7:42 pm: Mike Bloomberg wins American Samoa caucus
Democratic presidential candidate, former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg makes a stop at one of his campaign offices in the Little Havana neighborhood on March 3, 2020 in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images
Mike Bloomberg will win a nominating contest, after all. The former New York mayor will carry American Samoa's caucus Tuesday, NBC News projects. He will come away with at least four of the territory's six delegates. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii will also win her first delegate of the 2020 race in the territory's contest. — Pramuk
7:34 pm: Warren rallies voters as Biden, Sanders projected to clinch first states
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) delivers a campaign speech at East Los Angeles College on March 2, 2020 in Monterey Park, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images
Elizabeth Warren rallied supporters in Detroit as the first results started rolling in. She acknowledged that many Democratic voters are taking a cautious approach to supporting a candidate that they think has the best chance of defeating President Trump in 2020. She also pushed back on political commentators, many of whom view her campaign as being on its last legs. "The pundits have gotten it wrong over and over," Warren told the Detroit crowd. "Cast a vote that will make you proud. Cast a vote from your heart. And vote for the person you think will make the best president of the United States of America," she continued. The Massachusetts senator also gave every indication that she plans to stay in the race past Super Tuesday. "I'm in this race because I believe I will make the best president of the United States of America," she said, because "I was not born a politician, but I was born a fighter." Polls in Warren's home state close at 8 p.m. ET. — Breuninger
7:30 pm: Biden's good night continues early
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Biden got another piece of good news early in the night. The former vice president will win the North Carolina primary, NBC News projects. It means Biden will carry the third and fourth biggest delegate prizes of the night. Biden will win at least 14 of North Carolina's 110 delegates, NBC said. As of now, he leads Sanders in national delegates by an 83-68 margin. — Pramuk
7:13 pm: Wall Street eyes health-care stocks as Super Tuesday results trickle in
Wall Street's top brokerages are advising clients on ways to try to capitalize on the results, and especially how to navigate health-care stocks if one of the more progressive candidates like Sens. Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren look likely to win a significant share of the delegates. Big-ticket proposals like "Medicare for All" and banning private health insurance, as advocated by the progressive wing, could have an outsized impact on the sector. CFRA analyst Sel Hardy wrote that Sanders' unexpected Nevada win "increased the risk perception for health insurer stocks" and advised readers to look for downside moves in stocks like Humana , UnitedHealth and Centene if Sanders looks likely to win a plurality of delegates. RBC Capital Markets Head of Equity Strategy Lori Calvasina wrote that the "2020 race for the White House has been a more important driver of price action in the US equity market than many investors realize." "We think the equity market has also been spooked by the decline in expectations that Trump will get reelected in the betting market, as well as Sanders' early 2020 surge in the betting markets and the polls," she added. RBC says that sectors including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and large banks can expect to come under pressure if Sanders wins and if Democrats sweep in 2020. Investors will be keeping a close eye on funds such as the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology ETF or the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF, which track the performance of biotechnology companies in the U.S. — Tom Franck
7:04 pm: Tornado-ravaged Tennessee county's polling hours extended
Primary election results projections in tornado-ravaged Davidson County in Tennessee won't be revealed until at least 9 p.m. ET, NBC News reported, after a judge extended the hours that polling centers in the area will remain open. The Tennessee Democratic Party filed a lawsuit earlier Tuesday in order to extend the voting time in Davidson County. Davidson is the second-most-populous county in the state and the home of Nashville. The state's Democratic Party said that "more than 15 polling locations suffered electrical and structural damages" and "hundreds" of voters were unable to vote at 7 a.m. local time, when centers were scheduled to open. Tweet The judge ruled that all polling sites in the county must stay open until 9 p.m. ET. A handful of other sites in the area were ordered to stay open until 11 p.m. ET. "This is a victory for all voters and this decision will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in this historic election," Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini said in a release. The tornado ripped through Tennessee, killing more than 20 people and destroying thousands of properties near the center of the state, including parts of Nashville. — Breuninger
7:00 pm: Biden projected to win Virginia
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Biden will win Virginia's primary, NBC News projects. The state awards one of the biggest delegate hauls of the night, with 99. The former vice president will win at least 16 of those delegates, according to NBC. After the projection, Biden at least briefly surpassed Sanders for the national delegate lead, 69 to 68. — Pramuk
7:00 pm: Sanders projected to win Vermont
One of the two senators still in the race will defend their home turf Tuesday. Sanders will win the Vermont Democratic primary, NBC News projects. With 16 delegates up for grabs, it's the smallest prize out of the 14 U.S. states holding primaries Tuesday. The senator will come away with at least 8 of those delegates, according to NBC. Sanders overwhelmingly won his home state in 2016. — Pramuk
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane O'Meara Sanders take the stage during a campaign rally at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium March 02, 2020 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
6:52 pm: Warren looks beyond Super Tuesday
Elizabeth Warren may be in a tough spot after tonight. She is expected to tally some delegates tonight, but it's not clear whether she will win her own home state, Massachusetts. But she's trying to project a confident front and has announced campaign events for the days after Super Tuesday. She is headed to Idaho, Michigan and Arizona. Idaho and Michigan hold their primaries next Tuesday, while Arizona votes March 17. – Calia
6:36: Biden says he raised $15 million in March
Joe Biden looked content during a campaign stop in east Los Angeles on Tuesday night. He greeted supporters and voters in his element: a cup of ice cream in his hand and aviator sunglasses on his head. Biden, while projecting confidence in his performance in California and the 13 other states voting on Super Tuesday, said his campaign continues to rake in cash early in March. "The first three days I think it's been $15 million, just March," he said. He added: "Don't hold me to exact numbers." – Pramuk
5:59 pm: Voters don't like Mike
In three states where exit polls asked how voters felt about a broad swath of candidates, Mike Bloomberg was by far the least popular. The figures followed polling in South Carolina, where voters overwhelmingly viewed him unfavorably. Here's how voters in three states answered when asked if they have a favorable or unfavorable view of Bloomberg: California: 30%-60% (every other candidate had a higher percentage of favorable than unfavorable ratings)
30%-60% (every other candidate had a higher percentage of favorable than unfavorable ratings) Virginia: 38%-58% (only Klobuchar and Sanders had underwater favorability ratings, but by 1 percentage point, a much smaller margin than Bloomberg)
38%-58% (only Klobuchar and Sanders had underwater favorability ratings, but by 1 percentage point, a much smaller margin than Bloomberg) Colorado: 41%-52% (every other candidate had a higher percentage of favorable than unfavorable ratings) – Pramuk
5:31 pm: Health care is top of mind for Super Tuesday voters
The first batch of exit polls in 12 of the 14 states holding Democratic primaries Tuesday cast some light on what voters are considering when casting their ballots. In all 12 of those states (data is not available yet for Arkansas and Utah), voters chose health care as their top concern among four issues. The other issues were climate change, income inequality and race relations. The exit survey also asked this question: "How do you feel about replacing all private health insurance with a single government plan for everyone?" A majority of respondents in those dozen states said they support such a system. Of course, some states felt stronger about the proposal than others. It's been a central question in the race, as Sen. Bernie Sanders has championed a single-payer system and Joe Biden has criticized such a plan. Here's how those answers stacked up in every state, listed from the largest to smallest delegate haul. California: 33% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 58%-35% support to oppose Texas: 45% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 64%-33% support to oppose North Carolina: 43% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 55%-41% support to oppose Virginia: 43% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 52%-46% support to oppose Massachusetts: 40% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 52%-43% support to oppose Minnesota: 41% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 64%-34% support to oppose Colorado: 36% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 57%-36% support to oppose Tennessee: 43% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 55%-41% support to oppose Alabama: 46% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 53%-41% support to oppose Oklahoma: 48% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 54%-42% support to oppose Maine: 47% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 72%-27% support to oppose Vermont: 40% listed health care as the top issue Government insurance plan: 75%-23% support to oppose — Pramuk
5:20 pm: Tennessee Dems sue to extend polling hours
The Tennessee Democratic Party filed a lawsuit Tuesday in order to extend the time polling centers are open in Davidson County, where a deadly tornado damaged numerous polling sites. The state's Democratic Party said in a press release obtained by CNBC that "More than 15 polling locations suffered electrical and structural damages," and "hundreds" of voters were unable to vote at 7 a.m., when centers were scheduled to open. The party seeks a legal injunction against Davidson County's election commission and Tennessee's secretary of state, Tre Hargett, to keep the sites open an extra three hours. TWEET The tornado ripped through Tennessee, killing more than 20 people and destroying thousands of properties near the center of the state, including parts of Nashville. UPDATE at 6:23 p.m.: A judge ruled that Tennessee must extend voting hours for some polling stations. As a result of the judge's ruling, all polling stations in tornado-ravaged Davidson County will stay open until at least 8 p.m., the Democrats said in the release. Additionally, five so-called mega polling sites will stay open until 10 p.m., according to the Democrats. "This is a victory for all voters and this decision will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in this historic election," the Tennessee Democrats' chair said in a release. – Breuninger
5:06 pm: Polling leaders in the biggest states
The five states that will award the most delegates Tuesday will allocate 943 combined.They account for about 70% of the delegates up for grabs in the day's contests. Here are the recent polling leaders in those states, according to RealClearPolitics averages (note that many of the polls will not have accounted for Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar's departure from the race, or Biden's South Carolina primary win): California (415 delegates): Bernie Sanders, 35%, Joe Biden, 23%
Texas (228 delegates): Sanders, 29.5%, Biden, 28%
North Carolina (110 delegates) Biden, 36.7%, Sanders, 23.3%
Virginia (99 delegates) Biden, 42%, Sanders, 24.5%
Massachusetts (91 delegates): RealClearPolitics does not have an average listed for the state. However, the two most recent polls it tracked found a 2 percentage point-lead for Elizabeth Warren over Sanders, and a 2 percentage-point edge for Sanders over Warren. – Pramuk
4:16 pm: SCOTUS to debate abortion in election year
President Trump pledged during his 2016 election campaign that he would appoint justices to the Supreme Court who would "automatically" overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion decision. Four years later, Trump is seeking reelection, and his two appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, will determine whether that promise is kept. On Wednesday, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh will hear arguments in the first major abortion case since either was confirmed to the bench. A decision is expected by the end of June, a month before Democrats are scheduled to convene in Wisconsin to formally select their presidential nominee. Read our preview here. – Tucker Higgins
3:24 pm: Trump hits a sore spot for Dems
President Trump on Tuesday afternoon continued to try to exploit divisions within the Democratic electorate over Bernie Sanders' front-runner status. The president acknowledged Joe Biden's gains in the polls, and accused Democrats of trying to snatch away Sanders' lead in the primary. "Biden has come up a little bit and I don't know what's happened with Bernie," Trump said at the National Institutes of Health after a reporter asked him about Super Tuesday. "I think they're trying to take it away from" Sanders, Trump added. "I don't know if that's fair, but I guess it's politics," he said. "When you get right down to it, what's fair?" – Breuninger
3:06 pm: Biden banks on the South
If Joe Biden hopes for success on Super Tuesday, his path will likely have to go through southern states following his blowout win in South Carolina over the weekend. Biden's aides have signaled to allies that there are hundreds of districts throughout states that have large concentrations of black voters, according to people familiar with the matter. Biden has repeatedly touted his relationship with black voters on the campaign trail. and that strong connection paid off in the Palmetto State. There, Rep. James Clyburn, the highest-ranking black lawmaker in the House, endorsed Biden. In turn, the former vice president was able to rack up a substantial amount of delegates and pull into second place overall just behind Sen. Bernie Sanders. Biden is confident he'll do well in Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas and North Carolina, these people added. Texas and Minnesota are also up for grabs, and Biden might be in a better position in both states than recent polling suggests. Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota endorsed Biden. – Brian Schwartz
2:54 pm: Joe Biden's high hopes
Joe Biden made a stop at the ButtercuP Diner in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday as he pushed to gain traction in the day's most important state. "My hopes are high. I think we're going to do well on Super Tuesday," he said, according to local station ABC7. As Biden tries to consolidate the support of voters who do not support Bernie Sanders, he needs a strong showing in California to stop the Vermont senator from running away with the pledged delegate lead. Hitting the 15% threshold both statewide and in the state's congressional districts will help him cut into Sanders' delegate haul from the state. Sanders has led recent polls of California, which awards 415 pledged delegates in its primary. – Pramuk
2:32 pm: Trump vs. the media in 2020
From the Trump campaign, a reminder that the president isn't just taking aim at his Democratic rivals this year. The campaign on Tuesday sued the The Washington Post for defamation, citing two opinion articles published in 2019 about the campaign allegedly benefiting from Russian assistance. The lawsuit came a week after the campaign sued The New York Times for defamation in connection with an op-ed entited "The Real Trump-Russia Quid Pro Quo." Read our full story here. – Dan Mangan
2:21 pm: Dem donor says Super Tuesday is crucial for Biden
Democratic megadonor Marc Lasry downplayed concerns about Joe Biden's fundraising abilities on Tuesday, arguing this week was critical to the former vice president's ability to stay in the primary. "I think he's got enough money. A lot of it will depend over the next couple days," the billionaire investor said on CNBC's "Fast Money Halftime Report." "If he does well in a number of these states he'll get more money." Lasry, a part owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, had been supporting Sen. Kamala Harris, but opened up his donor network to Biden in December shortly after the California Democrat withdrew from the primary race. — Kevin Stankiewicz
1:26 pm: Biden aide rejects Comey endorsement
Former FBI Director James Comey offered his endorsement to Joe Biden — and one of Biden's campaign officials swiftly swatted it down. "We need candidate who cares about all Americans and will restore decency, dignity to the office," tweeted Comey, who was fired by Trump in May 2017 and has since become one of the president's regular critics. "There is a reason Trump fears @JoeBiden and roots for Bernie," Comey added with the hashtag #Biden2020. Andrew Bates, Biden's rapid response director, quickly replied to Comey's tweet: "Yes, customer service? I just received a package that I very much did not order. How can I return it, free of charge?" Bates did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the tweet. TWEET Comey has come under fire from Democrats and Republicans since the 2016 election. Democrats have accused him of costing Hillary Clinton the presidency by announcing in a high-profile press conference that the FBI would investigate Clinton's emails shortly before the election. Republicans have attacked Comey as a biased public official who was working to undermine Trump by, among other things, taking notes on their private conversations. Special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to investigate Russian interference in 2016, possible obstruction of justice by Trump, within a month after Trump fired Comey.
12:36 pm: Tulsi Gabbard is still in the race
The primary may be looking more and more like a two-man race between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, but Mike Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren are still in the fight — as is Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who continues to campaign despite near-nonexistent poll numbers and a total lack of support from the party establishment. You'd be forgiven for forgetting that Gabbard, a frequent guest on Fox News opinion shows but a no-show in the last five national debates, is still trying to become the Democratic nominee. Polling aggregates place Gabbard at 1% or less, well behind the three Democrats who dropped out of the race after the South Carolina primary. But she's still running, and took her campaign to Austin, Texas, Monday night to rally supporters ahead of Super Tuesday. – Kevin Breuninger TWEET
12:29 pm: The Public Enemy primary
Bernie Sanders may pitch himself as a unity candidate, but his presidential campaign has contributed to one notable breakup. Legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy dumped co-founder and clock-wearing hype man Flavor Flav after a spat over the group's appearance at the senator's rally in Los Angeles on Sunday. Vaunted MC Chuck D and an offshoot known as Public Enemy Radio joined Sanders as he made his final push for Tuesday's pivotal California primary. Flavor Flav wasn't believing the hype around Sanders. After the event, which the Sanders campaign promoted with the title of one of Public Enemy's most famous songs, "Fight the Power," Flavor Flav's lawyer issued a cease and desist letter arguing the campaign used his client's likeness without permission. Public Enemy then issued a statement saying it was "moving forward" without its core member. A Twitter spat between Chuck D and Flavor Flav ensued. Early Monday, Chuck D wrote that his former bandmate will "NOT do free benefit shows," adding that he "better find REHAB." Flavor Flav later shot back: "You wanna destroy something we've built over 35 years OVER POLITICS???" He went on to say that he has been "clean for 10 years," adding that "you can't fire me" and "there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav." The group issued a statement late Monday saying it "did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views." It wrote that the dispute over Sanders "was the last straw for the group" after the hype man missed several public appearances in recent years. The statement concluded: "It's time to move on and everyone wishes Flavor well." – Pramuk
Chuck D of Public Enemy Radio greets Senator Bernie Sanders at a Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign rally at Los Angeles Convention Center on March 01, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Michael Tullberg | Getty Images
12 pm: The stakes in Texas
The Lone Star State will allocate 228 delegates, more than any state voting this week other than California (415). The huge and still growing Texas will test Bernie Sanders' efforts to boost turnout among young and Latino voters, core parts of a coalition he hopes will propel him to the Democratic nomination and the White House. Carried to his first primary win by overwhelming support from black voters in South Carolina, Joe Biden hopes black voters in Texas and elsewhere Tuesday will help him keep pace with Sanders in the national delegate race. For more on the Texas primary, read our preview here. – Jacob Pramuk
11:41 am: Warren's brainchild in jeopardy?
Tuesday might end up doubly bad for Elizabeth Warren. Her presidential candidacy is hanging on by a thread and might be in worse shape if she underperforms in Super Tuesday primaries. Meanwhile in Washington, CNBC's Tucker Higgins reports that the Supreme Court, which held oral arguments Tuesday, appeared likely to weaken the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Warren had envisioned the agency when she was a professor at Harvard. The CFPB, established in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, was designed to rein in abusive consumer financial practices by banks and other private institutions. – Calia
11:10 am: Seeking a hometown advantage
Both Bernie Sanders' and Elizabeth Warren's home states are holding their primaries today. Vermont, which Sanders represents, is almost certain to go to the self-proclaimed democratic socialist senator. The state has 16 delegates up for grabs. Massachusetts, which Warren represents in the Senate, is a much bigger prize, offering 91 delegates. But Warren can't count on home cooking. Polls have shown that she and Sanders are in a tight race to win Massachusetts. – Calia
Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren reaches to greet a supporter next to her husband Bruce after voting on Super Tuesday in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., March 3, 2020. Brian Snyder | Reuters
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) cast his vote with his wife Jane O'Meara Sanders at a polling place March 3, 2020 at Robert Miller Community Center in Burlington, Vermont. Alex Wong | Getty Images
10:57 am: Bloomberg bets on contested convention
Mike Bloomberg is seriously lowering expectations for Super Tuesday. Fueled by more than $500 million in ad spending, the billionaire had bet big on success in the 14 states voting Tuesday to help him rack up delegates and seize momentum in the race. But now he is expressing doubt about whether he will win any states Tuesday, although he pledged to stay in the race all the way through the convention in July. In fact, he suggested he doesn't see another path to the nomination beyond winning at a contested convention, in which no candidate has at least 1,991 delegates, which would be a majority. He told reporters in Miami that he doesn't see he "can win any other way." Florida holds its primary March 17. – Calia TWEET
10:24 am: Forecasts move toward Biden
Betting markets are now favoring Joe Biden to win the Democratic nomination after his big win in South Carolina, as he has pulled ahead of Bernie Sanders, according to Real Clear Politics. Meanwhile, polling analysis site FiveThirtyEight has Biden in a much better position in its forecast than it did before Saturday's South Carolina primary. Heading into the weekend, Sanders was ahead of the former vice president. As of the most recent reading, Biden has a 31% chance of winning the Democratic primary, while Sanders has an 8% chance. But here's the key thing: FiveThirtyEight's model currently says there is a 61% chance that no one will reach the delegate majority threshold heading into July's Democratic National Convention. – Calia
9:54 am: Trump-Bloomberg tweet fight
While voters are hitting the polls, the two billionaires in the campaign, President Donald Trump and Mike Bloomberg, are teeing off on each other on Twitter. After more than three months in the race and more than $500 million spent, Bloomberg is finally on some Democratic primary ballots Tuesday. While he had surged in the polls for a while, his momentum stopped dead due to his weak debate performance in Nevada last month. Trump on Tuesday continued targeting Bloomberg over the former New York mayor's widely panned turn in that debate and a subsequent one in South Carolina. Bloomberg's well-paid social media team replied in kind. – Calia BLOOMBERG TWEET
9:40 am: There are key Senate primaries, too
The White House isn't the only thing on the line this November. Republican control of the Senate is also up in the air, with the GOP defending 23 Senate seats, while Democrats are defending only 12. Alabama, North Carolina and Texas are also holding Senate primaries Tuesday. The biggest race is in Alabama, where former Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions is running to get his old Senate seat back. He is facing off against Rep. Bradley Byrne and political newcomer Tommy Tuberville, a former Auburn University football coach. If no one gets a 50% majority on Tuesday, the top two finishers will face off later this month in a runoff. – Christina Wilkie
9:24 am: Tennessee tornado aftermath
Polling sites in Tennessee opened an hour late Tuesday due to a tornado that ripped through Nashville and parts of central Tennessee. Election officials in Nashville announced several alternate polling sites for voters whose original sites were damaged from the storms. At least eight people died on Monday in the state. — Yelena Dzhanova
9 am: And we're off!


cnbc--2020-03-04--Joe Biden wins Texas Democratic primary, NBC News projects, cementing his huge comeback

Former 2020 U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Beto O'Rourke endorses former Vice President and Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden for president at a campaign event at Gilley 's in Dallas , Texas , U.S. , March 2 , 2020 .
Joe Biden has picked up another huge Super Tuesday win .
He will claim victory in the Texas Democratic primary , according to an NBC News projection .
Only days ago , the former vice president trailed Sen. Bernie Sanders in Texas polling averages and looked set to lose the day 's two biggest contests .
But Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his direction , after a convincing South Carolina primary win Saturday and the departure of two of his centrist rivals in Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg .
The Minnesota senator and former South Bend , Indiana mayor , along with former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas , endorsed Biden in Dallas on the eve of the Texas primary .
Texas will award 228 delegates , second only to California among the 14 states holding primaries on Tuesday .
Biden will win at least 40 delegates , while Sanders will win at least 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC .
With more than 90 % of the vote in , Biden led Sanders by about a 33 % to 30 % margin .
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg lagged in a distant third with just more than 15 % of the vote — hovering around the threshold needed to win delegates statewide .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts followed with more than 11 % of support .
Sanders ' campaign set up a massive organizing presence in the state , and held a series of rallies there late last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latino voters .
While Biden had a much smaller volunteer footprint in Texas , his presidential bid had the support of a range of local officials and U.S. House members in the state , from first-term representatives to long-serving stalwarts .
As in other states , Biden dominated among older voters , while Sanders showed strength with young voters , according to exit polls .
In the case of Texas , 62 % of the electorate was older than 45 , while 38 % was between ages 18 and 44 .
Among Hispanic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 % of the electorate , Sanders garnered 45 % of support versus 24 % for Biden .
But Biden , who notched big wins in several southern states with significant black electorates , had 60 % of support among black voters in Texas , exit polls found .
About half of all voters who said they decided who to support in the `` last few days '' backed the former vice president .
Bloomberg , who appeared to cut into Biden 's support among older Texas voters , used his billions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren outlined her strategy to take on the coronavirus outbreak during a rally in Houston over the weekend .
The delegate allocations from Texas and California will decide how much of a lead Biden can build on Sanders after his Super Tuesday success .
Along with Texas , Biden will win North Carolina , Virginia , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Tennessee , Alabama , Oklahoma and Arkansas , NBC projects .
Sanders will carry Colorado , Utah and his home state of Vermont .
While California is too early to call , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the biggest delegate prize of the night , according to NBC .
By early Wednesday morning , Biden held a 416 to 320 pledged delegate lead over Sanders in the 2020 primary .

Former 2020 U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Beto O'Rourke endorses former Vice President and Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden for president at a campaign event at Gilley's in Dallas, Texas, U.S., March 2, 2020.
Joe Biden has picked up another huge Super Tuesday win. He will claim victory in the Texas Democratic primary, according to an NBC News projection.
Only days ago, the former vice president trailed Sen. Bernie Sanders in Texas polling averages and looked set to lose the day's two biggest contests. But Biden appeared to benefit from a late swing his direction, after a convincing South Carolina primary win Saturday and the departure of two of his centrist rivals in Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg. The Minnesota senator and former South Bend, Indiana mayor, along with former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas, endorsed Biden in Dallas on the eve of the Texas primary.
Texas will award 228 delegates, second only to California among the 14 states holding primaries on Tuesday. Biden will win at least 56 delegates, while Sanders will win at least 47, according to an early projection from NBC.
With 95% of the vote in, Biden led Sanders by about a 34% to 30% margin. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg lagged in a distant third with just under 15% of the vote — hovering around the threshold needed to win delegates statewide. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts followed with more than 11% of support.
Sanders' campaign set up a massive organizing presence in the state, and held a series of rallies there late last month as it tried to mobilize young and Latino voters. While Biden had a much smaller volunteer footprint in Texas, his presidential bid had the support of a range of local officials and U.S. House members in the state, from first-term representatives to long-serving stalwarts.
As in other states, Biden dominated among older voters, while Sanders showed strength with young voters, according to exit polls. In the case of Texas, 62% of the electorate was older than 45, while 38% was between ages 18 and 44.
Among Hispanic or Latino voters, who made up 31% of the electorate, Sanders garnered 45% of support versus 24% for Biden. But Biden, who notched big wins in several southern states with significant black electorates, had 60% of support among black voters in Texas, exit polls found.
About half of all voters who said they decided who to support in the "last few days" backed the former vice president.
Bloomberg, who appeared to cut into Biden's support among older Texas voters, used his billions to blanket the state with television ads. Warren outlined her strategy to take on the coronavirus outbreak during a rally in Houston over the weekend.
The delegate allocations from Texas and California will decide how much of a lead Biden can build on Sanders after his Super Tuesday success. Along with Texas, Biden will win North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and Arkansas, NBC projects.
Sanders will carry Colorado, Utah and his home state of Vermont. While California is too early to call, the senator appeared to hold an early lead in the biggest delegate prize of the night, according to NBC.
By Wednesday morning, Biden held a 453 to 373 pledged delegate lead over Sanders in the 2020 primary.
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cnbc--2020-03-04--As coronavirus spreads, government races to solve a problem it doesn't yet understand

Alex Azar , secretary of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) , center , speaks while U.S. President Donald Trump , left , and Francis Collins , director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health , listen during a briefing at the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center in Bethesda , Maryland , U.S. , on Tuesday , March 3 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — Congress is looking for answers on how to respond to the coronavirus .
The administration is short on them .
And it all adds up to a massive federal government working to solve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This notion was clear as U.S. health officials leading the coronavirus response were grilled Tuesday in a hearing on the illness held by the Senate Committee on Health , Education , Labor and Pensions .
Questions ranged from how quickly the U.S. will be able to deploy a vaccine ( answer : that will take a while ) , what percentage of people traveling from Canada are being screened for the virus ( unclear ) and how far germs from the virus spread on a plane ( a few rows ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some of it was met with skepticism .
`` Do you really believe that one million tests will be available by the end of this week ? ''
Sen. Patty Murray , D-Wash. , asked Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn .
Hahn had said in prepared remarks at the onset of the hearing that the administration would be able to achieve that objective .
Murray , whose state has seen nine people die from the illness , is one of many lawmakers who blamed limited testing supplies on allowing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murray , Hahn later clarified he expects `` up to a million tests . ''
He walked the panel through what would need to happen to achieve that goal .
`` The company we are working with this have the capacity to develop enough test kits to send out ... and this is a dynamic process — every day I 'm hearing from different manufacturers that they can do this — 2,500 test kits by the end of the week .
That should give us the capacity in hands of laboratories — once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million tests , '' he said .
Lawmakers pressed the officials about the potential of drug shortages , given the large portion of the country 's supply chain coming from overseas .
Hahn said he did not know whether India 's decision earlier in the day to limit 10 % of its export capacity affected the U.S. supply chain , including essential drugs .

Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), center, speaks while U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Francis Collins, director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, listen during a briefing at the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S., on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
WASHINGTON — Congress is looking for answers on how to respond to the coronavirus. The administration is short on them. And it all adds up to a massive federal government working to solve a problem it doesn't quite understand.
This notion was clear as U.S. health officials leading the coronavirus response were grilled Tuesday in a hearing on the illness held by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Questions ranged from how quickly the U.S. will be able to deploy a vaccine (answer: that will take a while), what percentage of people traveling from Canada are being screened for the virus (unclear) and how far germs from the virus spread on a plane (a few rows). Most of the testimony was caveated, and some of it was met with skepticism.
"Do you really believe that one million tests will be available by the end of this week?" Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., asked Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn. Hahn had said in prepared remarks at the onset of the hearing that the administration would be able to achieve that objective.
Murray, whose state has seen nine people die from the illness, is one of many lawmakers who blamed limited testing supplies on allowing the illness to proliferate.
In response to Murray, Hahn later clarified he expects "up to a million tests." He walked the panel through what would need to happen to achieve that goal.
"The company we are working with this have the capacity to develop enough test kits to send out ... and this is a dynamic process — every day I'm hearing from different manufacturers that they can do this — 2,500 test kits by the end of the week. That should give us the capacity in hands of laboratories — once they validate — to perform up to a million tests," he said.
Lawmakers pressed the officials about the potential of drug shortages, given the large portion of the country's supply chain coming from overseas. Hahn said he did not know whether India's decision earlier in the day to limit 10% of its export capacity affected the U.S. supply chain, including essential drugs.


cnbc--2020-03-04--Joe Biden fundraisers see millions of dollars in new commitments with Super Tuesday surge

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden walks to his car after visiting the Buttercup diner on March 03 , 2020 in Oakland , California .
Former Vice President Joe Biden went into Super Tuesday with fewer financial resources than other candidates .
But he will be in much better shape by the end of the night .
Bundlers loyal to Biden are seeing dozens of new donors , several maxing out with the top allowable $ 2,800 , as he picks up victories in Virginia , North Carolina , Tennessee , Oklahoma , Alabama , and other states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the matter .
These people declined to be named because these developments were yet to be announced .
Biden fundraising events started to sell out early in the night , the people added .
Biden 's fundraising success on Tuesday will be a key to his efforts to win the Democratic Party 's nomination to take on President Donald Trump in November .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , who was ahead of Biden in the delegate count going into Super Tuesday , raised $ 46.5 million in the month of February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 million over that same time period and another $ 5 million just days after his dominant victory in Saturday 's South Carolina primary .
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg , a billionaire worth about $ 60 billion , has said he will not be dropping out in the near future , making Biden 's fundraising success on Tuesday even more critical .
Bloomberg invested $ 200 million in Super Tuesday ads , including $ 5.6 million in Virginia and $ 12.8 million in North Carolina .
Biden 's campaign spent just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those states combined .
Business executives who were advising both Bloomberg and Biden have also started privately deciding to side with the former vice president .
With Bloomberg appearing to struggle , these same business leaders and donors are planning to prod the former New York mayor to drop out of the race in order to become , in essence , another financial juggernaut that will back Biden and turn on Sanders .
`` At some level it is shocking to win double digits in Virginia , for example , and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single field office , '' said one Wall Street leader who was helping both candidates but is now calling on members of his network to back Biden .
Jon Henes , a fundraiser for the former vice president , told members of his donor network that the message of Super Tuesday is clear : Biden is the candidate to beat , and it 's time for Bloomberg to go .
`` Mayor Bloomberg 's attempt to bring a new approach — forgoing the first four states , plowing money into social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Tuesday states , did not work .
It is definitely time for Mayor Bloomberg to step out and support Joe , '' he told donors late Tuesday .
One of the nearly sold-out events is at the home of former Ambassador James Costos , said the people with direct knowledge of the matter .
The event is scheduled for March 19 , two days after the Florida primary .
It was described to CNBC as an LGBTQ reception that looks to appeal to donors who once backed former South Bend , Indiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out earlier this week and endorsed Biden .
Buttigieg was the first major openly gay presidential candidate .
The event is to be co-hosted by Wall Street executive Charles Myers , former Ambassador Rufus Gifford , and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney , D-N.Y. , among many others , an organizer explained .
As Biden picked up a win in South Carolina , donors close to Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , who also recently dropped out and endorsed the former vice president , started moving into his camp .
One bundler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday success is leading to potentially 30 events being scheduled across the country , with 15 already lined up .
`` I have been inundated with requests to give and to hold fundraisers , '' Florida businessman John Morgan explained to CNBC .
`` The worm has turned .
Uncle Joe is the new comeback kid . ''
Another Biden bundler , Mike Kempner , told CNBC that money is rolling in in the wake of the campaign 's Super Tuesday success .
`` Since South Carolina , there has been a steady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supportive .
After tonight that is now a flood , '' said Kempner , CEO of public relations giant MWWPR .
`` The enthusiasm from new and current donors is at a level rarely seen in fundraising circles . ''
Meanwhile , the pro-Biden super PAC Unite the Country has also seen new big-money commitments throughout the evening .
The group is looking to help Biden in future primaries after investing in digital and radio ads airing in key Super Tuesday states .
`` We are riding the VP 's coattails .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Larry Rasky , the group 's treasurer , told CNBC on Tuesday when asked about their success throughout the night .

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden walks to his car after visiting the Buttercup diner on March 03, 2020 in Oakland, California.
Former Vice President Joe Biden went into Super Tuesday with fewer financial resources than other candidates. But he will be in much better shape by the end of the night.
Bundlers loyal to Biden are seeing dozens of new donors, several maxing out with the top allowable $2,800, as he picks up victories in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama, and other states, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. These people declined to be named because these developments were yet to be announced.
Biden fundraising events started to sell out early in the night, the people added.
Biden's fundraising success on Tuesday will be a key to his efforts to win the Democratic Party's nomination to take on President Donald Trump in November. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who was ahead of Biden in the delegate count going into Super Tuesday, raised $46.5 million in the month of February. Biden, meanwhile, raised $18 million over that same time period and another $5 million just days after his dominant victory in Saturday's South Carolina primary.
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, a billionaire worth about $60 billion, has said he will not be dropping out in the near future, making Biden's fundraising success on Tuesday even more critical.
Bloomberg invested $200 million in Super Tuesday ads, including $5.6 million in Virginia and $12.8 million in North Carolina. Biden's campaign spent just over $445,000 on ads in both of those states combined.
Business executives who were advising both Bloomberg and Biden have also started privately deciding to side with the former vice president. With Bloomberg appearing to struggle, these same business leaders and donors are planning to prod the former New York mayor to drop out of the race in order to become, in essence, another financial juggernaut that will back Biden and turn on Sanders.
"At some level it is shocking to win double digits in Virginia, for example, and with no ads and no ground game except a single field office," said one Wall Street leader who was helping both candidates but is now calling on members of his network to back Biden.
Jon Henes, a fundraiser for the former vice president, told members of his donor network that the message of Super Tuesday is clear: Biden is the candidate to beat, and it's time for Bloomberg to go.
"Mayor Bloomberg's attempt to bring a new approach — forgoing the first four states, plowing money into social media and advertisements and opening offices in the Super Tuesday states, did not work. It is definitely time for Mayor Bloomberg to step out and support Joe," he told donors late Tuesday.
One of the nearly sold-out events is at the home of former Ambassador James Costos, said the people with direct knowledge of the matter. The event is scheduled for March 19, two days after the Florida primary. It was described to CNBC as an LGBTQ reception that looks to appeal to donors who once backed former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg before he dropped out earlier this week and endorsed Biden. Buttigieg was the first major openly gay presidential candidate.
The event is to be co-hosted by Wall Street executive Charles Myers, former Ambassador Rufus Gifford, and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., among many others, an organizer explained. As Biden picked up a win in South Carolina, donors close to Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who also recently dropped out and endorsed the former vice president, started moving into his camp.
One bundler explained to CNBC that Biden's Super Tuesday success is leading to potentially 30 events being scheduled across the country, with 15 already lined up.
"I have been inundated with requests to give and to hold fundraisers," Florida businessman John Morgan explained to CNBC. "The worm has turned. Uncle Joe is the new comeback kid."
Another Biden bundler, Mike Kempner, told CNBC that money is rolling in in the wake of the campaign's Super Tuesday success.
"Since South Carolina, there has been a steady stream of new donors wanting to be supportive. After tonight that is now a flood," said Kempner, CEO of public relations giant MWWPR. "The enthusiasm from new and current donors is at a level rarely seen in fundraising circles."
Meanwhile, the pro-Biden super PAC Unite the Country has also seen new big-money commitments throughout the evening. The group is looking to help Biden in future primaries after investing in digital and radio ads airing in key Super Tuesday states.
"We are riding the VP's coattails. The donors are making their preference known," Larry Rasky, the group's treasurer, told CNBC on Tuesday when asked about their success throughout the night.


cnbc--2020-03-04--Alabama GOP Senate primary goes to runoff: Jeff Sessions vs Tommy Tuberville

Jeff Sessions talks with the media after voting in Alabama 's primary election , Tuesday , March 3 , 2020 , in Mobile , Ala. WASHINGTON – The Alabama Republican U.S. Senate primary is headed for a runoff , NBC News projected early Wednesday morning .
Tuesday 's primary contest pitted former Alabama senator and Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions against Rep. Bradley Byrne and political newcomer Tommy Tuberville , a former Auburn University football coach .
Sessions and Tuberville will face each other in a runoff later this month .
They finished as the top two candidates , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will fight for Alabama every day , and we will win the Republican nomination on March 31 , '' Sessions told supporters , according to NBC News .
The Republicans were all competing for the chance to run against vulnerable Democratic Sen. Doug Jones , widely considered the most endangered senator up for reelection .
With all three candidates polling close to one another , the race still has the potential to be one of the most contentious primaries in the country , with all three candidates trying to run as close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval rating in Alabama — as they can .
The campaign is also a highly risky venture for Sessions , who fell out of favor with Trump after he recused himself from Robert Mueller 's Russia investigation .
Sessions stepped down in 2018 , and Trump has not endorsed his Senate bid .
Prior to joining the Trump administration , Sessions represented Alabama in Congress for three decades , first in the House and then the Senate .
For Sessions , ending his political career with a loss in a primary runoff would @ @ @ @ @

Jeff Sessions talks with the media after voting in Alabama's primary election, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Mobile, Ala.
WASHINGTON – The Alabama Republican U.S. Senate primary is headed for a runoff, NBC News projected early Wednesday morning.
Tuesday's primary contest pitted former Alabama senator and Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions against Rep. Bradley Byrne and political newcomer Tommy Tuberville, a former Auburn University football coach.
Sessions and Tuberville will face each other in a runoff later this month. They finished as the top two candidates, and neither reached 50%. With 99% of the vote tallied by Wednesday morning, Tuberville had 33.4% and Sessions had 31.6%. Byrne ended up in third with 25.2%.
Disgraced former judge Roy Moore, who has been accused of sexual misconduct against teenage girls decades ago, netted 6.9%. Moore, who narrowly lost to Democrat Doug Jones in a 2017 special Senate election, has denied wrongdoing.
"I will fight for Alabama every day, and we will win the Republican nomination on March 31," Sessions told supporters, according to NBC News.
The Republicans were all competing for the chance to run against Jones, who is widely considered the most endangered senator up for reelection.
The race still has the potential to be one of the most contentious primaries in the country, as the candidates are trying to run as close to Trump — who enjoys a 60% approval rating in Alabama — as they can.
The campaign is also a highly risky venture for Sessions, who fell out of favor with Trump after he recused himself from Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Sessions stepped down in 2018, and Trump has not endorsed his Senate bid.
On Wednesday morning, Trump made it clear he was still not happy with Sessions. He retweeted an article about the runoff and wrote: "This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States & then doesn't have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch Hunt."
TWEET
Prior to joining the Trump administration, Sessions represented Alabama in Congress for three decades, first in the House and then the Senate. For Sessions, ending his political career with a loss in a primary runoff would surely tarnish his legacy.


cnbc--2020-03-04--Joe Biden wins Virginia Democratic primary, NBC News projects, one of the biggest prizes of Super Tu

Joe Biden wins Virginia Democratic primary, NBC News projects, one of the biggest prizes of Super Tuesday

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden has won the Virginia Democratic primary , according to an NBC News projection .
The win may portend a strong showing for Biden on Tuesday night , when Democratic voters will award more delegates than on any other night of the primary .
Virginia has 99 delegates to award on Tuesday .
Biden was projected to win at least 51 of them , and Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , to win at least 19 , according to an NBC News projection .
This number will be updated throughout the night on CNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came into Tuesday 's contest in the state with a commanding lead in the polls over his nearest rivals , the result of a massive upsurge in support over the past few days .
The surge allowed Biden to surpass both Sanders and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg in state polls .
Biden 's gains followed his decisive victory in South Carolina 's primary over the weekend , the first primary below the Mason-Dixon Line .
As recently as March 1 , the polling average for Virginia at FiveThirtyEight.com showed Sanders leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that changed on Monday , when fresh polls came out that showed Biden riding high .
Biden 's prospects may also be boosted by the announcements by former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , in the past 48 hours that they would drop out of the race and endorse the former vice president .
In 2016 's Democratic primary , Hillary Clinton defeated Sanders in Virginia by nearly 30 points .
Bloomberg has targeted Virginia , which has a history of electing moderate Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Bloomberg would need to do well in if he hoped to make a convincing argument to voters , and Democratic delegates , that he 's a viable alternative to Sanders .
In addition to spending millions of dollars in recent years helping Democrats get elected across the Old Dominion state , Bloomberg invested in a massive campaign operation there ahead of Tuesday 's primary , with seven field offices and at least 80 staffers , the largest of any Democrat in the race .
But so far , Bloomberg 's efforts have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite his having led for a few days last month in FiveThirtyEight.com 's average of Virginia polling .
Over the weekend , two of the state 's most prominent Democrats , Sen. Tim Kaine and former Gov .
Terry McAuliffe , both endorsed Biden .
He has also been endorsed by Reps. Bobby Scott , Jennifer Wexton , Elaine Luria , Donald McEachin and Don Beyer , all D-Va .

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden has won the Virginia Democratic primary, according to an NBC News projection. The win may portend a strong showing for Biden on Tuesday night, when Democratic voters will award more delegates than on any other night of the primary.
Virginia has 99 delegates to award on Tuesday. Biden was projected to win at least 51 of them, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to win at least 19, according to an NBC News projection. This number will be updated throughout the night on CNBC's Super Tuesday live blog.
Biden came into Tuesday's contest in the state with a commanding lead in the polls over his nearest rivals, the result of a massive upsurge in support over the past few days. The surge allowed Biden to surpass both Sanders and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg in state polls.
Biden's gains followed his decisive victory in South Carolina's primary over the weekend, the first primary below the Mason-Dixon Line. As recently as March 1, the polling average for Virginia at FiveThirtyEight.com showed Sanders leading Biden by 5 points.
But all that changed on Monday, when fresh polls came out that showed Biden riding high. Biden's prospects may also be boosted by the announcements by former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in the past 48 hours that they would drop out of the race and endorse the former vice president.
In 2016's Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton defeated Sanders in Virginia by nearly 30 points.
Bloomberg has targeted Virginia, which has a history of electing moderate Democrats. Virginia is the type of state that Bloomberg would need to do well in if he hoped to make a convincing argument to voters, and Democratic delegates, that he's a viable alternative to Sanders.
In addition to spending millions of dollars in recent years helping Democrats get elected across the Old Dominion state, Bloomberg invested in a massive campaign operation there ahead of Tuesday's primary, with seven field offices and at least 80 staffers, the largest of any Democrat in the race.
But so far, Bloomberg's efforts have yielded little in the way of endorsements, despite his having led for a few days last month in FiveThirtyEight.com's average of Virginia polling.
Over the weekend, two of the state's most prominent Democrats, Sen. Tim Kaine and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, both endorsed Biden. He has also been endorsed by Reps. Bobby Scott, Jennifer Wexton, Elaine Luria, Donald McEachin and Don Beyer, all D-Va.


cnbc--2020-03-04--Joe Biden wins North Carolina primary, NBC News projects, continuing his dominance in southern state

Joe Biden wins North Carolina primary, NBC News projects, continuing his dominance in southern states

Joe Biden will win the North Carolina Democratic primary , according to an NBC News projection , giving him another one of the biggest states on Super Tuesday .
After his win in South Carolina on Saturday and his projected win in Virginia earlier Tuesday , the latest victory represents continued dominance in southern states for the former vice president .
With 110 delegates up for grabs , the Tar Heel state boasts one of the biggest prizes of any of the 14 primary elections held on Super Tuesday .
Only Texas and California award more delegates .
NBC News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 30 of the state 's delegates .
Exit polling data showed that Biden was blowing away Sen. Bernie Sanders among black voters .
Biden won 63 % of that group in North Carolina , according to NBC 's exit polls .
Sanders was projected to win at least eight delegates .
The result appeared to mark a dramatic turnaround .
An NBC/Marist poll released Sunday showed a tight race in the state between Biden and Sanders .
Billionaire and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg , who skipped the four prior state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll , followed by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
North Carolina may only grow more competitive in the general election .
The state went for President Donald Trump in 2016 — but NBC 's poll showed both Sanders and Biden beating the incumbent Republican in a hypothetical matchup in the state .
Just a handful of Democratic candidates remained to compete for North Carolina 's delegates on Super Tuesday .
At its height , more than two dozen Democrats jockeyed for position in the race to take on Trump in 2020 .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced he would drop out of the contest .
Buttigieg , the youngest candidate in the race who as a small-town mayor outperformed expectations with a win in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus , called it quits after a fourth-place finish in the South Carolina primary Saturday .
Billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer threw in the towel a day before Buttigieg , and just hours after it became clear that the tens of millions of dollars Steyer spent in South Carolina would fail to net him any delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Steyer spent a total of $ 253.7 million on his campaign , according to a Federal Election Commission filing .
Biden 's much-needed victory in South Carolina sent a gust of wind into his campaign 's sail and helped him close the delegate gap with Sanders less than a week before the Tuesday elections .
Still , Sanders was considered the front-runner coming into Super Tuesday .

Joe Biden will win the North Carolina Democratic primary, according to an NBC News projection, giving him another one of the biggest states on Super Tuesday.
After his win in South Carolina on Saturday and his projected win in Virginia earlier Tuesday, the latest victory represents continued dominance in southern states for the former vice president.
With 110 delegates up for grabs, the Tar Heel state boasts one of the biggest prizes of any of the 14 primary elections held on Super Tuesday. Only Texas and California award more delegates. NBC News projected early that Biden would win at least 30 of the state's delegates.
Exit polling data showed that Biden was blowing away Sen. Bernie Sanders among black voters. Biden won 63% of that group in North Carolina, according to NBC's exit polls. Sanders was projected to win at least eight delegates.
The result appeared to mark a dramatic turnaround. An NBC/Marist poll released Sunday showed a tight race in the state between Biden and Sanders.
Billionaire and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who skipped the four prior state contests, came in third in the poll, followed by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
North Carolina may only grow more competitive in the general election. The state went for President Donald Trump in 2016 — but NBC's poll showed both Sanders and Biden beating the incumbent Republican in a hypothetical matchup in the state.
Just a handful of Democratic candidates remained to compete for North Carolina's delegates on Super Tuesday. At its height, more than two dozen Democrats jockeyed for position in the race to take on Trump in 2020.
Just two days before Super Tuesday, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced he would drop out of the contest. Buttigieg, the youngest candidate in the race who as a small-town mayor outperformed expectations with a win in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus, called it quits after a fourth-place finish in the South Carolina primary Saturday.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer threw in the towel a day before Buttigieg, and just hours after it became clear that the tens of millions of dollars Steyer spent in South Carolina would fail to net him any delegates there.
By the end of January, Steyer spent a total of $253.7 million on his campaign, according to a Federal Election Commission filing.
Biden's much-needed victory in South Carolina sent a gust of wind into his campaign's sail and helped him close the delegate gap with Sanders less than a week before the Tuesday elections. Still, Sanders was considered the front-runner coming into Super Tuesday.


cnbc--2020-03-04--Mnuchin hails Fed decision to cut rates amid coronavirus outbreak, as Trump calls for more action

Jerome Powell , chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve , left , and Steven Mnuchin , U.S. Treasury secretary , arrive for a Financial Stability Oversight Council ( FSOC ) meeting at the U.S. Treasury in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Wednesday , Dec. 19 , 2018 .
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers Tuesday that he supported the Federal Reserve 's decision to cut rates in a bid to support the economy amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Mnuchin also said he saw the disease 's spread as having `` short term '' impact on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fed 's decision ...
I think they did the right thing getting ahead of this , '' Mnuchin told the House of Representatives ' Ways and Means Committee during his testimony on the Trump administration 's proposed 2021 budget .
The Fed cut interest rates by half a percentage point in response to the novel coronavirus during the scheduled committee meeting .
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in a press conference later that the committee saw `` a risk to the economy and chose to act . ''
But it was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , after the Fed announced its decision , Trump demanded that the central bank keep cutting rates .
The Fed `` must further ease and , most importantly , come into line with other countries/competitors , '' Trump tweeted .
`` We are not playing on a level field .
Not fair to USA .
It is finally time for the Federal Reserve to LEAD .
More easing and cutting ! ''
he added .
The Fed decision did n't mollify markets , either .
The Dow Jones industrial average fell more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mnuchin 's statement was in direct response to Rep. Brendan Boyle , D-Penn.
, who brought up the Fed 's decision in his allotted time .
`` Anyone as an investor will look at it as welcome news , '' Boyle said .
`` While that might be the reaction at first blush , I have to say I find it concerning because this does have echoes of the 2008 Fed recession . ''
`` I would say this is no different than any other severe situation , '' Mnuchin said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact on the short term of the economy . ''

Jerome Powell, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, left, and Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury secretary, arrive for a Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) meeting at the U.S. Treasury in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018.
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers Tuesday that he supported the Federal Reserve's decision to cut rates in a bid to support the economy amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Mnuchin also said he saw the disease's spread as having "short term" impact on the economy.
"I very much support the Fed's decision ... I think they did the right thing getting ahead of this," Mnuchin told the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee during his testimony on the Trump administration's proposed 2021 budget.
The Fed cut interest rates by half a percentage point in response to the novel coronavirus during the scheduled committee meeting. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in a press conference later that the committee saw "a risk to the economy and chose to act."
But it wasn't enough for President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, after the Fed announced its decision, Trump demanded that the central bank keep cutting rates. The Fed "must further ease and, most importantly, come into line with other countries/competitors," Trump tweeted.
"We are not playing on a level field. Not fair to USA. It is finally time for the Federal Reserve to LEAD. More easing and cutting!" he added.
TWEET
The Fed decision didn't mollify markets, either. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 800 points in late afternoon trading.
Mnuchin's statement was in direct response to Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Penn., who brought up the Fed's decision in his allotted time.
"Anyone as an investor will look at it as welcome news," Boyle said. "While that might be the reaction at first blush, I have to say I find it concerning because this does have echoes of the 2008 Fed recession."
Mnuchin, in turn, sought to calm lawmakers' concerns.
"I would say this is no different than any other severe situation," Mnuchin said. "This is going to have an impact on the short term of the economy."