usatoday--2020-02-24--'It's the classic glass half empty': Bernie Sanders hidden health records raise questions

More than four months after suffering a heart attack on the campaign trail , Sen. Bernie Sanders refuses to release detailed medical records that might yield clues about his overall health .
Sanders , 78 , said multiple times last year that he would share his medical records .
On Dec. 30 , he released three paragraphs from two cardiologists and a two-page letter from a primary care doctor proclaiming him to be in good health .
But during a CNN town hall last week , Sanders said he divulged “ quite as much as any other candidate has ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked whether he would release full medical records , he said , “ I don ’ t think we will , no.
” His refusal to release detailed records became a topic during Wednesday ’ s debate in Las Vegas and continued through the week as Sen. Elizabeth Warren said “ he just hasn ’ t ” released his records as promised .
The lack of transparency raises questions about the Democratic front-runner 's health that medical experts say could be answered – and silenced – with the release of detailed records .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ages 70 or above have provided the same level of medical detail that Sen. John McCain did just over a decade ago .
President Donald Trump , 73 , also eschewed precedent , releasing to the public only a laudatory physician letter rather than medical records .
In December , former Vice President Joe Biden , shared a letter from his doctor describing him as a `` healthy , vigorous 77-year-old . ''
Warren , 70 , also provided a one-page letter from her doctor along with five pages of lab results .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the presidential campaign trail inMay 2008 , McCain , then 72 , released detailed medical records on his heart health , skin cancer and other conditions , including assessments by his own physicians .
McCain also allowed media outlets to briefly review the records with outside medical experts .
Dr. Stuart Flynn , then dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix , reviewed 1,173 pages of McCain ’ s medical records at the request of The Arizona Republic .
The detailed records provided by McCain provided a comprehensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His independent review concluded the Arizona senator had a clean bill of health , despite injuries sustained as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and multiple battles with melanoma .
Sanders refusal to provide more details will likely fuel more questions about his health .
“ It ’ s the classic glass half empty , ” said Flynn , now dean of Texas Christian University and University of North Texas School of Medicine in Fort Worth .
“ If he ’ s not telling us something , then there must be something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has to be the case at all , but I can ’ t say it isn ’ t until he comes forward with the records.
” Cardiologists not involved in Sanders ' care say the first four to six weeks after a heart attack is a crucial period for recovery .
He had a heart attack Oct. 1 during a campaign event in Las Vegas .
He had a blockage in one artery and two stents were inserted .
He was released from a hospital there three days later , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In a heart attack , the most important thing is the amount of damage a heart has sustained , ” said Guy L. Mintz , director of cardiovascular health and lipidology at Northwell Health ’ s Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset , New York .
Heart tissue that is damaged can not be repaired .
A key measurement , ejection fraction , gauges how much blood the heart pumps .
A low measure suggests a major heart attack with significant tissue damage .
`` There are people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` I do n't necessarily think he had severe heart attack because he would have been hospitalized longer .
And he would not be back on the campaign trail and in the Senate so quickly . ''
Doctors have continued to monitor Sanders progress .
In December , during a treadmill exam , Sanders ' `` performance was rated above average '' compared with that of similar-aged patients , according to a December letter from Brian P. Monahan , the attending physician of Congress .
Sanders cited his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vigor and stamina .
During the debate , Sanders pointed out that former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also has two stents .
In December , Bloomberg 's campaign disclosed in a letter that he had a coronary stent placed for a blocked artery in 2000 .
In 2018 , he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation , which is an irregular heartbeat .
The letter described him as being in excellent health .
`` The question for both of them is how strong is their heart , '' Mintz said .
Without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't think you 'll find that information . ''
Flynn said detailed medical records could reveal other signs of vascular disease that would give the public a more robust picture of Sanders ' overall health .
Such detailed records also could reveal potential risks for future heart attack or stroke .
Or the records could silence chatter about his health on the campaign trail .
`` It wouldn ’ t be bad for a 78-year-old , if he had that information , to come out and slam it on the table @ @ @ @ @

'It's the classic glass half empty': Bernie Sanders hidden health records raise questions
Show Caption Hide Caption Sanders declares victory in Nevada caucuses Nevada caucus results showed Bernie Sanders as the winner in the nation's most diverse-yet voting bloc. Associated Press
More than four months after suffering a heart attack on the campaign trail, Sen. Bernie Sanders refuses to release detailed medical records that might yield clues about his overall health.
Sanders, 78, said multiple times last year that he would share his medical records. On Dec. 30, he released three paragraphs from two cardiologists and a two-page letter from a primary care doctor proclaiming him to be in good health.
But during a CNN town hall last week, Sanders said he divulged “quite as much as any other candidate has” on their medical records. When again asked whether he would release full medical records, he said, “I don’t think we will, no.”
His refusal to release detailed records became a topic during Wednesday’s debate in Las Vegas and continued through the week as Sen. Elizabeth Warren said “he just hasn’t” released his records as promised.
The lack of transparency raises questions about the Democratic front-runner's health that medical experts say could be answered – and silenced – with the release of detailed records.
Neither Sanders nor three other Democrat candidates ages 70 or above have provided the same level of medical detail that Sen. John McCain did just over a decade ago. President Donald Trump, 73, also eschewed precedent, releasing to the public only a laudatory physician letter rather than medical records.
In December, former Vice President Joe Biden, shared a letter from his doctor describing him as a "healthy, vigorous 77-year-old." Warren, 70, also provided a one-page letter from her doctor along with five pages of lab results.
While he was the presumed Republican nominee on the presidential campaign trail in May 2008, McCain, then 72, released detailed medical records on his heart health, skin cancer and other conditions, including assessments by his own physicians. McCain also allowed media outlets to briefly review the records with outside medical experts.
Dr. Stuart Flynn, then dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix, reviewed 1,173 pages of McCain’s medical records at the request of The Arizona Republic.
The detailed records provided by McCain provided a comprehensive view of his health, Flynn said. His independent review concluded the Arizona senator had a clean bill of health, despite injuries sustained as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and multiple battles with melanoma.
Sanders refusal to provide more details will likely fuel more questions about his health.
“It’s the classic glass half empty,” said Flynn, now dean of Texas Christian University and University of North Texas School of Medicine in Fort Worth. “If he’s not telling us something, then there must be something there. I don’t think that has to be the case at all, but I can’t say it isn’t until he comes forward with the records.”
Cardiologists not involved in Sanders' care say the first four to six weeks after a heart attack is a crucial period for recovery. He had a heart attack Oct. 1 during a campaign event in Las Vegas. He had a blockage in one artery and two stents were inserted. He was released from a hospital there three days later, according to a letter released by the Sanders campaign.
“In a heart attack, the most important thing is the amount of damage a heart has sustained,” said Guy L. Mintz, director of cardiovascular health and lipidology at Northwell Health’s Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset, New York.
Heart tissue that is damaged cannot be repaired. A key measurement, ejection fraction, gauges how much blood the heart pumps. A low measure suggests a major heart attack with significant tissue damage.
"There are people who have mild, moderate or big heart attacks," he said. "I don't necessarily think he had severe heart attack because he would have been hospitalized longer. And he would not be back on the campaign trail and in the Senate so quickly."
Doctors have continued to monitor Sanders progress. In December, during a treadmill exam, Sanders' "performance was rated above average" compared with that of similar-aged patients, according to a December letter from Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician of Congress.
Sanders cited his frequent campaign stops as proof of his vigor and stamina. During the debate, Sanders pointed out that former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also has two stents.
In December, Bloomberg's campaign disclosed in a letter that he had a coronary stent placed for a blocked artery in 2000. In 2018, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat. The letter described him as being in excellent health.
"The question for both of them is how strong is their heart," Mintz said. Without a detailed release of medical records, "I don't think you'll find that information."
Flynn said detailed medical records could reveal other signs of vascular disease that would give the public a more robust picture of Sanders' overall health. Such detailed records also could reveal potential risks for future heart attack or stroke.
Or the records could silence chatter about his health on the campaign trail.
"It wouldn’t be bad for a 78-year-old, if he had that information, to come out and slam it on the table," Flynn said.


usatoday--2020-02-24--Buttigieg campaign claims irregularities in Nevada caucus votes, seeks 'concrete' changes

INDIANAPOLIS – The campaign for presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg wants the Nevada State Democratic Party to take a series of “ concrete steps ” to address what it alleges are “ material irregularities pertaining to the process of integrating early votes into the in-person precinct caucus results.
” The campaign ’ s complaints come on the heels of caucus voting on Saturday in which Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders won a decisive victory .
It follows a four-day early voting period unveiled by the Nevada Democratic Party to avoid the problems of the Iowa Democratic caucus .
Dated Feb. 22 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's complaints and also points out the tight race for second place .
However , a Nevada Democratic party spokesperson said results are still being verified and they have no plans to change their process .
Turmoil after Nevada : Bernie Sanders ' Nevada win forces Democrats to reckon with potential impact of his nomination According to a statement from Hari Sevugan , deputy campaign manager for Buttigieg , the campaign ’ s data shows “ a razor thin margin for second place in Nevada , ” but `` due to irregularities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised with the Nevada Democratic Party , it ’ s unclear what the final results will be . ''
Sanders won the Nevada caucuses with 46 % of the vote , taking a lead in the national delegates .
Buttigieg came in third , earning two national delegates .
In the letter to the Nevada Democratic Party Chairman William McCurdy II , the Pete for America campaign listed three requests it said are crucial to protecting the integrity of votes and ensuring caucus transparency .
It 's asking the state Democratic party to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by precinct ; correct any outstanding early vote and second alignment errors identified by presidential campaigns , including Buttigieg 's campaign ; and , lastly , explain anomalies in the data .
The Buttigieg campaign 's letter asked Nevada Democrats to take these steps before releasing any final results .
The Buttigieg campaign claims that while early voting helped to open the caucus process to more participants , the process to integrate early votes with the results of the in-person precinct caucus was filled “ with errors and inconsistencies.
” Of the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it received on Saturday from precincts around the state , a few dozen were about factoring in early voting .
Issues included early voting data not being delivered or not used in calculating viability and in one location , the wrong early voting data was used , according to the campaign 's letter .
Molly Forgey , a spokesperson for the Nevada State Democratic Party , responded to the letter in a statement Sunday that said that the party didn ’ t plan to change its reporting process .
“ We laid out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step by step and we communicated these processes to all campaigns .
We are continuing to verify and to report results , '' she wrote in the emailed statement .
`` We never indicated we would release a separate breakdown of early vote and in-person attendees by precinct and will not change our reporting process now .
As laid out in our recount guidance , there is a formal method for requesting a challenge of results.
” Overall , the early caucus plan seemed to decrease pressure for Caucus Day vote-tallying with smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to the Nevada caucuses in 2016 , the Reno Gazette Journal reported , even with the confusion this year about factoring in early votes .
Call IndyStar education reporter MJ Slaby at ( 317 ) 447-1586 or email her at mslaby @ gannett.com .
Follow her on Twitter : @ mjslaby .

Buttigieg campaign claims irregularities in Nevada caucus votes, seeks 'concrete' changes
Show Caption Hide Caption Difference between caucus and primary, explained The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But what’s the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
INDIANAPOLIS – The campaign for presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg wants the Nevada State Democratic Party to take a series of “concrete steps” to address what it alleges are “material irregularities pertaining to the process of integrating early votes into the in-person precinct caucus results.”
The campaign’s complaints come on the heels of caucus voting on Saturday in which Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders won a decisive victory. It follows a four-day early voting period unveiled by the Nevada Democratic Party to avoid the problems of the Iowa Democratic caucus.
Dated Feb. 22, the letter lays out the Buttigieg campaign's complaints and also points out the tight race for second place. However, a Nevada Democratic party spokesperson said results are still being verified and they have no plans to change their process.
Turmoil after Nevada: Bernie Sanders' Nevada win forces Democrats to reckon with potential impact of his nomination
According to a statement from Hari Sevugan, deputy campaign manager for Buttigieg, the campaign’s data shows “a razor thin margin for second place in Nevada,” but "due to irregularities and a number of unresolved questions we have raised with the Nevada Democratic Party, it’s unclear what the final results will be."
Sanders won the Nevada caucuses with 46% of the vote, taking a lead in the national delegates. Buttigieg came in third, earning two national delegates.
3 requests from Buttigieg campaign
In the letter to the Nevada Democratic Party Chairman William McCurdy II, the Pete for America campaign listed three requests it said are crucial to protecting the integrity of votes and ensuring caucus transparency.
It's asking the state Democratic party to release early vote and in-person vote totals by precinct; correct any outstanding early vote and second alignment errors identified by presidential campaigns, including Buttigieg's campaign; and, lastly, explain anomalies in the data.
The Buttigieg campaign's letter asked Nevada Democrats to take these steps before releasing any final results.
The Buttigieg campaign claims that while early voting helped to open the caucus process to more participants, the process to integrate early votes with the results of the in-person precinct caucus was filled “with errors and inconsistencies.”
Of the more than 200 incident reports the campaign said it received on Saturday from precincts around the state, a few dozen were about factoring in early voting. Issues included early voting data not being delivered or not used in calculating viability and in one location, the wrong early voting data was used, according to the campaign's letter.
No plans to change process
Molly Forgey, a spokesperson for the Nevada State Democratic Party, responded to the letter in a statement Sunday that said that the party didn’t plan to change its reporting process.
“We laid out our early vote and Caucus Day processes step by step and we communicated these processes to all campaigns. We are continuing to verify and to report results," she wrote in the emailed statement. "We never indicated we would release a separate breakdown of early vote and in-person attendees by precinct and will not change our reporting process now. As laid out in our recount guidance, there is a formal method for requesting a challenge of results.”
Overall, the early caucus plan seemed to decrease pressure for Caucus Day vote-tallying with smaller crowds and resulted in less reported problems compared to the Nevada caucuses in 2016, the Reno Gazette Journal reported, even with the confusion this year about factoring in early votes.
Call IndyStar education reporter MJ Slaby at (317) 447-1586 or email her at mslaby@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @mjslaby.


usatoday--2020-02-24--GOP Sen. Tim Scott: Bernie Sanders poses greatest threat to Trump's reelection – aside from Trump hi

WASHINGTON – Republican Sen. Tim Scott said Monday that he thinks the Democratic candidate who has the best chance of defeating President Donald Trump in November is Sen. Bernie Sanders .
`` Bernie Sanders brings that outside game in a similar fashion that President Trump did in 2016 , '' Scott said on CBS `` This Morning . ''
He said Sanders and Trump were similar candidates because they both faced opposition from their respective party 's establishment , who did not think they could win .
But the senator from South Carolina said the greatest overall threat to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump himself , implying the president 's rhetoric can sometimes make him his own worst enemy .
`` If he 's on his game , as he was at the State of the Union , I do n't think there 's a candidate in the country that can beat him , '' Scott added .
‘ We ’ re going to win this election ’ : Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada win Sanders has emerged as the Democratic front-runner after winning two of the first three primary contests .
In addition to leading in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socialist has been surging in recent polls .
Scott said that if the other candidates want to win they will have to `` take Bernie Sanders on head-to-head '' in Tuesday 's debate in Charleston , South Carolina .
He warned that if Sanders wins a plurality of delegates in the primary race but the party establishment tries to block him from the nomination , it could cause an `` implosion on the foundation of the Democrat Party . ''
South Carolina 's primary is Saturday .
Until recently , Scott said former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invincible '' in the Palmetto State .
But Sanders has surged there as well , and after leading the pack by more than 20 percentage points for much of 2019 , Biden has seen his advantage over Sanders shrink to 5 points in a CBS News poll released Sunday .
‘ We 're alive and we 're coming back ’ : Joe Biden stakes presidential bid on crucial South Carolina primary Scott said that while billionaire Tom Steyer has pulled some votes from Biden in South Carolina with his advertising blitz , Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tent .
`` Bernie Sanders is doing something in 2020 that he could not do in 2016 , which is getting African Americans and Hispanic voters to take a second look at his campaign , '' Scott said .
He said Sander 's `` Medicare for All '' proposal was part of his appeal to minority voters .
`` He is undeniable a socialist , but he is strong and clear and competent on the issues he supports , '' Scott said of Sanders .
`` And the issue of health care is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , and I think it is the issue why he ended up with 51 % of the Hispanic vote in Nevada . ''
Scott said the easiest candidate for Trump to defeat in the general election would be former New York City Mayor and multibillionaire media mogul Michael Bloomberg – who has based his campaign on being the best candidate to take on Trump .
Bloomberg has argued he can pull in centrist voters who would be alienated by Sanders ' progressive economic policies .
'Unfair to say everything is bad ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fidel Castro 's Cuba Without elaborating , Scott said he thought Bloomberg has been too `` provocative '' and `` has so many challenging headlines . ''
When asked about Trump 's nickname for Bloomberg , `` Mini Mike , '' which mocks the candidate 's height , Scott he personally `` would not call folks nicknames . ''
`` But it worked in the Republican primary .
I watched the candidate that I started supporting , Marco Rubio , be made into a caricature along the way , '' Scott said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' moniker for the senator from Florida who was one of his chief rivals for the GOP nomination in 2016 .
`` Everything feels like a show when he 's on stage because he understands how to get the audience involved . ''
S.C. primary : Billionaire Tom Steyer qualifies for next debate as Biden blames him for South Carolina slide

GOP Sen. Tim Scott: Bernie Sanders poses greatest threat to Trump's reelection – aside from Trump himself
Show Caption Hide Caption Sanders declares victory in Nevada caucuses Nevada caucus results showed Bernie Sanders as the winner in the nation's most diverse-yet voting bloc. Associated Press
WASHINGTON – Republican Sen. Tim Scott said Monday that he thinks the Democratic candidate who has the best chance of defeating President Donald Trump in November is Sen. Bernie Sanders.
"Bernie Sanders brings that outside game in a similar fashion that President Trump did in 2016," Scott said on CBS "This Morning." He said Sanders and Trump were similar candidates because they both faced opposition from their respective party's establishment, who did not think they could win.
But the senator from South Carolina said the greatest overall threat to Trump's reelection was not Sanders, but Trump himself, implying the president's rhetoric can sometimes make him his own worst enemy.
"If he's on his game, as he was at the State of the Union, I don't think there's a candidate in the country that can beat him," Scott added.
‘We’re going to win this election’: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada win
Only on @CBSThisMorning: @GayleKing sits down with Republican @SenatorTimScott about the African-American vote in his home state of South Carolina. pic.twitter.com/CHkuy4tfsF — CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) February 24, 2020
Sanders has emerged as the Democratic front-runner after winning two of the first three primary contests. In addition to leading in the delegate count, the self-described democratic socialist has been surging in recent polls.
Scott said that if the other candidates want to win they will have to "take Bernie Sanders on head-to-head" in Tuesday's debate in Charleston, South Carolina. He warned that if Sanders wins a plurality of delegates in the primary race but the party establishment tries to block him from the nomination, it could cause an "implosion on the foundation of the Democrat Party."
South Carolina's primary is Saturday. Until recently, Scott said former Vice President Joe Biden had seemed "invincible" in the Palmetto State. But Sanders has surged there as well, and after leading the pack by more than 20 percentage points for much of 2019, Biden has seen his advantage over Sanders shrink to 5 points in a CBS News poll released Sunday.
‘We're alive and we're coming back’: Joe Biden stakes presidential bid on crucial South Carolina primary
Scott said that while billionaire Tom Steyer has pulled some votes from Biden in South Carolina with his advertising blitz, Sanders has pulled many black voters into his tent.
"Bernie Sanders is doing something in 2020 that he could not do in 2016, which is getting African Americans and Hispanic voters to take a second look at his campaign," Scott said. He said Sander's "Medicare for All" proposal was part of his appeal to minority voters.
Electoral College vs. the popular vote, explained President Trump and President George W. Bush won the electoral vote during the election, but not the popular vote. How does the electoral college work? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
"He is undeniable a socialist, but he is strong and clear and competent on the issues he supports," Scott said of Sanders. "And the issue of health care is a big issue in the African American community, and I think it is the issue why he ended up with 51% of the Hispanic vote in Nevada."
Scott said the easiest candidate for Trump to defeat in the general election would be former New York City Mayor and multibillionaire media mogul Michael Bloomberg – who has based his campaign on being the best candidate to take on Trump. Bloomberg has argued he can pull in centrist voters who would be alienated by Sanders' progressive economic policies.
'Unfair to say everything is bad': Sanders slammed after praising aspects of Fidel Castro's Cuba
Without elaborating, Scott said he thought Bloomberg has been too "provocative" and "has so many challenging headlines."
When asked about Trump's nickname for Bloomberg, "Mini Mike," which mocks the candidate's height, Scott he personally "would not call folks nicknames."
"But it worked in the Republican primary. I watched the candidate that I started supporting, Marco Rubio, be made into a caricature along the way," Scott said, referring to Trump's "Little Marco" moniker for the senator from Florida who was one of his chief rivals for the GOP nomination in 2016.
Trump "understands media," Scott said.
"Everything feels like a show when he's on stage because he understands how to get the audience involved."
S.C. primary: Billionaire Tom Steyer qualifies for next debate as Biden blames him for South Carolina slide


usatoday--2020-02-24--'I want to be brave like you': Boy, 9, asks Pete Buttigieg for help coming out as gay

WASHINGTON – Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg shared an emotional moment in front of thousands of supporters Saturday when a 9-year-old boy asked for his help coming out as gay .
`` Would you help me tell the world I ’ m gay too ?
I want to be brave like you , '' the boy wrote on a card that was read by the moderator during Buttigieg 's rally in Denver .
The crowd began chanting `` Love is love ! ''
as Zachary Ro made his way to the stage .
Zachary handed Buttigieg a bracelet he 'd made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrist .
`` I don ’ t think you need a lot of advice from me on bravery .
You seem pretty strong , '' Buttigieg told Zachary .
`` It took me a long time to figure out how to tell even my best friend that I was gay , let alone to go out there and tell the world . ''
The former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , did not come out as gay until 2015 .
He has said that he long believed he could either be out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both .
In a speech last April to a group that supports LGBTQ candidates , Buttigieg shared something that he said he was still uncomfortable admitting .
`` If you had offered me a pill to make me straight , I would ’ ve swallowed it before you had time to give me a sip of water , '' he said .
`` It ’ s hard to face the truth that there were times in my life when , if you had shown me exactly what it was inside me that made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it out with a knife . ''
Buttigieg told Zachary on Saturday that when he was trying to figure out who he was , he was afraid that `` who I was might mean that I could never make a difference . ''
`` What wound up happening instead is that it ’ s a huge part of the difference I get to make , '' he said .
`` I never could have seen that coming . ''
And he told Zachary that the boy will never know whose life he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage to ask his question .
`` There ’ s a lot of power in that , '' Buttigieg said .
Buttigieg is the second openly gay candidate from a major party to run for president but the first to win delegates .
An uncharacteristically emotional Buttigieg let the personal significance of that show after he led the field with delegates from the Iowa caucuses .
“ It validates for a kid , somewhere in a community , wondering if he belongs , or she belongs , or they belong , in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in yourself and your country , there 's a lot backing up that belief , ” a choked-up Buttigieg said earlier this month .
On Saturday , Buttigieg 's husband , Chasten , hopped up on stage to meet Zachary and escort him back to the audience .
`` I ’ m so proud of you , '' he said .
`` That ’ s incredible . ''
After Nevada : Pete Buttigieg left Nevada gunning for Bernie Sanders before it 's too late Limbaugh 's harsh comments : Chasten Buttigieg : ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Rush Limbaugh my entire life '

'I want to be brave like you': Boy, 9, asks Pete Buttigieg for help coming out as gay
Show Caption Hide Caption Buttigieg congratulates Sanders' Nevada results Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg congratulated Sanders on his showing at the Democratic caucuses in Nevada, but also stressed that Sanders brings polarization and division. (Feb. 22) AP
WASHINGTON – Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg shared an emotional moment in front of thousands of supporters Saturday when a 9-year-old boy asked for his help coming out as gay.
"Would you help me tell the world I’m gay too? I want to be brave like you," the boy wrote on a card that was read by the moderator during Buttigieg's rally in Denver.
"Wow!" Buttigieg responded.
The crowd began chanting "Love is love!" as Zachary Ro made his way to the stage.
Zachary handed Buttigieg a bracelet he'd made and the candidate slipped it on his wrist.
"I don’t think you need a lot of advice from me on bravery. You seem pretty strong," Buttigieg told Zachary. "It took me a long time to figure out how to tell even my best friend that I was gay, let alone to go out there and tell the world."
The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, did not come out as gay until 2015. He has said that he long believed he could either be out or be in politics, but not both.
In a speech last April to a group that supports LGBTQ candidates, Buttigieg shared something that he said he was still uncomfortable admitting.
"If you had offered me a pill to make me straight, I would’ve swallowed it before you had time to give me a sip of water," he said. "It’s hard to face the truth that there were times in my life when, if you had shown me exactly what it was inside me that made me gay, I would have cut it out with a knife."
Buttigieg told Zachary on Saturday that when he was trying to figure out who he was, he was afraid that "who I was might mean that I could never make a difference."
"What wound up happening instead is that it’s a huge part of the difference I get to make," he said. "I never could have seen that coming."
And he told Zachary that the boy will never know whose life he could be affecting just by standing on the stage to ask his question.
"There’s a lot of power in that," Buttigieg said.
Zac, your bravery is an inspiration to all those wondering if they belong. You’ll never know whose life you might be affecting by sharing your story. There’s a lot of power in that. You never know who is watching you and feeling a little braver because of your courage. pic.twitter.com/wY46TXY0sQ — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 24, 2020
Buttigieg is the second openly gay candidate from a major party to run for president but the first to win delegates.
An uncharacteristically emotional Buttigieg let the personal significance of that show after he led the field with delegates from the Iowa caucuses.
“It validates for a kid, somewhere in a community, wondering if he belongs, or she belongs, or they belong, in their own family, that if you believe in yourself and your country, there's a lot backing up that belief,” a choked-up Buttigieg said earlier this month.
On Saturday, Buttigieg's husband, Chasten, hopped up on stage to meet Zachary and escort him back to the audience.
"I’m so proud of you," he said. "That’s incredible."
After Nevada: Pete Buttigieg left Nevada gunning for Bernie Sanders before it's too late
Limbaugh's harsh comments: Chasten Buttigieg: 'I've been dealing with the likes of Rush Limbaugh my entire life'
"


usatoday--2020-02-24--Judge Amy Berman Jackson rejects Roger Stone's bid to disqualify her from the case

WASHINGTON – U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson denied Roger Stone ’ s motion to disqualify her , saying the move was merely an attempt to generate public interest in the case .
“ If parties could move to disqualify every judge who furrows his brow at one side or the other before ruling , the entire court system would come to a standstill , ” Jackson said .
“ At bottom , given the absence of any factual or legal support for the motion for disqualification , the pleading appears to be nothing more than an attempt to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement for public consumption that has the words ‘ judge ’ and ‘ biased ’ in it.
” Stone , whom Jackson sentenced to a little over three years in prison , sought to have the judge removed from the case because of what she said about jurors during Stone ’ s sentencing hearing last week .
The judge scheduled a hearing Tuesday on his request for a new trial .
Stone , a longtime friend and ally of President Donald Trump , was convicted of lying to the House Intelligence Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference in the 2016 presidential race .
He was also found guilty of urging a potential congressional witness to also lie .
In a long statement before she announced Stone 's sentence , Jackson said jurors `` served with integrity '' – a comment that defense attorneys say `` undermines the appearance of impartiality . ''
Jackson 's statement is `` premature '' because of the pending motion for a new trial that questions the integrity of one juror , Stone 's attorneys argued in a seven-page filing Friday , adding that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an inability to reserve judgment on an issue she has not yet heard .
'Truth still matters ' : Judge sentences Roger Stone to 3 years in prison for obstructing Congress ' Russia investigation Who is Amy Berman Jackson : Judge in Roger Stone has been criticized by Trump and his allies But in a six-page ruling Sunday evening , Jackson said her characterization `` was entirely and fairly based '' on her observations of the jurors through nine days of jury selection and trial .
She said the jurors were `` punctual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughtful communications '' with her during their deliberations .
The judge said she has been fair to Stone since he was indicted in January 2019 , taking issues his attorneys raised `` seriously , '' ruling `` with care and impartiality , '' explaining her reasoning in detail , and scrupulously ensuring his right to a fair trial .
During jury selection , Jackson said she struck 58 potential jurors for cause , in part in response to Stone 's attorneys motions .
Stone was allowed to remain out on bond `` even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intimidate the Court , after he violated conditions imposed by the Court , '' Jackson said , referring to a gag order preventing Stone from speaking publicly about the case , `` after he was convicted at trial , and after he was sentenced to a term of incarceration . ''
A new trial : Roger Stone asks for a new trial after Trump accuses juror of bias Jackson sentenced the 67-year-old GOP operative to three years and four months in prison , followed by two years of probation .
She also ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The punishment is likely to fuel speculation that Trump , who has publicly inserted himself into the case , would pardon Stone .
Jackson , who was nominated by President Barack Obama , has been the target of attacks from Trump and his supporters who argued that she is biased against Stone .
Stone asked for a new trial this month , a day after Trump accused one of the jurors of `` significant bias . ''
In a tweet days before Stone was sentenced , Trump attacked Tomeka Hart , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forewoman in a Facebook post .
Hart , a former school board member in Memphis who ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for Tennessee 's 9th Congressional District , defended four career prosecutors who handled Stone 's case .
The prosecutors withdrew from Stone 's case after the Justice Department overruled the sentence recommendation of seven to nine years in prison .
One resigned .
The Justice Department 's actions came hours after Trump criticized the recommended sentence , raising concerns among prosecutors , former prosecutors and judges about political meddling in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously asked for a new trial based on alleged bias of another juror .
Jackson denied the request .

Judge Amy Berman Jackson rejects Roger Stone's bid to disqualify her from the case
Show Caption Hide Caption Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison for obstructing Congress Roger Stone's sentence marks a downfall for the longtime political consultant who worked on political campaigns and reelection committees stretching back to Richard Nixon. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson denied Roger Stone’s motion to disqualify her, saying the move was merely an attempt to generate public interest in the case.
“If parties could move to disqualify every judge who furrows his brow at one side or the other before ruling, the entire court system would come to a standstill,” Jackson said. “At bottom, given the absence of any factual or legal support for the motion for disqualification, the pleading appears to be nothing more than an attempt to use the Court’s docket to disseminate a statement for public consumption that has the words ‘judge’ and ‘biased’ in it.”
Stone, whom Jackson sentenced to a little over three years in prison, sought to have the judge removed from the case because of what she said about jurors during Stone’s sentencing hearing last week. The judge scheduled a hearing Tuesday on his request for a new trial.
Stone, a longtime friend and ally of President Donald Trump, was convicted of lying to the House Intelligence Committee and obstructing its investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential race. He was also found guilty of urging a potential congressional witness to also lie.
In a long statement before she announced Stone's sentence, Jackson said jurors "served with integrity" – a comment that defense attorneys say "undermines the appearance of impartiality."
Jackson's statement is "premature" because of the pending motion for a new trial that questions the integrity of one juror, Stone's attorneys argued in a seven-page filing Friday, adding that the judge's "ardent conclusion" shows an inability to reserve judgment on an issue she has not yet heard.
'Truth still matters':Judge sentences Roger Stone to 3 years in prison for obstructing Congress' Russia investigation
Who is Amy Berman Jackson: Judge in Roger Stone has been criticized by Trump and his allies
But in a six-page ruling Sunday evening, Jackson said her characterization "was entirely and fairly based" on her observations of the jurors through nine days of jury selection and trial. She said the jurors were "punctual and attentive" and engaged in "thoughtful communications" with her during their deliberations.
The judge said she has been fair to Stone since he was indicted in January 2019, taking issues his attorneys raised "seriously," ruling "with care and impartiality," explaining her reasoning in detail, and scrupulously ensuring his right to a fair trial. During jury selection, Jackson said she struck 58 potential jurors for cause, in part in response to Stone's attorneys motions.
Stone was allowed to remain out on bond "even after he took to social media to intimidate the Court, after he violated conditions imposed by the Court," Jackson said, referring to a gag order preventing Stone from speaking publicly about the case, "after he was convicted at trial, and after he was sentenced to a term of incarceration."
'Angst, anger and disappointment': Roger Stone intervention stokes uncertainty across federal justice system
A new trial: Roger Stone asks for a new trial after Trump accuses juror of bias
Jackson sentenced the 67-year-old GOP operative to three years and four months in prison, followed by two years of probation. She also ordered Stone to pay $20,000 in fines. The punishment is likely to fuel speculation that Trump, who has publicly inserted himself into the case, would pardon Stone.
Jackson, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, has been the target of attacks from Trump and his supporters who argued that she is biased against Stone.
Stone asked for a new trial this month, a day after Trump accused one of the jurors of "significant bias." In a tweet days before Stone was sentenced, Trump attacked Tomeka Hart, who had identified herself as the jury's forewoman in a Facebook post. Hart, a former school board member in Memphis who ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District, defended four career prosecutors who handled Stone's case.
The prosecutors withdrew from Stone's case after the Justice Department overruled the sentence recommendation of seven to nine years in prison. One resigned. The Justice Department's actions came hours after Trump criticized the recommended sentence, raising concerns among prosecutors, former prosecutors and judges about political meddling in the Justice Department.
Stone's attorneys had previously asked for a new trial based on alleged bias of another juror. Jackson denied the request.
Contributing: Kevin Johnson


usatoday--2020-02-24--'It's my guilty pleasure': Sen. Chuck Schumer confirms spending $8,600 on Junior's cheesecake

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer admitted Sunday that he has dropped almost $ 9,000 on his favorite cheesecake over the years .
Holding a platter of the rich dessert aloft at a news conference , Schumer responded to a New York Post report that said Federal Election Commission filings reveal he spent $ 8,600 on cheesecake from Junior 's , a restaurant that boasts it has the best cheesecake in New York , over the course of a decade .
`` Guilty as charged , '' the New York Democrat confessed .
`` I love Junior 's cheesecake so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world , '' he said .
`` It is made in Brooklyn .
I 've been going to Junior 's since I 've been a little boy .
And it 's my guilty pleasure . ''
Schumer said he sometimes gives the cheesecakes out as gifts or to settle bets before handing out samples to reporters .
CNN confirmed that FEC filings by the Friends of Schumer political action committee show 93 entries for Junior 's cheesecake from 2009 to 2016 ; payments range from $ 46 to $ 516.45 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledgments . ''
If Schumer bought the `` Original NY Plain Cheesecake , '' which Junior 's says is its top seller , at its current price of $ 43.95 , the $ 8,600 would have bought him 197 cheescakes .
`` No matter how ya slice it , Chuck is proud of his years of support for the Downtown Brooklyn institution that is Junior ’ s cheesecake , '' Schumer spokesman Angelo Roefaro told The Post .
Roefaro told CNN that no taxpayer money was used to purchase the desserts .

'It's my guilty pleasure': Sen. Chuck Schumer confirms spending $8,600 on Junior's cheesecake
Show Caption Hide Caption Why eating decadent desserts could actually help you LOSE weight Experts say you should ask for the dessert menu first. Buzz60's Tony Spitz explains why. Buzz60
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer admitted Sunday that he has dropped almost $9,000 on his favorite cheesecake over the years.
Holding a platter of the rich dessert aloft at a news conference, Schumer responded to a New York Post report that said Federal Election Commission filings reveal he spent $8,600 on cheesecake from Junior's, a restaurant that boasts it has the best cheesecake in New York, over the course of a decade.
"Guilty as charged," the New York Democrat confessed.
"I love Junior's cheesecake so much. It’s the best cheesecake in the world," he said. "It is made in Brooklyn. I've been going to Junior's since I've been a little boy. And it's my guilty pleasure."
Schumer said he sometimes gives the cheesecakes out as gifts or to settle bets before handing out samples to reporters.
"Guilty as charged... it's my guilty pleasure."
WATCH: Sen. Chuck Schumer admits to spending thousands on cheesecake and serves cheesecake to members of the press in a lighthearted moment. pic.twitter.com/2OHX2lPgPe — The Hill (@thehill) February 24, 2020
CNN confirmed that FEC filings by the Friends of Schumer political action committee show 93 entries for Junior's cheesecake from 2009 to 2016; payments range from $46 to $516.45. The purchases were listed as "supporter acknowledgments."
If Schumer bought the "Original NY Plain Cheesecake," which Junior's says is its top seller, at its current price of $43.95, the $8,600 would have bought him 197 cheescakes.
"No matter how ya slice it, Chuck is proud of his years of support for the Downtown Brooklyn institution that is Junior’s cheesecake," Schumer spokesman Angelo Roefaro told The Post.
Roefaro told CNN that no taxpayer money was used to purchase the desserts.


usatoday--2020-02-24--Speaking for Trump: How Don Jr. and other family members target different voters with different mess

WASHINGTON – On the day President Donald Trump was acquitted of “ high crimes and misdemeanors ” in the Senate impeachment trial , Donald Trump Jr. tweeted more than 80 times , taunting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and calling on the party to expel Utah Sen. Mitt Romney , the sole Republican who voted to convict his father .
Lara Trump , the president ’ s daughter-in-law and another ubiquitous campaign surrogate , posted three tweets .
She barely mentioned impeachment .
As Trump 's children take on an expanded role in his reelection campaign , they embrace different styles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From Trump Jr. ’ s bombastic rally warmups and social media posts to Lara ’ s focus on women 's issues and Ivanka Trump ’ s composed policy perch inside the White House , Trump ’ s family tailors its message to different voters .
“ What would you do if you woke up on Nov. 4 and Bernie Sanders was your president ?
” Trump Jr. asked as he revved up a Phoenix crowd last week before a rally .
“ Guess what , guys : There are no do-overs .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump Jr. 's bomb-throwing is especially noticeable in his social media feed .
The president 's eldest son is far more likely than his siblings to use Twitter to attack Democrats , according to a USA TODAY analysis of nearly 4,500 tweets from the Trump family .
He has referenced Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , for instance , in 8 % of the tweets to his 4.4 million followers since Oct. 1 .
That 's a higher share than all of his siblings combined .
He is more likely to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , virtually always in an attack .
Republican observers said Trump Jr. 's red-meat style has made him a rising star among conservative voters within the president ’ s base .
By contrast , Lara Trump – who married Eric Trump in 2014 and who has taken on an increasingly high-profile role in the president ’ s election – is more likely than other family members to use the word “ woman ” on social media , according to the analysis .
That syncs with her appearances at Women for Trump events in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior adviser on the campaign , Lara has been more likely to mention the words “ employment ” and “ job ” than other surrogates .
`` The media tells us women don ’ t support Trump !
WRONG ! ''
Lara posted Jan. 17 to her 761,000-plus followers .
The approach has allowed her to reach out to women voters , particularly suburban women .
Donald Trump narrowly won white women in 2016 , exit polls showed , but that support has slipped .
A new USA TODAY/Ipsos poll found that 54 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say a Democrat would be better for the country .
Ivanka Trump , who has been a more sporadic presence on the campaign trail in 2020 , has focused heavily on her efforts inside the White House on workforce development , rarely wading into politics on social media .
While Trump Jr. shares memes of Romney with a “ Mom Jeans ” caption , Ivanka Trump is more likely to post images of her official trips overseas on behalf of the administration , or of her children .
“ Since 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic performance than urban areas as measured by GDP growth , housing value appreciation and labor market participation , ” Ivanka Trump tweeted this month in a message that was similar to others she has posted .
Her husband , Jared Kushner , whose vast portfolio includes building the wall along the U.S.-Mexican border and Middle East peace , has never posted a tweet .
Both have long been viewed as moderating forces , relatable to centrist Republicans and some swing voters who crossed from backing President Barack Obama to Trump in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strategy behind the use of family surrogates , but spokeswoman Erin Perrine described their involvement in the campaign as `` key to victory in 2016 '' and predicted the same would hold true for 2020 .
`` Who better to speak to voters about President Trump and his record of success than those who know him best ? ''
Perrine said .
`` Members of the Trump family are valued advisers and an integral part of this campaign . ''
Lara Trump said her work on behalf of the campaign has brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can really prepare you for this , '' Lara Trump told USA TODAY in an interview .
`` We all became a lot closer because it almost feels like you go through a war with people .
And I would say for all of us – including my father-in-law – we ’ re all a lot closer because of it . ''
Dianne Bystrom , a former director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University , said some of the president ’ s adult children fulfill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a first lady .
In the 2020 cycle , Melania Trump has been less active on the campaign trail than many of her predecessors , including Michelle Obama and Laura Bush .
“ It is not unusual for presidential candidates to employ surrogates , including family members , to strategically target the campaign 's message with a variety of groups , ” Bystrom said .
“ I think we see so much more of the Trump children because Melania Trump has not been an effective spousal surrogate.
” Few presidential candidates have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progeny as proxies , and few have been able to put their children so front and center .
President George H.W .
Bush brought in his family , including George W. Bush , in the 1988 election .
Romney ’ s children often appeared on stage during his 2012 campaign .
The difference in Trump ’ s case is that many of his children were well known before he ran for president .
“ If you want star power , add the Trump name , and you automatically have it , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide on the president ’ s 2016 campaign .
“ In addition to the last name , they bring a sense of passion , a sense of insight into the policies , ” Miller said .
“ It says something when the people who know President Trump the best are willing to get out there and work so hard for him.
” The ubiquity of Trump ’ s children on the trail has had another impact : It has raised speculation about their own political ambitions .
Trump Jr. , who published a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is among Republican voters ’ top picks for the nomination in 2024 , according to a poll for the news site Axios last month .
Ivanka Trump also made the list , along with Vice President Mike Pence .
That interest hasn ’ t been lost on Trump ’ s children or the crowds turning out to hear the president speak .
When the president recognized Trump Jr. during a rally in New Hampshire this month , his supporters chanted , “ 46 ” – as in the 46th president .
When Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last fall , someone in the audience shouted out “ 2024.
” As many in the crowd laughed , Trump Jr. held a dramatic pause before his response .
“ Let ’ s worry about 2020 first !
” he said .

Speaking for Trump: How Don Jr. and other family members target different voters with different messages
Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump Jr. gets headed on 'The View' promoting his new book Donald Trump, Jr. appeared on 'The View' to promote his new book 'Triggered,' but argued with hosts including Joy Behar and Meghan McCain. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – On the day President Donald Trump was acquitted of “high crimes and misdemeanors” in the Senate impeachment trial, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted more than 80 times, taunting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and calling on the party to expel Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, the sole Republican who voted to convict his father.
Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and another ubiquitous campaign surrogate, posted three tweets. She barely mentioned impeachment.
As Trump's children take on an expanded role in his reelection campaign, they embrace different styles – and speak to different constituencies. From Trump Jr.’s bombastic rally warmups and social media posts to Lara’s focus on women's issues and Ivanka Trump’s composed policy perch inside the White House, Trump’s family tailors its message to different voters.
“What would you do if you woke up on Nov. 4 and Bernie Sanders was your president?” Trump Jr. asked as he revved up a Phoenix crowd last week before a rally. “Guess what, guys: There are no do-overs. You get one chance to get this right.”
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Trump Jr.'s bomb-throwing is especially noticeable in his social media feed. The president's eldest son is far more likely than his siblings to use Twitter to attack Democrats, according to a USA TODAY analysis of nearly 4,500 tweets from the Trump family. He has referenced Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, for instance, in 8% of the tweets to his 4.4 million followers since Oct. 1. That's a higher share than all of his siblings combined.
He is more likely to use the word “media” on Twitter, virtually always in an attack.
Republican observers said Trump Jr.'s red-meat style has made him a rising star among conservative voters within the president’s base.
By contrast, Lara Trump – who married Eric Trump in 2014 and who has taken on an increasingly high-profile role in the president’s election – is more likely than other family members to use the word “woman” on social media, according to the analysis. That syncs with her appearances at Women for Trump events in Iowa, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. A senior adviser on the campaign, Lara has been more likely to mention the words “employment” and “job” than other surrogates.
Lara Trump's pitch to suburban women
"The media tells us women don’t support Trump! WRONG!" Lara posted Jan. 17 to her 761,000-plus followers.
The approach has allowed her to reach out to women voters, particularly suburban women. Donald Trump narrowly won white women in 2016, exit polls showed, but that support has slipped. A new USA TODAY/Ipsos poll found that 54% of suburban women are more likely to say a Democrat would be better for the country.
Ivanka Trump, who has been a more sporadic presence on the campaign trail in 2020, has focused heavily on her efforts inside the White House on workforce development, rarely wading into politics on social media. While Trump Jr. shares memes of Romney with a “Mom Jeans” caption, Ivanka Trump is more likely to post images of her official trips overseas on behalf of the administration, or of her children.
“Since 2017, rural areas have had similar or better economic performance than urban areas as measured by GDP growth, housing value appreciation and labor market participation,” Ivanka Trump tweeted this month in a message that was similar to others she has posted.
Her husband, Jared Kushner, whose vast portfolio includes building the wall along the U.S.-Mexican border and Middle East peace, has never posted a tweet. Both have long been viewed as moderating forces, relatable to centrist Republicans and some swing voters who crossed from backing President Barack Obama to Trump in 2016.
Trump campaign officials declined to discuss the strategy behind the use of family surrogates, but spokeswoman Erin Perrine described their involvement in the campaign as "key to victory in 2016" and predicted the same would hold true for 2020.
"Who better to speak to voters about President Trump and his record of success than those who know him best?" Perrine said. "Members of the Trump family are valued advisers and an integral part of this campaign."
Lara Trump said her work on behalf of the campaign has brought the Trump family together.
"Nothing can really prepare you for this," Lara Trump told USA TODAY in an interview. "We all became a lot closer because it almost feels like you go through a war with people. And I would say for all of us – including my father-in-law – we’re all a lot closer because of it."
Dianne Bystrom, a former director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, said some of the president’s adult children fulfill a campaign role more typically handled by a first lady. In the 2020 cycle, Melania Trump has been less active on the campaign trail than many of her predecessors, including Michelle Obama and Laura Bush.
“It is not unusual for presidential candidates to employ surrogates, including family members, to strategically target the campaign's message with a variety of groups,” Bystrom said. “I think we see so much more of the Trump children because Melania Trump has not been an effective spousal surrogate.”
The 'star power' of family members
Few presidential candidates have been able to draw so heavily on their progeny as proxies, and few have been able to put their children so front and center. President George H.W. Bush brought in his family, including George W. Bush, in the 1988 election. Romney’s children often appeared on stage during his 2012 campaign.
The difference in Trump’s case is that many of his children were well known before he ran for president.
“If you want star power, add the Trump name, and you automatically have it,” said Jason Miller, who was a senior aide on the president’s 2016 campaign.
“In addition to the last name, they bring a sense of passion, a sense of insight into the policies,” Miller said. “It says something when the people who know President Trump the best are willing to get out there and work so hard for him.”
Electoral College vs. the popular vote, explained President Trump and President George W. Bush won the electoral vote during the election, but not the popular vote. How does the electoral college work? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The ubiquity of Trump’s children on the trail has had another impact: It has raised speculation about their own political ambitions.
Trump Jr., who published a New York Times bestseller last year, is among Republican voters’ top picks for the nomination in 2024, according to a poll for the news site Axios last month. Ivanka Trump also made the list, along with Vice President Mike Pence.
That interest hasn’t been lost on Trump’s children or the crowds turning out to hear the president speak.
When the president recognized Trump Jr. during a rally in New Hampshire this month, his supporters chanted, “46” – as in the 46th president.
When Trump Jr. addressed an audience in San Antonio last fall, someone in the audience shouted out “2024.” As many in the crowd laughed, Trump Jr. held a dramatic pause before his response.
“Let’s worry about 2020 first!” he said.
Contributing: The Associated Press, Courtney Subramanian


usatoday--2020-02-24--'America loves India': Trump travels to India for 'Namaste Trump' event

Trump gives speech to over 100,000 in India for 'Namaste Trump ' event More than 100,000 people poured into a @ @ @ @ @ `` Namaste Trump '' event in India .

Trump gives speech to over 100,000 in India for 'Namaste Trump' event
More than 100,000 people poured into a brand new stadium for a "Namaste Trump" event in India.
Associated Press, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-02-24--Twitter suspends 70 pro-Michael Bloomberg accounts citing its 'platform manipulation' rule

Twitter took steps to get rid of dozens of accounts supporting Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg on Friday for breaking its rules , according to media reports .
The social networking site claimed that the accounts violated its policies related to `` platform manipulation . ''
In total , 70 accounts were suspended , the Los Angeles Times first reported .
The profiles were said to be part of a concerted effort to blast the Internet with identical pro-Bloomberg messaging .
`` We have taken enforcement action on a group of accounts for violating our rules against platform manipulation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statment .
The report said some of the accounts are suspended permanently , while others will have to verify who runs them before being reactivated .
Many of the accounts in question were created in recent months and they posted the same messages , images , links and hashtags , the Times said .
The former New York mayor previously hired hundreds of workers in California to post daily on social media in support of his political mission , the Times reports .
The staffers receive $ 2,500 a month to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication said .
Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told the Times that its social networking team was n't trying to mislead anyone .
`` We ask that all of our deputy field organizers identify themselves as working on behalf of the Mike Bloomberg 2020 campaign on their social media accounts , '' the spokesperson said in a statement .
Twitter 's spam policy went into effect in 2019 .
It states that duplicative content and artificial engagement are off-limits .
The policy is primarily meant to crack down on large-scale activity that misleads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach to the pro-Bloomberg posts .
For now , it lets the posts stay up , as it views them as `` branded content , '' the Times said .

Twitter suspends 70 pro-Michael Bloomberg accounts citing its 'platform manipulation' rule
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump campaign manager deletes Air Force One photo from 2004 President Trump's campaign manager deleted a tweet of Air Force One at Daytona 500 after Twitter users pointed out the photo was from 2004. USA TODAY
Twitter took steps to get rid of dozens of accounts supporting Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg on Friday for breaking its rules, according to media reports.
The social networking site claimed that the accounts violated its policies related to "platform manipulation."
In total, 70 accounts were suspended, the Los Angeles Times first reported. The profiles were said to be part of a concerted effort to blast the Internet with identical pro-Bloomberg messaging.
"We have taken enforcement action on a group of accounts for violating our rules against platform manipulation and spam," a Twitter spokesperson said in a statment.
The report said some of the accounts are suspended permanently, while others will have to verify who runs them before being reactivated. Many of the accounts in question were created in recent months and they posted the same messages, images, links and hashtags, the Times said.
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The former New York mayor previously hired hundreds of workers in California to post daily on social media in support of his political mission, the Times reports. The staffers receive $2,500 a month to post on their personal profiles, the publication said.
Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told the Times that its social networking team wasn't trying to mislead anyone.
"We ask that all of our deputy field organizers identify themselves as working on behalf of the Mike Bloomberg 2020 campaign on their social media accounts," the spokesperson said in a statement.
Twitter's spam policy went into effect in 2019. It states that duplicative content and artificial engagement are off-limits. The policy is primarily meant to crack down on large-scale activity that misleads followers.
Facebook has taken a different approach to the pro-Bloomberg posts. For now, it lets the posts stay up, as it views them as "branded content," the Times said.
Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown.


usatoday--2020-02-28--Aides, lawmakers work behind the scenes to try to sway Trump on Jeff Sessions before Alabama Senate

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump 's name is mentioned so often in the Alabama Senate race that it seems like a contest of who is more devoted and loyal to the president and his agenda .
While Trump has remained virtually silent on the contest featuring seven Republicans , it 's not hard to find his thoughts on one candidate in particular : his former attorney general Jeff Sessions .
His tumultuous run heading the Justice Department was dogged by constant attacks from the president , which ultimately led to his firing .
Now Sessions finds himself in a neck-and-neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Tuesday , where he and others compete to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in November .
But above that , Sessions has been forced to reckon with his complicated history with Trump in a race that has focused on the president and the approval of his loyal following in Alabama , which Trump won handily in 2016 and consistently gives him some of his highest approval ratings in the nation .
'Voters themselves must pick ' : Why Barack Obama is n't endorsing Joe Biden or anyone else for president The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate seat in a red state has inspired a behind-the-scenes effort by White House aides , lawmakers and the candidates themselves to sway the president on the race , particularly on his past with Sessions .
But like voters in Alabama , most remain unsure over whether the president will weigh in on the race or whether he can let go of the animosity he 's held for years against Sessions .
While polls show Sessions , a household name in Alabama , is leading over other top candidates , such as former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Bradley Byrne , he does n't appear to hold a large enough lead to win the race outright on Tuesday .
Sessions would need to get more than 50 % of the vote to win the nomination to challenge Jones in the November general election .
If he does n't , there will be a run-off election between Tuesday 's top two candidateson March 31 .
Bloomberg 's medical records : After releasing additional medical records , Bloomberg calls on Sanders to do the same '' Our A.G. is scared stiff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter in August of 2018 .
`` Jeff Sessions should be ashamed of himself , '' he tweeted a few months later .
Last summer , Trump called Sessions ' appointment the `` biggest mistake '' of his presidency .
And just earlier this month , Trump said `` life would ’ ve been a lot easier '' if he had n't chosen Sessions as his attorney general .
The feud between the two goes back to spring 2017 when Sessions recused himself from overseeing the Justice Department 's investigation into Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His recusal ultimately led to Robert Mueller being appointed special counsel and a nearly two-year probe that clouded Trump 's first years in office .
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The president has held on to the grudge against Sessions as the impacts from the Russia investigation continue to linger , most recently with the sentencing of Trump 's longtime confidant Roger Stone .
Stone was one of dozens indicted in Mueller 's investigation .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November that he would run to retake his old Senate seat , many were waiting on the president to weigh in .
Angi Horn Stalnaker , a Montgomery-based Republican consultant , tuned into the president 's favorite cable television network , watching as Sessions made the case for his return to the Senate and his pledge to fight for Trump 's agenda .
Stalnaker had the president 's Twitter account open .
`` We all thought , 'this is going to get good , ' '' she said .
`` But nothing happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden gives emotional response to question of loss : ' I kind of know what it 's like to lose family' Publicly , the president has been coy about Sessions ' candidacy , during which he 's frequently donned Trump 's signature red Make America Great Again hat and boasted that he was the first senator to back the president .
Trump has not said whether he would weigh in on the race or back his former attorney general .
`` I saw he said very nice things about me last night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump told reporters a day after Sessions ' announcement .
`` I have n't made a determination . ''
But behind closed doors , the president has been known to mock Sessions and his attempts to win back his old Senate seat , two of the president 's advisers told USA TODAY .
Those for and against the former attorney general have been in the president 's ear , hoping to sway him on the race .
Some supporters have been urging Trump to lay off Sessions , advisers said , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems he had with his then-attorney general after he recused himself from the Russia investigation .
South Carolina primary : Obama demands TV stations stop airing 'despicable ' anti-Biden ad from Pro-Trump PAC that misuses his words Some White House aides have even tried to slip flattering articles about Sessions to the president .
The articles , which come along with stories on other crucial congressional races across the nation , show Sessions being complimentary of the president and his agenda , a former administration official told USA TODAY .
The private campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House to include not only the candidates themselves but also members of the House and Senate .
Only days after Sessions announced his candidacy , 11 Republican senators signed an open letter supporting his return to the Senate .
The letter served not only to bolster Sessions ' late entry into the crowded race but also as a message to the president .
Sen. Richard Shelby , Alabama 's longtime Republican senator and one of those who signed the letter , has played a key role in advocating for Sessions ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a friend of mine .
He should win that race but you 've got to win them on the battlefield , '' Shelby said , adding that while the president is at the center of the race , `` Trump is not on the ballot .
They are . ''
2020 candidates on the issues : A voter 's guide to where they stand on health care , gun control and more Shelby has worked behind the scenes to not only help the president come to grips with Sessions ' return to public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Sessions in the state .
`` Shelby has such deep roots and connections , '' said Richard Fording , a professor in the political science department at the University of Alabama .
`` It 's like he has tentacles all throughout the state that can make things a lot easier for Sessions . ''
Some of his other former colleagues have also been doing Sessions ' bidding .
`` In some ways , he was Trump before Trump , '' said Sen. John Barrasso , R-Wyo.
, pointing to Sessions ' history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Senate and his fight to tighten immigration laws .
Barrasso , the third-ranking Senate Republican , added he 's `` doing everything I can to make sure Jeff Sessions wins the primary , '' which includes `` calling friends to help contribute to his campaign . ''
But the efforts against Sessions are equally as potent .
Some House Republicans who are close with the president have privately been bashing Sessions , pointing out his role in the Russia probe and the lasting effects it has had throughout Trump 's presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigning for whatever candidate ends up taking on Sessions in the likely run-off election , which recent polls suggest could be against either Tuberville or Byrne .
Rep. Liz Cheney , R-Wyo .
and the No .
3 Republican in the House , announced on Wednesday she would back Byrne 's campaign for the seat .
She said she 's talked with the president about Byrne 's bid `` a number of times '' and says Trump `` is a big fan . ''
`` I just think it 's clear that Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship , '' Cheney told USA TODAY .
`` It 's clear that there 's a lot of baggage there . ''
Byrne has also personally played a role in hopes of capturing the one thing that could help him topple Sessions : an endorsement from the president .
When is my primary ?
: All the 2020 primary election dates In November , he was able to secure a spot watching the LSU-Alabama football game with the president in his private box seats .
Byrne said in an interview that the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the game and that Trump said he did n't want to see Sessions take back the seat .
`` It was completely consistent with what he 's been saying so I did n't find it surprising in the least , '' Byrne said of Trump 's remarks .
`` We had a good conversation about it .
He was very interested in the race . ''
That was n't the end of his quest .
Byrne says he 's kept in close contact with the White House , informing the president `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues with some of the other candidates .
`` We certainly let him know about what we 're doing , how the campaign is going , '' he said .
Sanders and moderates : Bernie Sanders ' early primary success has moderate Democrats wondering about his impact on House , Senate races 'But who is Trump for ? '
Alabama voters are catching on to Trump 's influence on the race .
During a recent trip to a drug store in southern Alabama , Stalnaker said she overheard a Senate ad start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several men sitting around a table staring at a cell phone , trying to watch a video that was preempted by the ad .
`` Another ad , '' one said with a sigh , according to Stalnaker .
`` All these guys say they 're for Trump .
But who is Trump for ? ''
The question is one that hangs over the tight race .
It 's also one without a clear answer .
Each candidate has tried in their own way to tie themselves to the president .
In his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump , touting that he was the first to endorse the president .
`` I knew he was the one to make America great again , and I ’ ll keep fighting for President Trump and his agenda , '' he says before donning a red MAGA hat .
Coronavirus : Mike Pence 's crisis manager skills put to the test in new role leading coronavirus response Similarly , Tuberville has touted his loyalty to his faith and the president , declaring in ads and in speeches that `` God sent us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a point of highlighting that he fought for Trump during his impeachment and that his voting record aligns with the president nearly 97 % of the time .
While the president has n't weighed in on the race , let alone endorse a candidate , there is one person he does n't want in the race .
`` Roy Moore can not win , and the consequences will be devastating , '' Trump wrote in a May tweet that aimed to discourage the Alabama Republican from entering the race .
Moore , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid sexual misconduct allegations , entered the race one month later . '
I 'm staying in this race ' : Warren ready to take fight to convention – even if she 's losing In an interview , Moore said despite low polling that has him consistently in single digits , he believes his campaign is still viable and said he believed that Trump would endorse him if he did come out on top .
`` The president is one who should know very well when people say he ca n't win and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole country saying that he could n't win , '' Moore argued .
`` I can win in Alabama . ''
He pointed to his long career in the state as both a judge and a member of the state 's Supreme Court and blamed his loss on a `` ploy by the Washington establishment . ''
`` I think the people of Alabama should know that their election was stolen in 2017 , '' Moore said .
`` They have a choice now to choose their candidate .
That 's their choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this race , to give them a choice . ''
Moore has stayed on the sidelines as the attack ads from the top candidates have intensified in recent weeks , each touting their support of Trump while accusing the others of being weak .
Huge staff , ad blitzes , free T-shirts : How billionaire Michael Bloomberg is campaigning for the White House While Sessions ' issues with the president are well known , attack ads and social media posts from the opposing campaigns and outside groups have sought to diminish the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Byrne is quoted as saying Trump was `` not fit to be president '' in one ad , using comments he 'd made before the 2016 election when Trump was weathering extraordinary condemnation after the release of the `` Access Hollywood '' tape .
Another cited Byrne 's remarks and claimed he 'd `` stabbed Trump in the back right before the election . ''
Other ads have attacked remarks made by Tuberville where his opponents say he supports amnesty for immigrants .
`` There are people coming across the border that need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over here , '' he 's quoted as saying in one ad .
In another , he 's accused of living in Florida and being a `` tourist in Alabama . ''
Tuberville has denied supporting amnesty and did not respond to multiple requests for interviews .
The array of attacks and claims has left the race up in the air , leaving voters and party leaders in the state puzzled over who will come out on top .
`` I think most everybody is sitting back watching .
You 've got three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people like Bradley Byrne , I think they like Tommy Tuberville , they like Jeff Sessions , '' state Sen. Cam Ward said in an interview .
`` I do n't see anyone saying I just totally hate one or the other .
I think that 's what is going to make this so interesting .
There 's no devil in this race . ''

Aides, lawmakers work behind the scenes to try to sway Trump on Jeff Sessions before Alabama Senate primary
Show Caption Hide Caption Sessions, an Alabama icon, running for US Senate Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Thursday he wants to reclaim his old Senate seat from Alabama, where he's been a conservative icon and dominant vote-getter since the 1990s. (Nov. 8) AP
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's name is mentioned so often in the Alabama Senate race that it seems like a contest of who is more devoted and loyal to the president and his agenda.
While Trump has remained virtually silent on the contest featuring seven Republicans, it's not hard to find his thoughts on one candidate in particular: his former attorney general Jeff Sessions. His tumultuous run heading the Justice Department was dogged by constant attacks from the president, which ultimately led to his firing.
Now Sessions finds himself in a neck-and-neck race in the GOP Senate primary on Super Tuesday, where he and others compete to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in November. But above that, Sessions has been forced to reckon with his complicated history with Trump in a race that has focused on the president and the approval of his loyal following in Alabama, which Trump won handily in 2016 and consistently gives him some of his highest approval ratings in the nation.
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The chance for Republicans to take back a Senate seat in a red state has inspired a behind-the-scenes effort by White House aides, lawmakers and the candidates themselves to sway the president on the race, particularly on his past with Sessions. But like voters in Alabama, most remain unsure over whether the president will weigh in on the race or whether he can let go of the animosity he's held for years against Sessions.
While polls show Sessions, a household name in Alabama, is leading over other top candidates, such as former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville and Rep. Bradley Byrne, he doesn't appear to hold a large enough lead to win the race outright on Tuesday. Sessions would need to get more than 50% of the vote to win the nomination to challenge Jones in the November general election. If he doesn't, there will be a run-off election between Tuesday's top two candidates on March 31.
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Behind-the-scenes whisper campaign
"Our A.G. is scared stiff and Missing in Action," Trump wrote on Twitter in August of 2018.
"Jeff Sessions should be ashamed of himself," he tweeted a few months later.
Last summer, Trump called Sessions' appointment the "biggest mistake" of his presidency. And just earlier this month, Trump said "life would’ve been a lot easier" if he hadn't chosen Sessions as his attorney general.
The feud between the two goes back to spring 2017 when Sessions recused himself from overseeing the Justice Department's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. His recusal ultimately led to Robert Mueller being appointed special counsel and a nearly two-year probe that clouded Trump's first years in office.
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The president has held on to the grudge against Sessions as the impacts from the Russia investigation continue to linger, most recently with the sentencing of Trump's longtime confidant Roger Stone. Stone was one of dozens indicted in Mueller's investigation.
So when Sessions announced on Fox News in November that he would run to retake his old Senate seat, many were waiting on the president to weigh in.
Angi Horn Stalnaker, a Montgomery-based Republican consultant, tuned into the president's favorite cable television network, watching as Sessions made the case for his return to the Senate and his pledge to fight for Trump's agenda.
Stalnaker had the president's Twitter account open. "We all thought, 'this is going to get good,'" she said. "But nothing happened."
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Publicly, the president has been coy about Sessions' candidacy, during which he's frequently donned Trump's signature red Make America Great Again hat and boasted that he was the first senator to back the president. Trump has not said whether he would weigh in on the race or back his former attorney general.
"I saw he said very nice things about me last night, but we'll have to see," Trump told reporters a day after Sessions' announcement. "I haven't made a determination."
But behind closed doors, the president has been known to mock Sessions and his attempts to win back his old Senate seat, two of the president's advisers told USA TODAY.
Those for and against the former attorney general have been in the president's ear, hoping to sway him on the race. Some supporters have been urging Trump to lay off Sessions, advisers said, while others are reminding the president of the problems he had with his then-attorney general after he recused himself from the Russia investigation.
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Some White House aides have even tried to slip flattering articles about Sessions to the president. The articles, which come along with stories on other crucial congressional races across the nation, show Sessions being complimentary of the president and his agenda, a former administration official told USA TODAY.
The private campaigns to sway the president have extended outside the White House to include not only the candidates themselves but also members of the House and Senate.
Only days after Sessions announced his candidacy, 11 Republican senators signed an open letter supporting his return to the Senate. The letter served not only to bolster Sessions' late entry into the crowded race but also as a message to the president.
Sen. Richard Shelby, Alabama's longtime Republican senator and one of those who signed the letter, has played a key role in advocating for Sessions' return to Washington.
"He's a friend of mine. He should win that race but you've got to win them on the battlefield," Shelby said, adding that while the president is at the center of the race, "Trump is not on the ballot. They are."
2020 candidates on the issues: A voter's guide to where they stand on health care, gun control and more
Shelby has worked behind the scenes to not only help the president come to grips with Sessions' return to public life, but also lending a hand for Sessions in the state.
"Shelby has such deep roots and connections," said Richard Fording, a professor in the political science department at the University of Alabama. "It's like he has tentacles all throughout the state that can make things a lot easier for Sessions."
Some of his other former colleagues have also been doing Sessions' bidding.
"In some ways, he was Trump before Trump," said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., pointing to Sessions' history as one of the most conservative members of the Senate and his fight to tighten immigration laws. Barrasso, the third-ranking Senate Republican, added he's "doing everything I can to make sure Jeff Sessions wins the primary," which includes "calling friends to help contribute to his campaign."
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But the efforts against Sessions are equally as potent.
Some House Republicans who are close with the president have privately been bashing Sessions, pointing out his role in the Russia probe and the lasting effects it has had throughout Trump's presidency. Privately, several are even considering campaigning for whatever candidate ends up taking on Sessions in the likely run-off election, which recent polls suggest could be against either Tuberville or Byrne.
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. and the No. 3 Republican in the House, announced on Wednesday she would back Byrne's campaign for the seat. She said she's talked with the president about Byrne's bid "a number of times" and says Trump "is a big fan."
"I just think it's clear that Senator Sessions and the president have a difficult relationship," Cheney told USA TODAY. "It's clear that there's a lot of baggage there."
Byrne has also personally played a role in hopes of capturing the one thing that could help him topple Sessions: an endorsement from the president.
When is my primary?: All the 2020 primary election dates
In November, he was able to secure a spot watching the LSU-Alabama football game with the president in his private box seats. Byrne said in an interview that the president brought up the race when they talked at the game and that Trump said he didn't want to see Sessions take back the seat.
"It was completely consistent with what he's been saying so I didn't find it surprising in the least," Byrne said of Trump's remarks. "We had a good conversation about it. He was very interested in the race."
That wasn't the end of his quest. Byrne says he's kept in close contact with the White House, informing the president "about where the race is" and issues with some of the other candidates.
"We certainly let him know about what we're doing, how the campaign is going," he said.
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'But who is Trump for?'
Alabama voters are catching on to Trump's influence on the race.
During a recent trip to a drug store in southern Alabama, Stalnaker said she overheard a Senate ad start to play. She looked up to see several men sitting around a table staring at a cell phone, trying to watch a video that was preempted by the ad.
"Another ad," one said with a sigh, according to Stalnaker. "All these guys say they're for Trump. But who is Trump for?"
The question is one that hangs over the tight race. It's also one without a clear answer. Each candidate has tried in their own way to tie themselves to the president.
In his first TV ad, Sessions only spoke of Trump, touting that he was the first to endorse the president.
"I knew he was the one to make America great again, and I’ll keep fighting for President Trump and his agenda," he says before donning a red MAGA hat.
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Similarly, Tuberville has touted his loyalty to his faith and the president, declaring in ads and in speeches that "God sent us Donald Trump." Byrne has made a point of highlighting that he fought for Trump during his impeachment and that his voting record aligns with the president nearly 97% of the time.
While the president hasn't weighed in on the race, let alone endorse a candidate, there is one person he doesn't want in the race.
"Roy Moore cannot win, and the consequences will be devastating," Trump wrote in a May tweet that aimed to discourage the Alabama Republican from entering the race.
Moore, who lost the 2017 special election against Jones amid sexual misconduct allegations, entered the race one month later.
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In an interview, Moore said despite low polling that has him consistently in single digits, he believes his campaign is still viable and said he believed that Trump would endorse him if he did come out on top.
"The president is one who should know very well when people say he can't win and he did. And they had the whole country saying that he couldn't win," Moore argued. "I can win in Alabama."
He pointed to his long career in the state as both a judge and a member of the state's Supreme Court and blamed his loss on a "ploy by the Washington establishment."
"I think the people of Alabama should know that their election was stolen in 2017," Moore said. "They have a choice now to choose their candidate. That's their choice. That's why I'm in this race, to give them a choice."
Moore has stayed on the sidelines as the attack ads from the top candidates have intensified in recent weeks, each touting their support of Trump while accusing the others of being weak.
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While Sessions' issues with the president are well known, attack ads and social media posts from the opposing campaigns and outside groups have sought to diminish the Trump loyalty credentials of Tuberville and Byrne.
Byrne is quoted as saying Trump was "not fit to be president" in one ad, using comments he'd made before the 2016 election when Trump was weathering extraordinary condemnation after the release of the "Access Hollywood" tape. Another cited Byrne's remarks and claimed he'd "stabbed Trump in the back right before the election."
Other ads have attacked remarks made by Tuberville where his opponents say he supports amnesty for immigrants.
"There are people coming across the border that need jobs and we want them to come over here," he's quoted as saying in one ad. In another, he's accused of living in Florida and being a "tourist in Alabama." Tuberville has denied supporting amnesty and did not respond to multiple requests for interviews.
The array of attacks and claims has left the race up in the air, leaving voters and party leaders in the state puzzled over who will come out on top.
"I think most everybody is sitting back watching. You've got three guys, who I feel like, people like Bradley Byrne, I think they like Tommy Tuberville, they like Jeff Sessions," state Sen. Cam Ward said in an interview. "I don't see anyone saying I just totally hate one or the other. I think that's what is going to make this so interesting. There's no devil in this race."
Contributing: David Jackson


usatoday--2020-02-28--After recount (and recanvass), Pete Buttigieg holds onto narrow Iowa caucus lead; now, results must

DES MOINES – Pete Buttigieg held onto his narrow state delegate lead — and his projected national delegates — in Iowa after a partial recount of Iowa caucus results was completed Thursday .
The recount results of 23 Iowa caucus precincts , requested by Buttigieg and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders , all but confirms his victory in the first-in-the-nation contest as his campaign readies for Saturday 's fourth-in-the-nation South Carolina primary .
The Iowa Democratic Party 's state central committee is expected to certify the results Saturday .
The recount results may bring to an end the weeks-long uncertainty over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plagued with reporting problems , delayed , recanvassed and now recounted .
While the Iowa Democratic Party recalculated the Feb. 3 caucus night results , the Democratic presidential candidates moved on to other states .
The Associated Press has not called a winner of the Iowa contest .
The two-day-long recount extended the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor 's tiny state delegate equivalent , or SDE , lead .
Before the recount , Buttigieg had a less than 0.1 edge in state delegate equivalents .
After it , he has 0.933 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , these results confirm Pete won the Iowa caucuses , '' campaign spokesperson Ben Halle wrote in an email to the Des Moines Register .
`` Pete was the only candidate that was able to form a broad-based coalition across the state and across ideological differences . ''
The Iowa Democratic Party projected Buttigieg will maintain a 14-12 lead over Sanders in the national delegates from Iowa , a projection based on state delegate equivalents awarded at the caucus precinct sites .
Despite trailing in SDEs , Sanders claimed victory in Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New Hampshire , based on total supporters at caucus sites on first and second alignment .
He likens the metric to a popular vote victory .
Because of an electoral college-like apportionment , supporter turnout does n't necessarily mean a proportional award in SDEs .
SDEs are the traditional measure of success in the Iowa caucus .
The state delegate tally is used to allocate delegates to the Democratic National Convention .
Those national delegates will formally select the party 's nominee this summer .
According to state party rules , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a governing board of the Iowa Democratic Party , must certify the caucus results no later than Saturday .
The party 's final results come as presidential candidates prepare for the fourth and final contest before `` Super Tuesday , '' next week 's grouping of primary elections in which about a third of the total national delegates are at stake .
Nick Coltrain is a politics and data reporter for the Register .
Reach him at ncoltrain @ registermedia.com or at 515-284-8361 .
Your subscription makes work like this possible .
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After recount (and recanvass), Pete Buttigieg holds onto narrow Iowa caucus lead; now, results must be certified
Show Caption Hide Caption Iowa caucus: Just how much influence does it have on the primary? The Iowa caucus is sure to be competitive this year. But what makes caucuses different from primaries? Just the FAQs
DES MOINES – Pete Buttigieg held onto his narrow state delegate lead — and his projected national delegates — in Iowa after a partial recount of Iowa caucus results was completed Thursday.
The recount results of 23 Iowa caucus precincts, requested by Buttigieg and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, all but confirms his victory in the first-in-the-nation contest as his campaign readies for Saturday's fourth-in-the-nation South Carolina primary.
The Iowa Democratic Party's state central committee is expected to certify the results Saturday.
The recount results may bring to an end the weeks-long uncertainty over the Iowa caucus results, which were plagued with reporting problems, delayed, recanvassed and now recounted. While the Iowa Democratic Party recalculated the Feb. 3 caucus night results, the Democratic presidential candidates moved on to other states.
The Associated Press has not called a winner of the Iowa contest.
The two-day-long recount extended the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor's tiny state delegate equivalent, or SDE, lead. Before the recount, Buttigieg had a less than 0.1 edge in state delegate equivalents. After it, he has 0.933 more SDEs than Sanders.
"Yet again, these results confirm Pete won the Iowa caucuses," campaign spokesperson Ben Halle wrote in an email to the Des Moines Register. "Pete was the only candidate that was able to form a broad-based coalition across the state and across ideological differences."
The Iowa Democratic Party projected Buttigieg will maintain a 14-12 lead over Sanders in the national delegates from Iowa, a projection based on state delegate equivalents awarded at the caucus precinct sites.
Despite trailing in SDEs, Sanders claimed victory in Iowa shortly after the caucuses and while campaigning in New Hampshire, based on total supporters at caucus sites on first and second alignment. He likens the metric to a popular vote victory. Because of an electoral college-like apportionment, supporter turnout doesn't necessarily mean a proportional award in SDEs.
SDEs are the traditional measure of success in the Iowa caucus. The state delegate tally is used to allocate delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Those national delegates will formally select the party's nominee this summer.
According to state party rules, the state central committee, which acts as a governing board of the Iowa Democratic Party, must certify the caucus results no later than Saturday.
The party's final results come as presidential candidates prepare for the fourth and final contest before "Super Tuesday," next week's grouping of primary elections in which about a third of the total national delegates are at stake.
Nick Coltrain is a politics and data reporter for the Register. Reach him at ncoltrain@registermedia.com or at 515-284-8361.
Your subscription makes work like this possible. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.