usatoday--2020-03-05--How Joe Biden won Texas: Late deciders, black voters fueled the come-from-behind victory

AUSTIN — For Texas Democrats , Joe Biden was the most reliable candidate for president .
And the former vice president 's surprise victory in Texas that capped his Super Tuesday route and reinstalled him as the party 's 2020 frontrunner was thanks in no small measure to some of the most reliable voters in the Democrats ' wide coalition : Specifically , older voters , black voters and voters who said defeating President Donald Trump in November was their top concern .
“ We need a good man and steady hand to not only defeat Donald Trump , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for working families nationwide , ” said U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey , a Fort Worth Democrat and one of more than a dozen members of the Congressional Black Caucus who publicly supported Biden .
Exit polling that came out after Biden defeated Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by 4.5 percentage points indicated that nearly six in 10 black voters sided with Biden .
`` There 's no question that black Democrats led the way to essentially nominating , solidifying , securing the nomination for Joe Biden on Super Tuesday , '' said Carroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas Coalition of Black Democrats .
The victory was fueled , Robinson said , by Biden 's strong showing three days earlier in the South Carolina Primary after he had won the endorsement of U.S. Rep. James Clyburn , one of the most respected African-American leaders on the political stage .
Biden was the choice of more than four in 10 Democrats over 45 , according to CNN 's exit poll .
Nearly half of voters 44 and younger went for Sanders , the exit poll found .
Almost 40 percent of Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single term was at the top of their list cast their ballots for Biden .
But what made Biden 's win so surprising in the face of recent pre-primary polling that showed Sanders surging in Texas was the bloc of respondents who waited until the end to make their decision .
While 64 percent of Sanders voters said they locked in their choice by February , nearly half of Biden 's votes came from people who decided on Tuesday or a day or two earlier .
`` Timing is everything in politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , '' said state Rep. Rafael Anchia , a Dallas Democrat who joined Biden for his 11th-hour campaign stops in Texas .
`` I was actually surprised at the number of people who kept their powder dry for election day .
`` That election day surge that Joe Biden had , '' Anchia continued , `` it catapulted him past the Sanders campaign .
There were a lot of people that I was greeting at the polls and later at watch parties who said ' I was holding my vote until I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look like . ''
The CNN exit poll showed that Biden cleaned up in the urban and suburban counties around Houston and Dallas .
Those are Democratic strongholds .
He also won in East and West Texas , which in November traditionally vote Republican .
Sanders was competitive with Biden in those regions , but his strength was most evident in the heavily Hispanic regions along the Rio Grande .
Biden also got a big boost in Texas and other Super Tuesday states after former candidate Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and ex-South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threw their support to him .
And those endorsements had coattails .
Elizabeth Warren campaign : Elizabeth Warren ends her presidential campaign after failing to win any early primary states Former Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez , who had been a national co-chair for the Pete Buttigieg campaign , said when her candidate dropped out and backed Biden , Martinez said she did too .
`` I followed his lead for two reasons : Number one , Pete asked me to .
And there 's another Number one : Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decency and love of our country . ''
Javier Aaron Paz , an organizer for the Biden campaign in El Paso , said after the Klobuchar and Buttigieg endorsement volunteers moved quickly opening phone banks and pushing the former vice president ’ s message without the kind of monetary support that billionaire and now former candidate Michael Bloomberg ’ s campaign had .
Valerie Biden Owens and Cristobal Alex from the Biden for America visited El Paso the Sunday before Super Tuesday as part of an effort to help energize support for Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were already showing support for Biden by signing up for notifications from his campaign online were invited .
“ We were scrappy as any campaign could be , ” Paz said .
2020 Democratic primary : After 19 contests , here 's what the Democratic primary electorate is telling us In El Paso , Sanders received 36 percent of the vote .
Biden came in third behind Bloomberg campaign with 28 percent .
And the Vermont senator 's supporters show no sign of wavering .
Cemelli de Aztlan , a grassroots community organizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' rally in El Paso , said support in the Sanders campaign is more about the principles he stands for and not so much the person .
Aztlan says support for Sanders was rooted in his views on health care and workers ’ rights .
And , she was critical of the endorsement of Biden by former U.S. Rep. Beto O ’ Rourke , saying it did not represent the majority of the El Paso community .
“ No one is trying to negotiate their rights away , ” she said .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Biden is the best choice for Democratic officeholders like her who run in suburban competitive districts .
`` For many of us in swing districts , having somebody who can bring Democrats , independents and Republicans together to defeat Donald Trump was essential .
`` We need someone at the top of the ticket that 's going to help us flip the nine seats we need so that Democrats can win the majority in the Texas House . ''
Michael Adams , chairman of the political science department at Texas Southern University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Affairs near Houston , said Biden 's come-from-behind victory in Texas was history-making .
`` Coming out of South Carolina , Biden had one of the greatest weeks I 've seen in the modern era of politics , '' Adams said .
`` For those people who did not vote early , they certainly bought into the narrative in terms of trying to get someone who could defeat Trump . ''
• Long lines at some voting sites have many Texans waiting in frustration to cast ballots • Can John Cornyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in runoff to select US Senate nominee • How Super Tuesday in Texas could define the rest of the 2020 election cycle One of Biden 's most publicized campaign appearances in the state was at Texas Southern , a historically black university where he was joined on stage with U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and other African-American and Texas Democratic Party leaders .
While Adams , whose academic specialties include millennial African-Americans in politics , said African-Americans propelled the Biden victory , the black vote is less monolithic than in the recent past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders ' emphasis on economic and criminal justice and police misconduct .
`` You have to understand that this is an age cohort that 's been part of Black Lives Matter , '' Adams said .
Still , he added , Sanders appeared less aggressive than Biden in directly reaching out for the votes of African-Americans .
`` Bernie , I do n't think he was giving up ( on black voters ) but the work was not there on the ground , '' Adams said .
John C. Moritz covers Texas government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Austin .
Contact him at jmoritz @ gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ JohnnieMo .
Aaron Montes , @ aaronmontes91 , reports for the El Paso Times .

John C Moritz Austin Bureau USA TODAY NETWORK and Aaron Montes, Corpus Christi Caller Times

How Joe Biden won Texas: Late deciders, black voters fueled the come-from-behind victory Many Texas Democrats saw former Vice President Joe Biden as the best candidate to beat President Donald Trump in November.
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden takes most states on Super Tuesday Joe Biden won the most states on Super Tuesday, and the race became clearly a contest between the former Vice President and Senator Bernie Sanders. USA TODAY
AUSTIN — For Texas Democrats, Joe Biden was the most reliable candidate for president.
And the former vice president's surprise victory in Texas that capped his Super Tuesday route and reinstalled him as the party's 2020 frontrunner was thanks in no small measure to some of the most reliable voters in the Democrats' wide coalition:
Specifically, older voters, black voters and voters who said defeating President Donald Trump in November was their top concern.
“We need a good man and steady hand to not only defeat Donald Trump, but to stitch us back together and stand up for working families nationwide,” said U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat and one of more than a dozen members of the Congressional Black Caucus who publicly supported Biden.
Exit polling that came out after Biden defeated Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by 4.5 percentage points indicated that nearly six in 10 black voters sided with Biden.
"There's no question that black Democrats led the way to essentially nominating, solidifying, securing the nomination for Joe Biden on Super Tuesday," said Carroll Robinson of Houston, who chairs the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats.
The victory was fueled, Robinson said, by Biden's strong showing three days earlier in the South Carolina Primary after he had won the endorsement of U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, one of the most respected African-American leaders on the political stage.
Biden was the choice of more than four in 10 Democrats over 45, according to CNN's exit poll. Nearly half of voters 44 and younger went for Sanders, the exit poll found.
Almost 40 percent of Democratic voters who said limiting Trump to a single term was at the top of their list cast their ballots for Biden.
But what made Biden's win so surprising in the face of recent pre-primary polling that showed Sanders surging in Texas was the bloc of respondents who waited until the end to make their decision.
While 64 percent of Sanders voters said they locked in their choice by February, nearly half of Biden's votes came from people who decided on Tuesday or a day or two earlier.
Super Tuesday 2020: Bernie Sanders casts his ballot in Burlington, Vermont Bernie Sanders came back home to Burlington to vote on Super Tuesday March 3, 2020. April Barton, Burlington Free Press
"Timing is everything in politics, and he peaked right at the right time," said state Rep. Rafael Anchia, a Dallas Democrat who joined Biden for his 11th-hour campaign stops in Texas. "I was actually surprised at the number of people who kept their powder dry for election day.
"That election day surge that Joe Biden had," Anchia continued, "it catapulted him past the Sanders campaign. There were a lot of people that I was greeting at the polls and later at watch parties who said 'I was holding my vote until I knew what the final candidates were going to look like."
The CNN exit poll showed that Biden cleaned up in the urban and suburban counties around Houston and Dallas. Those are Democratic strongholds. He also won in East and West Texas, which in November traditionally vote Republican.
Sanders was competitive with Biden in those regions, but his strength was most evident in the heavily Hispanic regions along the Rio Grande.
Biden also got a big boost in Texas and other Super Tuesday states after former candidate Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and ex-South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg threw their support to him. And those endorsements had coattails.
Elizabeth Warren campaign: Elizabeth Warren ends her presidential campaign after failing to win any early primary states
Former Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez, who had been a national co-chair for the Pete Buttigieg campaign, said when her candidate dropped out and backed Biden, Martinez said she did too.
"I followed his lead for two reasons: Number one, Pete asked me to. And there's another Number one: Vice President Joe Biden has very similar characteristics as far as decency and love of our country."
Javier Aaron Paz, an organizer for the Biden campaign in El Paso, said after the Klobuchar and Buttigieg endorsement volunteers moved quickly opening phone banks and pushing the former vice president’s message without the kind of monetary support that billionaire and now former candidate Michael Bloomberg’s campaign had.
Valerie Biden Owens and Cristobal Alex from the Biden for America visited El Paso the Sunday before Super Tuesday as part of an effort to help energize support for Biden’s campaign. El Pasoans who were already showing support for Biden by signing up for notifications from his campaign online were invited.
“We were scrappy as any campaign could be,” Paz said.
2020 Democratic primary: After 19 contests, here's what the Democratic primary electorate is telling us
In El Paso, Sanders received 36 percent of the vote. Biden came in third behind Bloomberg campaign with 28 percent. And the Vermont senator's supporters show no sign of wavering.
Cemelli de Aztlan, a grassroots community organizer in West Texas who spoke at Sanders' rally in El Paso, said support in the Sanders campaign is more about the principles he stands for and not so much the person.
Aztlan says support for Sanders was rooted in his views on health care and workers’ rights. And, she was critical of the endorsement of Biden by former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, saying it did not represent the majority of the El Paso community.
“No one is trying to negotiate their rights away,” she said.
But state Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, said Biden is the best choice for Democratic officeholders like her who run in suburban competitive districts.
"For many of us in swing districts, having somebody who can bring Democrats, independents and Republicans together to defeat Donald Trump was essential.
"We need someone at the top of the ticket that's going to help us flip the nine seats we need so that Democrats can win the majority in the Texas House."
Michael Adams, chairman of the political science department at Texas Southern University's Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs near Houston, said Biden's come-from-behind victory in Texas was history-making.
"Coming out of South Carolina, Biden had one of the greatest weeks I've seen in the modern era of politics," Adams said. "For those people who did not vote early, they certainly bought into the narrative in terms of trying to get someone who could defeat Trump."
Related coverage:
One of Biden's most publicized campaign appearances in the state was at Texas Southern, a historically black university where he was joined on stage with U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and other African-American and Texas Democratic Party leaders.
While Adams, whose academic specialties include millennial African-Americans in politics, said African-Americans propelled the Biden victory, the black vote is less monolithic than in the recent past.
Younger black voters were drawn to Sanders' emphasis on economic and criminal justice and police misconduct.
"You have to understand that this is an age cohort that's been part of Black Lives Matter," Adams said. Still, he added, Sanders appeared less aggressive than Biden in directly reaching out for the votes of African-Americans.
"Bernie, I don't think he was giving up (on black voters) but the work was not there on the ground," Adams said.
John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at jmoritz@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @JohnnieMo. Aaron Montes, @aaronmontes91, reports for the El Paso Times.


usatoday--2020-03-05--Schumer says he misspoke about conservative justices: 'I should not have used the words I used'

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , said he misspoke Wednesday in comments about conservative justices on the Supreme Court that had enraged Republicans .
`` I should not have used the words I used yesterday .
They did not come out the way I intended to , '' Schumer said .
Schumer said his point was that there would be `` political consequences '' for President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans `` if the Supreme Court , with newly confirmed justices , stripped away a woman ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did not intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court , and it is a gross distortion to imply otherwise . ''
“ I ’ m from Brooklyn .
We speak in strong language , '' he quipped .
In a speech outside the Supreme Court Wednesday before the high court heard oral argument in an abortion case , Schumer said two Trump-appointed justices , Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch , would `` pay the price '' if they `` go forward with these awful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's remarks drew a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts and an uproar from Senate Republicans .
In a statement , Roberts said the justices on the Supreme Court `` will continue to do their job , without fear or favor , from whatever quarter . ''
In a speech before Schumer 's on Thursday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , slammed Schumer 's remarks ' as `` astonishingly reckless and completely irresponsible.
” McConnell called on Schumer to withdraw his remarks and apologize , though he did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawley , R-Mo.
, to censure Schumer .
`` If any American had these words shouted at them from a sidewalk outside their office , they would hear those threats as personal .
And most likely they would hear them as threatening or inciting violence , '' McConnell said .
Rep. Andy Biggs , R-Ariz. , introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to censure Schumer , though it is unlikely to gain much traction in the Democrat-controlled body .
In a Thursday tweet , President Donald Trump accused Schumer of bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the United States Supreme Court .
Trump himself was heavily criticized for comments he made in late February accusing Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor , membersof the high court 's liberal wing , of bias against him and calling on them to recuse themselves from cases involving him .
“ Justice Ginsburg should [ recuse herself ] because she went wild during the campaign when I was running , '' Trump tweeted at the time .
More : Trump : Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor and Ginsburg should recuse themselves from @ @ @

Schumer says he misspoke about conservative justices: 'I should not have used the words I used'
Show Caption Hide Caption Abortion-rights advocates rally amid SCOTUS case Abortion-rights advocates rally in New Orleans as the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a challenge to the constitutionality of a Louisiana law regulating abortion. (March 4) AP
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he misspoke Wednesday in comments about conservative justices on the Supreme Court that had enraged Republicans.
"I should not have used the words I used yesterday. They did not come out the way I intended to," Schumer said.
Schumer said his point was that there would be "political consequences" for President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans "if the Supreme Court, with newly confirmed justices, stripped away a woman’s right to choose. Of course, I did not intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court, and it is a gross distortion to imply otherwise."
“I’m from Brooklyn. We speak in strong language," he quipped.
More: Chief Justice John Roberts scolds Chuck Schumer for 'threatening statements' against Gorsuch, Kavanaugh
In a speech outside the Supreme Court Wednesday before the high court heard oral argument in an abortion case, Schumer said two Trump-appointed justices, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, would "pay the price" if they "go forward with these awful decisions" about abortion law.
More: Deeply divided Supreme Court debates limits on abortion providers
Schumer's remarks drew a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts and an uproar from Senate Republicans.
In a statement, Roberts said the justices on the Supreme Court "will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter."
In a speech before Schumer's on Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., slammed Schumer's remarks' as "astonishingly reckless and completely irresponsible.”
McConnell called on Schumer to withdraw his remarks and apologize, though he did not mention a resolution proposed by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., to censure Schumer.
"If any American had these words shouted at them from a sidewalk outside their office, they would hear those threats as personal. And most likely they would hear them as threatening or inciting violence," McConnell said.
Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to censure Schumer, though it is unlikely to gain much traction in the Democrat-controlled body.
In a Thursday tweet, President Donald Trump accused Schumer of bringing "great danger" to the steps of the United States Supreme Court.
Schumer has brought great danger to the steps of the United States Supreme Court! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2020
Trump himself was heavily criticized for comments he made in late February accusing Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, membersof the high court's liberal wing, of bias against him and calling on them to recuse themselves from cases involving him.
“Justice Ginsburg should [recuse herself] because she went wild during the campaign when I was running," Trump tweeted at the time.
More: Trump: Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor and Ginsburg should recuse themselves from cases involving him
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci


usatoday--2020-03-05--Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not be a boon for Sanders

Elizabeth Warren is out , but her voters may not be a boon for Sanders Elizabeth Warren is out , @ @ @ @ @ be turnouts for Bernie , Susan Page explains .

Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not go directly to Bernie Sanders
Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not be turnouts for Bernie, Susan Page explains.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-05--Secret Service protection of presidential candidates factors in aggressive crowds, mass shootings

WASHINGTON – For the past year , the U.S. Secret Service has shuttled hundreds of agents to a training site just outside the capital as it prepares for a costly , contentious presidential campaign .
Tuesday night , the need for such preparation became clearer when protesters rushed the stage where former Vice President Joe Biden celebrated a string of primary election victories .
Biden was not harmed by the sign-waving protesters , who were repelled by his wife , Jill Biden , and a campaign aide .
But the jarring scene prompted a House committee Wednesday to urge the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective details to Biden and Bernie Sanders as they battle for the Democratic nomination .
Both campaigns have been operating without government protection , but the Secret Service 's involvement appears more likely as the presidential campaign heats up .
Decisions on protection assignments are made by the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with congressional leaders .
Late Wednesday , the Department of Homeland Security said it was `` ready to execute '' if requests were made by the candidates or a bipartisan group of congressional leaders .
Biden appeared closer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told NBC 's Today that Secret Service protection is `` something that has to be considered . ''
Since last year , nearly 500 Secret Service agents have completed weeklong training sessions to ready themselves for the rigors of the campaign season , including the parties ' political conventions in Milwaukee and Charlotte , North Carolina .
Instructors have drilled agents on scenarios ranging from urban combat to manning rope-lines and securing stages like the one protesters rushed Tuesday night .
Major presidential and vice presidential candidates automatically receive Secret Service protection within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But many candidates receive it much earlier in the campaign cycle .
For the 2020 campaigns , the agency had prepared to provide protection for as many as eight candidates at one time after the initial roster of Democratic hopefuls swelled to more than 20 .
A spate of mass shootings has made preparations more daunting .
Secret Service officials were briefed by local law enforcement and medical authorities involved in the response to the 2017 Las Vegas attack — the largest mass shooting in American history — as the agency began setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
Officials said the mass shootings underscore the risk both to candidates and their thousands of supporters .
`` The scope is enormous , '' said Ken Valentine , who served as chief of the agency 's Dignitary Protection Division until his retirement last week .
`` Part of the reason it 's so enormous is the ramifications of this not going well are enormous .
And so the preparations are intense . ''
The raucous 2016 campaign pushed the agency to its limits as more than 1,000 agents maxed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
Despite new legislation that boosted agents ' maximum annual compensation by about $ 25,000 , hundreds of agents are expected to reach their pay caps before the end of this year .
That means they will end up working long hours for free .
More : Secret Service director tells agents : I am 'fighting ' to get you paid '' A lot of the journeymen ( senior special agents assigned to the campaigns ) , the ones who are doing a lot of the hard work in this thing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
In 2018 , President Donald Trump signed legislation that raised combined salary and overtime limits from $ 164,200 to $ 189,000 .
That highlighted the agency 's crushing workload for the 2016 election and during the first years of the Trump administration .
Congress intervened to boost pay after USA TODAY reported in August 2017 that about 1,200 agents and officers already had hit the mandated pay caps for the year .
In the early days of the Trump administration , the service protected up to 42 officials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number has since dropped to 38 , according to the agency , which does not identify those it protects .
By comparison , 31 people received protection under the Obama administration .
Though the pay measure passed , Rep. John Katko , R-N.Y. , a sponsor and member of the House Homeland Security Committee , has said the additional money was n't a permanent fix .
`` This is a short-term solution to a long-term problem , '' the congressman said then .
`` We 'll take what we can get right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to shadow the agency , but asserted its mission has not been compromised .
`` I would love to pay everybody more , '' he said before his retirement .
`` I 'm a lot more focused on making sure they 've got what they need .
When we 're in the thick of it , the money thing is not even talked about .
It 's a non-factor . ''
The Secret Service motorcade was churning toward its downtown destination when a gunman driving a late-model minivan made his move .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's automatic rifle disabled the presidential candidate 's limousine , leaving the candidate dangerously vulnerable as the suspect 's van blocked the path forward .
Within seconds , teams of heavily-armed agents swept up both sides of the street before unleashing an ear-piercing fusillade .
The threat was eliminated .
Since last spring , similar `` worst-case '' scenarios have played out in a mock village built on the tranquil grounds of a Beltsville , Maryland , training center just off the busy Baltimore-Washington Parkway .
Agents have prepared for the campaign season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing for more common situations like candidate rope-lines .
`` As an agency , we certainly saw a higher level of aggressiveness from a lot of the crowds '' in 2016 , said Brian McDonough , the assistant agent in charge of the Protective Detail Training Section .
At some venues , bike racks were used as a buffer between candidate and crowd .
But people jumped the barriers for better vantage points .
`` We were actually having to physically detain '' people , said McDonough , who has served on details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Probably , for a lot of agents , it became a little less academic because there was so much of it going on . ''
McDonough said clips of the 2016 confrontations are now incorporated in the training regimen .
`` I think it benefited what I do by making sure that people are n't going to get complacent , because all I have to do is insert a video from three years ago into my PowerPoint presentation and it really drives the issue home . ''
Trained in everything from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical protection exercises , each weeklong training session includes hours of briefings on search and seizure laws .
Intelligence analysts provide backgrounders on potential threats .
A full day is dedicated to emergency medicine .
Once teams are assigned to candidates , agents receive detailed medical briefings for them and their families , from food allergies to chronic illnesses .
The first of the 16 training classes began in March 2019 .
Instructors also have traveled to more than a dozen field offices to prepare agents for deployments on advance teams wherever they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveling with candidates , the operations will be monitored from the fifth floor of an office building in downtown Washington , D.C. , where supervisors will provide logistical , technical and other support .
Giant televisions will allow managers in Washington to track campaign events as they unfold and monitor agents ' schedules as they move from city to city .
`` We are seeking a 360-degree sphere of protection around anyone we undertake to protect , '' Valentine said .
That mission must account for the possibility of a mass shooting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the run-up to the 2016 party conventions , the country was jolted by a pair of deadly shootings that targeted police officers .
Five officers were killed in Dallas and three died in Baton Rouge in separate ambushes on the eve of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland .
While the Secret Service 's preparations have included mass shootings for years , the Las Vegas attack brought a dreaded worst-case scenario to chilling reality .
`` It 's not just keeping the candidate safe , '' Valentine said .
`` Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We 're responsible for every person . ''

Secret Service protection of presidential candidates factors in aggressive crowds, mass shootings
Show Caption Hide Caption Secret Service readies for 2020 campaign season The U.S. Secret Service is training agents and gearing up for a 2020 campaign with the possibility of dozens of candidates to protect. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – For the past year, the U.S. Secret Service has shuttled hundreds of agents to a training site just outside the capital as it prepares for a costly, contentious presidential campaign.
Tuesday night, the need for such preparation became clearer when protesters rushed the stage where former Vice President Joe Biden celebrated a string of primary election victories.
Biden was not harmed by the sign-waving protesters, who were repelled by his wife, Jill Biden, and a campaign aide. But the jarring scene prompted a House committee Wednesday to urge the Department of Homeland Security to consider assigning protective details to Biden and Bernie Sanders as they battle for the Democratic nomination.
Both campaigns have been operating without government protection, but the Secret Service's involvement appears more likely as the presidential campaign heats up.
Decisions on protection assignments are made by the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with congressional leaders. Late Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security said it was "ready to execute" if requests were made by the candidates or a bipartisan group of congressional leaders. Biden appeared closer to making a formal request Thursday when he told NBC's Today that Secret Service protection is "something that has to be considered."
Since last year, nearly 500 Secret Service agents have completed weeklong training sessions to ready themselves for the rigors of the campaign season, including the parties' political conventions in Milwaukee and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Instructors have drilled agents on scenarios ranging from urban combat to manning rope-lines and securing stages like the one protesters rushed Tuesday night.
Major presidential and vice presidential candidates automatically receive Secret Service protection within 120 days of the general election. But many candidates receive it much earlier in the campaign cycle.
For the 2020 campaigns, the agency had prepared to provide protection for as many as eight candidates at one time after the initial roster of Democratic hopefuls swelled to more than 20.
A spate of mass shootings has made preparations more daunting. Secret Service officials were briefed by local law enforcement and medical authorities involved in the response to the 2017 Las Vegas attack — the largest mass shooting in American history — as the agency began setting its protective strategy for campaign venues across the country.
Officials said the mass shootings underscore the risk both to candidates and their thousands of supporters.
"The scope is enormous," said Ken Valentine, who served as chief of the agency's Dignitary Protection Division until his retirement last week. "Part of the reason it's so enormous is the ramifications of this not going well are enormous. And so the preparations are intense."
Secret Service agents worked for free after hitting pay caps
The raucous 2016 campaign pushed the agency to its limits as more than 1,000 agents maxed out on overtime and salary months before the election.
Despite new legislation that boosted agents' maximum annual compensation by about $25,000, hundreds of agents are expected to reach their pay caps before the end of this year. That means they will end up working long hours for free.
More: Donald Trump raises Secret Service pay caps by signing new bill
More: Secret Service director tells agents: I am 'fighting' to get you paid
"A lot of the journeymen (senior special agents assigned to the campaigns), the ones who are doing a lot of the hard work in this thing, will far surpass" the pay cap, he said.
In 2018, President Donald Trump signed legislation that raised combined salary and overtime limits from $164,200 to $189,000. That highlighted the agency's crushing workload for the 2016 election and during the first years of the Trump administration.
Congress intervened to boost pay after USA TODAY reported in August 2017 that about 1,200 agents and officers already had hit the mandated pay caps for the year.
In the early days of the Trump administration, the service protected up to 42 officials, including 18 Trump family members. That number has since dropped to 38, according to the agency, which does not identify those it protects.
By comparison, 31 people received protection under the Obama administration.
Though the pay measure passed, Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., a sponsor and member of the House Homeland Security Committee, has said the additional money wasn't a permanent fix.
"This is a short-term solution to a long-term problem," the congressman said then. "We'll take what we can get right now."
Valentine acknowledged that compensation levels continue to shadow the agency, but asserted its mission has not been compromised.
"I would love to pay everybody more," he said before his retirement. "I'm a lot more focused on making sure they've got what they need. When we're in the thick of it, the money thing is not even talked about. It's a non-factor."
Preparing for the 'worst case'
The Secret Service motorcade was churning toward its downtown destination when a gunman driving a late-model minivan made his move.
A burst of gunfire from the driver's automatic rifle disabled the presidential candidate's limousine, leaving the candidate dangerously vulnerable as the suspect's van blocked the path forward.
The advantage didn't hold for long.
Within seconds, teams of heavily-armed agents swept up both sides of the street before unleashing an ear-piercing fusillade. The threat was eliminated.
Since last spring, similar "worst-case" scenarios have played out in a mock village built on the tranquil grounds of a Beltsville, Maryland, training center just off the busy Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
Agents have prepared for the campaign season by engaging in simulated street combat and preparing for more common situations like candidate rope-lines.
"As an agency, we certainly saw a higher level of aggressiveness from a lot of the crowds" in 2016, said Brian McDonough, the assistant agent in charge of the Protective Detail Training Section.
At some venues, bike racks were used as a buffer between candidate and crowd. But people jumped the barriers for better vantage points.
"We were actually having to physically detain" people, said McDonough, who has served on details for Biden and President George W. Bush. "Probably, for a lot of agents, it became a little less academic because there was so much of it going on."
McDonough said clips of the 2016 confrontations are now incorporated in the training regimen.
"I think it benefited what I do by making sure that people aren't going to get complacent, because all I have to do is insert a video from three years ago into my PowerPoint presentation and it really drives the issue home."
Trained in everything from food allergies to mass shootings
Apart from physical protection exercises, each weeklong training session includes hours of briefings on search and seizure laws. Intelligence analysts provide backgrounders on potential threats. A full day is dedicated to emergency medicine.
Once teams are assigned to candidates, agents receive detailed medical briefings for them and their families, from food allergies to chronic illnesses.
The first of the 16 training classes began in March 2019. Instructors also have traveled to more than a dozen field offices to prepare agents for deployments on advance teams wherever they might be needed.
As agents begin traveling with candidates, the operations will be monitored from the fifth floor of an office building in downtown Washington, D.C., where supervisors will provide logistical, technical and other support. Giant televisions will allow managers in Washington to track campaign events as they unfold and monitor agents' schedules as they move from city to city.
"We are seeking a 360-degree sphere of protection around anyone we undertake to protect," Valentine said.
That mission must account for the possibility of a mass shooting.
The challenge is not an unfamiliar one. In the run-up to the 2016 party conventions, the country was jolted by a pair of deadly shootings that targeted police officers. Five officers were killed in Dallas and three died in Baton Rouge in separate ambushes on the eve of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
While the Secret Service's preparations have included mass shootings for years, the Las Vegas attack brought a dreaded worst-case scenario to chilling reality.
"It's not just keeping the candidate safe," Valentine said. "Our job really extends out to the crowd. We're responsible for every person."


usatoday--2020-03-05--Elizabeth Warren is ending her presidential campaign

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is ending her presidential campaign after finishing third in her home state on Super Tuesday .

2020 presidential race: Elizabeth Warren ending presidential campaign
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is ending her presidential campaign after finishing third in her home state on Super Tuesday.
USA TODAY, Wochit


usatoday--2020-03-05--Secret Service readies for 2020 campaign season

The U.S. Secret Service is training agents and gearing up for a 2020 campaign with the possibility of dozens of @ @ @ @

Secret Service readies for 2020 campaign season
The U.S. Secret Service is training agents and gearing up for a 2020 campaign with the possibility of dozens of candidates to protect.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-05--Rep. Matt Gaetz wears large gas mask as House votes on coronavirus response bill

Representative Matt Gaetz wore a large gask mask as the House voted on a coronavirus funding bill Wednesday .

Coronavirus: Rep. Matt Gaetz wears gas mask on House floor
Representative Matt Gaetz wore a large gask mask as the House voted on a coronavirus funding bill Wednesday.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-06--Former Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock who opposed gay marriage comes out as gay

Aaron Schock , the former Illinois Congressman who opposed gay marriage during his tenure , came out as gay Thursday on social media .
The ex-Congressman , who served in Congress for four terms — and was once a rising star in the GOP after being elected as the then-youngest Congressman at 27 — confirmed the legitimacy of his posts .
to the Peoria Journal Star , part of the USA TODAY Network .
Schock resigned from Congress in 2015 after lavish spending , and was later charged with defrauding the government to fund personal air travel and office renovations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the British upper class .
Many said the renovations appeared to be inspired by the TV show “ Downton Abbey . ''
The charges were dropped last year .
He explained that while he was running for Congress in 2008 , he “ took the same position ” on marriage equality held by John McCain , the party nominee , also alluding to the fact that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were opposed to gay marriage at the time .
“ That fact doesn ’ t make my then position any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes easy to forget that it was leaders of both parties who for so long wrongly understood what it was to defend the right to marry , ” he said .
Given the choice now , he wrote , he “ would support LGBTQ rights in every way.
” In his statement , which was posted concurrently on a personal website , he explained that his religious family has largely shunned him since finding out he was gay after images allegedly showing him at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival were published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my weekend at Coachella .
Pictures online made clear what I was en route to tell my mother in person , ” he wrote .
“ I wasn ’ t welcome at home for Easter.
” Since then , he said , he continues to receive emails from family members “ trying to sell ” him on the widely-condemned practice of conversion therapy .
The response to his post was swift and largely severe .
“ Aaron Schock 's statement fails to acknowledge the years of hurt that his votes against hate crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t Ask Don ’ t Tell and more caused LGBTQ Americans , ” wrote GLAAD in a tweet .
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney , D-NY , tweeted that Schock “ needs to own up to his misconduct in office & apologize to all who fought ( over his opposition ) to win him his new found rights , '' but said that he should be welcomed .
Schock , near the end of his letter , does express his gratitude to the activists who broke down barriers that he otherwise did not .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gay man because of the extraordinary brave people who had the courage to fight for our rights when I did not , ” he said .
Contributing : Chris Kaergard , Peoria Journal Star ; The Associated Press .
Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter : @ joshua_bote .

Former Illinois GOP Congressman Aaron Schock who opposed gay marriage comes out as gay
Show Caption Hide Caption What does it mean to identify as LGBT? Here is a guide to understanding LGBT terms. Sara Snyder, USA TODAY
Aaron Schock, the former Illinois Congressman who opposed gay marriage during his tenure, came out as gay Thursday on social media.
The ex-Congressman, who served in Congress for four terms – and was once a rising star in the GOP after being elected as the then-youngest Congressman at 27 – confirmed the legitimacy of his posts to the Peoria Journal Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Schock resigned from Congress in 2015 after lavish spending and was later charged with defrauding the government to fund personal air travel and office renovations, including imitating the 20th-century decor of the British upper class. Many said the renovations appeared to be inspired by the TV show “Downton Abbey."
The charges were dropped last year.
He explained that while he was running for Congress in 2008, he “took the same position” on marriage equality held by John McCain, the party nominee, also alluding to the fact that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were opposed to gay marriage at the time.
“That fact doesn’t make my then position any less wrong, but it’s sometimes easy to forget that it was leaders of both parties who for so long wrongly understood what it was to defend the right to marry,” he said.
Given the choice now, he wrote, he “would support LGBTQ rights in every way.”
In his statement, which was posted concurrently on a personal website, he explained that his religious family has largely shunned him since finding out he was gay after images allegedly showing him at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival were published last year.
“News broke of my weekend at Coachella. Pictures online made clear what I was en route to tell my mother in person,” he wrote. “I wasn’t welcome at home for Easter.”
Since then, he said, he continues to receive emails from family members “trying to sell” him on the widely-condemned practice of conversion therapy.
The response to his post was swift and largely severe.
“Aaron Schock's statement fails to acknowledge the years of hurt that his votes against hate crimes protections, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and more caused LGBTQ Americans,” wrote GLAAD in a tweet.
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-NY, tweeted that Schock “needs to own up to his misconduct in office & apologize to all who fought (over his opposition) to win him his new found rights," but said that he should be welcomed.
Schock, near the end of his letter, does express his gratitude to the activists who broke down barriers that he otherwise did not.
“I can live openly now as a gay man because of the extraordinary brave people who had the courage to fight for our rights when I did not,” he said.
Contributing: Chris Kaergard, Peoria Journal Star; The Associated Press. Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote.


usatoday--2020-03-06--Pence greets state officials with elbow bump while holding coronavirus task force documents

Even Vice President Mike Pence is doing elbow bumps now .
Pence , who is leading the Trump administration ’ s response to the coronavirus , was greeted by Washington State Gov .
Jay Inslee on the tarmac shortly after Air Force Two landed in Tacoma on Thursday .
Inslee , a Democrat , extended an elbow to Pence rather than a hand .
The vice president reciprocated and proceeded to elbow bump everyone else waiting in line to greet him .
The vice president is in Washington for a series of meetings about coronavirus , which has hit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says WHO report on coronavirus death rate is false based on his 'hunch' Elbow bumps have gained in popularity since the coronavirus began to spread as a way of expressing a greeting without exchanging germs .
But the trend is only now catching on in Washington .
Asked about the state of the Democratic presidential nominating contest , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi amended a previous comment on how Democrats will “ madly embrace the nominee.
” “ This week , I say we will madly elbow bump , ” she said .
Asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for president , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi amended a previous comment on how Democrats will “ madly embrace the nominee.
” “ This week , I say we will madly elbow bump , ” she joked .
President Donald Trump , a self-acknowledged germophobe , has repeatedly been asked whether he is personally changing routines because of the virus .
At a Fox News town hall on Thursday he said there was no way for a politician to refuse to shake the hands of supporters .
`` You ca n't be a politician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

John Fritze and Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY

Pence greets state officials with elbow bump while holding coronavirus task force documents
Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Pence says coronavirus task force pushing to expand testing Vice President Mike Pence, who is coordinating the administration's response to the coronavirus, says the task force they've assembled is pushing to expand testing. (March 4) AP Domestic
Even Vice President Mike Pence is doing elbow bumps now.
Pence, who is leading the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus, was greeted by Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee on the tarmac shortly after Air Force Two landed in Tacoma on Thursday.
Inslee, a Democrat, extended an elbow to Pence rather than a hand. The vice president reciprocated and proceeded to elbow bump everyone else waiting in line to greet him.
The vice president is in Washington for a series of meetings about coronavirus, which has hit the state particularly hard.
More: Trump says WHO report on coronavirus death rate is false based on his 'hunch'
Elbow bumps have gained in popularity since the coronavirus began to spread as a way of expressing a greeting without exchanging germs. But the trend is only now catching on in Washington.
Asked about the state of the Democratic presidential nominating contest, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi amended a previous comment on how Democrats will “madly embrace the nominee.”
“This week, I say we will madly elbow bump,” she said.
Asked about the state of the Democratic race for president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi amended a previous comment on how Democrats will “madly embrace the nominee.”
“This week, I say we will madly elbow bump,” she joked.
President Donald Trump, a self-acknowledged germophobe, has repeatedly been asked whether he is personally changing routines because of the virus. At a Fox News town hall on Thursday he said there was no way for a politician to refuse to shake the hands of supporters.
"You can't be a politician without shaking hands," Trump said.


usatoday--2020-03-06--Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not go directly to Bernie Sanders

Elizabeth Warren is out , but her voters may not go directly to Bernie Sanders Elizabeth Warren is out , @ @ @ @ @ be turnouts for Bernie , Susan Page explains .


usatoday--2020-03-06--After 19 contests, here's what the Democratic primary electorate is telling us

WASHINGTON – For weeks , Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign looked as if it might be hurtling toward its end .
But in the span of four days , the former vice president went from teetering on the brink to leading the race for delegates in the Democratic primary .
For many voters , there was never a doubt that Biden would succeed .
`` We know Joe , '' said Betty Cabrera , a Virginia resident .
Cabrera , 56 , who attended Biden ’ s watch party in Alexandria , Virginia , said she canvassed for Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina over the past several days .
`` He 's the right moral leader for this country , ” she said .
More : Bloomberg ends his bid for the Democratic nomination , endorses Joe Biden After Sen. Bernie Sanders ' strong showing in the first three primary contests , Biden 's bounce back in South Carolina catapulted him to victory in 10 of the 15 contests on Super Tuesday .
With Super Tuesday and the early states behind them , several trends have emerged that could offer a glimpse into what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As Democrats look to build a coalition of voters who can beat President Donald Trump in November , Biden has secured the support of several key constituencies , while Sanders is looking to regain his momentum and capitalize on his devoted grassroots support .
Black voters put Biden on the electoral map .
And after Tuesday , it 's clear they could keep him there .
According to exit polls , Biden overwhelmingly won black voters in all the states he competed in on Super Tuesday .
His pull with black voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas – the state with the second-largest number of delegates on Super Tuesday .
Israel Lucore of Houston voted for Biden on Tuesday and said that although he believes any candidate other than Trump would be the best for black voters , Sanders left `` a bad taste in my mouth . ''
He criticized Sanders ' delayed endorsement of Hillary Clinton in 2016 and partially blamed him for Trump 's election .
Lucore , 27 , is also worried that Sanders ' base will not support the Democratic nominee .
`` Yesterday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone whose life is depending on this election , '' he said .
`` I felt more comfortable with Biden , as I 've seen him work with and support one of the best presidents this country has had . ''
Tuesday 's trend follows black voters overwhelmingly supporting Biden in South Carolina .
Black voters are one of the largest voting blocs for the Democratic Party and are often credited as the backbone of the party .
Even in states he lost , Biden had double the support of black voters over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California and held a lead among white , Asian and Latino voters .
But among black voters , Sanders earned 15 % support , while Biden had 37 % , according to exit polls .
Sanders has struggled to amass widespread support among black voters , a problem he also faced in 2016 .
In a news conference in Vermont Wednesday , Sanders said “ there ’ s no denying that Joe Biden has done well with the African American community . ''
“ We are doing very well with people of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garnered the majority of the Latino vote so far .
“ We are going to do better with the African American community.
” More : How Joe Biden roared back on Super Tuesday and what it means for the next contests with Bernie Sanders Sanders , however , has bashed Biden for being backed by “ the corporate establishment ” – a criticism the Biden campaign has pushed back against .
Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana , a co-chair of Biden ’ s campaign , told reporters on a press call Wednesday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conscious decision that we fought and we earned civil rights through blood , sweat and tears , but that it 's going to be common sense that keeps our civil rights . ''
” And so as ( Sanders ) rails against the establishment .
I just did not know that African Americans in the South were considered part of the establishment , '' Richmond said .
Sanders press secretary Briahna Joy Gray tweeted Wednesday that Sanders is not talking about the black community when he is referencing the establishment .
`` No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Gray wrote .
She added that `` the establishment '' does not equal black voters , `` who are some of the most structurally disempowered '' people in America .
Sanders holds on to his base Sanders has continued to hold on to the core base that propelled his campaign in 2016 : younger voters , voters who identify as very liberal and voters who want to see a single-payer health care system .
Nearly half of voters ( 49 % ) who identify as very liberal said they supported Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ median support in Super Tuesday states .
In addition , 40 % of voters who support Sanders said they were in favor of a single-payer health care system – a core tenant of Sanders ' campaign platform .
Among voters ages 18-29 , 60 % said they support Sanders .
Biden came in at a distant second with 17 % with that age group .
Sanders also held the lead with voters ages 30-44 , with 41 % saying they support the Vermont senator .
Biden came in second at 23 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter turnout among younger voters was down this year .
Sanders acknowledged the low turnout during his news conference Wednesday .
`` Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing in young people in ?
And the answer is no , '' he said .
`` We ’ re making some progress , but historically everybody knows that young people do not vote in the kind of numbers that older people vote , '' he said .
`` I think that will change in the general election .
But to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not done as well in bringing young people into the process .
It is not easy . ''
Throughout the course of the election , political experts and pundits have argued that moderate voters will need to come out in full force to defeat Trump .
And they did , for Biden .
Several states saw a surge in voting , particularly in the suburbs , where Democrats have seen some gains after Trump 's election in 2016 .
Virginia set a new voting turnout record Tuesday , with more than 1.3 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The last record was in 2008 , where nearly 1 million voted in for the party 's primary .
In addition , turnout was also up almost 17 % from 2016 levels in North Carolina , and at least 45 % in Texas from 2016 .
Rep. Jennifer Wexton , who flipped a Republican district for Virginia Democrats in 2018 , said that `` our country is at a crossroads . ''
`` I know Joe has the heart , grit , drive and courage ( to beat Trump ) , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can put his massive campaign organization to boost Joe Biden In Wexton 's district , which includes several counties in northern Virginia , Biden won them all .
In the largest county in Wexton 's district , Loudon County , Biden won 50.5 % of the vote .
Sanders followed in second place at 25.2 % .
According to exit polls , Biden 's median support in Super Tuesday states among voters who are somewhat liberal was 39 % .
Among moderate and conservative voters , Biden 's median support was 47 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden is the candidate who can build the biggest tent , and you know we need every one of those voters to turn out in November if we 're going to defeat Donald Trump , '' Biden deputy campaign Kate Bedingfield told reporters on a conference call .

After 19 contests, here's what the Democratic primary electorate is telling us
Show Caption Hide Caption What is Super Tuesday and why is it important? A previous version of this video displayed an incorrect date in a graphic. It was 1988 when 14 Southern and border states held their primaries. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – For weeks, Joe Biden’s presidential campaign looked as if it might be hurtling toward its end. But in the span of four days, the former vice president went from teetering on the brink to leading the race for delegates in the Democratic primary.
For many voters, there was never a doubt that Biden would succeed.
"We know Joe," said Betty Cabrera, a Virginia resident.
Cabrera, 56, who attended Biden’s watch party in Alexandria, Virginia, said she canvassed for Biden in Fairfax Country and made calls to South Carolina over the past several days.
"He's the right moral leader for this country,” she said.
More: Bloomberg ends his bid for the Democratic nomination, endorses Joe Biden
After Sen. Bernie Sanders' strong showing in the first three primary contests, Biden's bounce back in South Carolina catapulted him to victory in 10 of the 15 contests on Super Tuesday.
With Super Tuesday and the early states behind them, several trends have emerged that could offer a glimpse into what the future of the primary season holds. As Democrats look to build a coalition of voters who can beat President Donald Trump in November, Biden has secured the support of several key constituencies, while Sanders is looking to regain his momentum and capitalize on his devoted grassroots support.
Black voters are overwhelmingly choosing Biden
Black voters put Biden on the electoral map. And after Tuesday, it's clear they could keep him there.
According to exit polls, Biden overwhelmingly won black voters in all the states he competed in on Super Tuesday. His pull with black voters was part of the reason he won Texas – the state with the second-largest number of delegates on Super Tuesday.
Israel LaCour of Houston voted for Biden on Tuesday and said that although he believes any candidate other than Trump would be the best for black voters, Sanders left "a bad taste in my mouth." He criticized Sanders' delayed endorsement of Hillary Clinton in 2016 and partially blamed him for Trump's election.
LaCour, 27, is also worried that Sanders' base will not support the Democratic nominee.
"Yesterday as I voted, I thought of everyone whose life is depending on this election," he said. "I felt more comfortable with Biden, as I've seen him work with and support one of the best presidents this country has had."
Tuesday's trend follows black voters overwhelmingly supporting Biden in South Carolina. Black voters are one of the largest voting blocs for the Democratic Party and are often credited as the backbone of the party.
Even in states he lost, Biden had double the support of black voters over Sanders. For example, Sanders won California and held a lead among white, Asian and Latino voters. But among black voters, Sanders earned 15% support, while Biden had 37%, according to exit polls.
Sanders has struggled to amass widespread support among black voters, a problem he also faced in 2016. In a news conference in Vermont Wednesday, Sanders said “there’s no denying that Joe Biden has done well with the African American community."
“We are doing very well with people of color,” said Sanders, who has garnered the majority of the Latino vote so far. “We are going to do better with the African American community.”
More: How Joe Biden roared back on Super Tuesday and what it means for the next contests with Bernie Sanders
Sanders, however, has bashed Biden for being backed by “the corporate establishment” – a criticism the Biden campaign has pushed back against.
Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, a co-chair of Biden’s campaign, told reporters on a press call Wednesday that “African American voters have made a conscious decision that we fought and we earned civil rights through blood, sweat and tears, but that it's going to be common sense that keeps our civil rights."
”And so as (Sanders) rails against the establishment. I just did not know that African Americans in the South were considered part of the establishment," Richmond said.
Sanders press secretary Briahna Joy Gray tweeted Wednesday that Sanders is not talking about the black community when he is referencing the establishment.
"No one hates voter shaming more than Bernie," Gray wrote. She added that "the establishment" does not equal black voters, "who are some of the most structurally disempowered" people in America.
No one hates voter shaming more than Bernie. The "establishment" =/= not black voters, who are some of the most structurally disempowered ppl in America. (Just look at the voting lines in our neighborhoods).
It is the monied interests that work against the interests of the ppl. — Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) March 4, 2020
Sanders holds on to his base
Sanders has continued to hold on to the core base that propelled his campaign in 2016: younger voters, voters who identify as very liberal and voters who want to see a single-payer health care system.
Nearly half of voters (49%) who identify as very liberal said they supported Sanders, according to exit polls that showed median support in Super Tuesday states. In addition, 40% of voters who support Sanders said they were in favor of a single-payer health care system – a core tenant of Sanders' campaign platform.
Among voters ages 18-29, 60% said they support Sanders. Biden came in at a distant second with 17% with that age group. Sanders also held the lead with voters ages 30-44, with 41% saying they support the Vermont senator. Biden came in second at 23%.
The issue, however, is that voter turnout among younger voters was down this year. Sanders acknowledged the low turnout during his news conference Wednesday.
"Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing in young people in? And the answer is no," he said.
"We’re making some progress, but historically everybody knows that young people do not vote in the kind of numbers that older people vote," he said. "I think that will change in the general election. But to be honest with you, we have not done as well in bringing young people into the process. It is not easy."
Sanders expresses confidence despite Biden surge Bernie Sanders told supporters with "absolute confidence" Tuesday night that he is going to "win the Democratic nomination." Sanders spoke to supporters in Vermont after rival Joe Biden racked up a number of Super Tuesday victories. (March 3) AP Domestic
Moderates and conservatives are backing Biden
Throughout the course of the election, political experts and pundits have argued that moderate voters will need to come out in full force to defeat Trump. And they did, for Biden.
Several states saw a surge in voting, particularly in the suburbs, where Democrats have seen some gains after Trump's election in 2016. Virginia set a new voting turnout record Tuesday, with more than 1.3 million turning out for the Democratic primary. The last record was in 2008, where nearly 1 million voted in for the party's primary.
In addition, turnout was also up almost 17% from 2016 levels in North Carolina, and at least 45% in Texas from 2016.
Rep. Jennifer Wexton, who flipped a Republican district for Virginia Democrats in 2018, said that "our country is at a crossroads."
"I know Joe has the heart, grit, drive and courage (to beat Trump)," she said.
More: How Mike Bloomberg can put his massive campaign organization to boost Joe Biden
In Wexton's district, which includes several counties in northern Virginia, Biden won them all. In the largest county in Wexton's district, Loudon County, Biden won 50.5% of the vote. Sanders followed in second place at 25.2%.
According to exit polls, Biden's median support in Super Tuesday states among voters who are somewhat liberal was 39%. Among moderate and conservative voters, Biden's median support was 47%.
"What it shows is that Biden is the candidate who can build the biggest tent, and you know we need every one of those voters to turn out in November if we're going to defeat Donald Trump," Biden deputy campaign Kate Bedingfield told reporters on a conference call.


usatoday--2020-03-06--Election year Supreme Court vacancies prepare a fight between parties as election arrives

Should another Supreme Court vacancy happen before election , expect a big Washington fight over whether or not President Trump @ @ @ @ @

Election year Supreme Court vacancy: How to start a Washington fight
Should another Supreme Court vacancy happen before election, expect a big Washington fight over whether or not President Trump will get his choice.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-06--DNC releases requirements that likely set up Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders head-to-head debate

The Democratic National Committee announced the requirements for presidential candidates to appear at the March 15 debate in Phoenix , narrowing the stage to the two frontrunners : former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
The DNC said the new pledged delegate threshold that candidates must meet to appear at the 11th debate is 20 % of the total awarded so far .
This makes it unlikely that Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard , the other candidate still left in the race , will make the cut .
As of Friday afternoon , 1,385 total delegates had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer in the race .
Biden had 652 delegates , or about 47 % of the total awarded , Sanders had 573 delegates , or about 41 % , and Gabbard had 2 delegates , less than 1 % .
Delegates are still being awarded from some Super Tuesday states , so these amounts may still change .
And five states will vote in primaries March 10 , where more delegates will be awarded .
To win the presidential nomination , a candidate needs to earn a majority of the total delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate , held ahead of the South Carolina primary and before Super Tuesday states voted , required participants meet either a delegate or polling threshold .
The polling requirement has been dropped .
Phoenix will mark the first time Sanders and Biden could face off alone in the 2020 cycle .
They 've already had pointed back-and-forths on Twitter since their places as frontrunners were solidified with Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's departure .
Elizabeth Warren exits : Bernie Sanders wo n't necessarily get her progressive supporters , experts say The March 15 debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in partnership with CHC Bold , the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus .
The moderators will be CNN 's Dana Bash and Jake Tapper and Univision 's Jorge Ramos .
Ilia Calderón , also of Univision , will `` facilitate audience questions at the event , '' a CNN release said .

DNC releases requirements that likely set up Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders head-to-head debate
Show Caption Hide Caption How the DNC changed its rules since Sanders, Clinton in 2016 The primaries are here! How does one get elected in the first place and what is in store for the Democratic National Convention in 2020? We explain. Just the FAQs
The Democratic National Committee announced the requirements for presidential candidates to appear at the March 15 debate in Phoenix, narrowing the stage to the two frontrunners: former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The DNC said the new pledged delegate threshold that candidates must meet to appear at the 11th debate is 20% of the total awarded so far. This makes it unlikely that Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the other candidate still left in the race, will make the cut.
As of Friday afternoon, 1,385 total delegates had been awarded, including to some candidates no longer in the race. Biden had 652 delegates, or about 47% of the total awarded, Sanders had 573 delegates, or about 41%, and Gabbard had 2 delegates, less than 1%.
Delegates are still being awarded from some Super Tuesday states, so these amounts may still change. And five states will vote in primaries March 10, where more delegates will be awarded. To win the presidential nomination, a candidate needs to earn a majority of the total delegates, at least 1,991.
Live results: Keep up-to-date on delegate counts and state results
The last debate, held ahead of the South Carolina primary and before Super Tuesday states voted, required participants meet either a delegate or polling threshold. The polling requirement has been dropped.
Phoenix will mark the first time Sanders and Biden could face off alone in the 2020 cycle. They've already had pointed back-and-forths on Twitter since their places as frontrunners were solidified with Sen. Elizabeth Warren's departure.
Elizabeth Warren exits: Bernie Sanders won't necessarily get her progressive supporters, experts say
Get real, Bernie. The only person who's going to cut Social Security if he's elected is Donald Trump. Maybe you should spend your time attacking him. https://t.co/7rwvXWmUWG — Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 6, 2020
Get real, Joe. One of us has a history of not only fighting cuts to Social Security but working to expand benefits. And that’s why we are the campaign best positioned to defeat Donald Trump. https://t.co/WyQfY5IQyi — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 6, 2020
The March 15 debate will be hosted by CNN and Univision in partnership with CHC Bold, the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The moderators will be CNN's Dana Bash and Jake Tapper and Univision's Jorge Ramos. Ilia Calderón, also of Univision, will "facilitate audience questions at the event," a CNN release said.


usatoday--2020-03-06--Supreme Court term hearing final cases as the last phase of its term arrives

The Supreme Court enters the last phase of its term in which it hears the oral arguments of the last @ @ @ @ @ issuing decisions .

Supreme Court term nears end, major decisions on divisive cases
The Supreme Court enters the last phase of its term in which it hears the oral arguments of the last major cases and will start issuing decisions.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-06--Supreme Court to hear another conservative challenge to Obamacare in the fall

Supreme Court will again hear if Obamacare if is unconstitutional The Supreme Court will take a look at another challenge @ @ @ @ @ Affordable Care Act , or Obamacare , in the fall .

Supreme Court will again hear if Obamacare if is unconstitutional
The Supreme Court will take a look at another challenge of the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, in the fall.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-06--'Come and take it': GOP Rep. Buck wields AR-15 in office, dares Biden and O'Rourke

WASHINGTON – Republican Rep. Ken Buck posted a video on Twitter Friday of him wielding an AR-15 in his office in Washington , D.C. , and daring former Vice President Joe Biden and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke , D-Texas , to `` come and take it . ''
`` [ I ] f you want to take everyone ’ s AR-15s , why don ’ t you swing by my office in Washington , D.C. and start with this one ? ''
the Colorado lawmaker said , while grabbing the gun , wrapped with American flags , off the wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made , when he was a Democratic candidate for president , during a debate last year .
More : DOJ inspector general finds weaknesses in how the FBI identifies homegrown terrorists “ Hell , yes , we ’ re going to take your AR-15 , your AK-47 , ” O ’ Rourke said in response to a question about his proposal to buy back military-style assault weapons .
The Democratic presidential debate took place a month after a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in his hometown of El Paso , killing 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O'Rourke endorsed Biden for the nomination , Biden said of the former Texas congressman , `` I want to make something clear .
I 'm gon na guarantee you , this is not the last you 're seeing of this guy .
You 're gon na take care of the gun problem with me .
You 're going to be the one who leads this effort . ''
More : Trump considering economic stimulus to offset coronavirus impacts , White House adviser says Buck brought the gun to Capitol Hill in 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal regulations , taking away the capabilities necessary to actually fire the weapon .
“ The only dangerous thing about that gun is if someone took it off the wall and hit somebody else over the head with it , '' he said in 2015 .
U.S. Capitol Police said then that members of Congress “ may maintain firearms within the confines of their office.
” 'Sickening ' : Bernie Sanders campaign condemns protester who unfurled swastika flag at Phoenix rally Rep. Eric Swalwell , D-Calif. , who is a fierce gun control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 Democratic presidential candidate to raise the issue , tweeted in response , `` No one is coming for your inoperable gun , Ken .
# ShootingBlanks . ''
Regardless , gun control advocates were quick to speak up about the video .
Rep. Haley Stevens , D-Mich. , tweeted that , `` This behavior is threatening and unacceptable .
I feel unsafe with this in my place of work . ''
Fred Guttenberg , a gun violence activist whose daughter was killed in the Parkland , Florida , school shooting in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen this yesterday when in DC I gladly would have .
My daughter died from a single AR 15 bullet .
You may find joy in that , I do n't .
I will gladly come back to DC to discuss your AR 15 and removing it for safe storage .
Do not make threats of AR 15 violence . ''
Guttenberg , who is a well-known visitor to Capitol Hill advocating for gun violence prevention , was the man who interrupted President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun rights .
Guttenberg was escorted out of the chamber .
Gun control activist Brandon Wolf , who is a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub shooting of 2016 , quote-tweeted Buck 's video , simply saying `` @ FBI : just wanted to ping you on this .
Happy Friday ! ''
“ I have always been a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and will continue to stand up to any attacks on the law-abiding gun owners of Colorado ’ s Fourth District , ” Buck said in a statement Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him permission to display the gun .

'Come and take it': GOP Rep. Buck wields AR-15 in office, dares Biden and O'Rourke
Show Caption Hide Caption Chicago non-profit aims to help community with gun violence After Congress approved $25 million for gun safety research, non-profit I Grow Chicago believes the violence can be helped through community programs. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Republican Rep. Ken Buck posted a video on Twitter Friday of him wielding an AR-15 in his office in Washington, D.C., and daring former Vice President Joe Biden and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, to "come and take it."
"[I]f you want to take everyone’s AR-15s, why don’t you swing by my office in Washington, D.C. and start with this one?" the Colorado lawmaker said, while grabbing the gun, wrapped with American flags, off the wall.
I have just one message for Joe Biden and Beto O’Rourke, if you want to take everyone’s AR-15s, why don’t you swing by my office in Washington, D.C. and start with this one?
Come and take it. #2A pic.twitter.com/jG2SiXetov — Congressman Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) March 6, 2020
Buck is alluding to comments O'Rourke made, when he was a Democratic candidate for president, during a debate last year.
More: DOJ inspector general finds weaknesses in how the FBI identifies homegrown terrorists
“Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47,” O’Rourke said in response to a question about his proposal to buy back military-style assault weapons. The Democratic presidential debate took place a month after a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in his hometown of El Paso, killing 22 and injuring more.
Monday, after O'Rourke endorsed Biden for the nomination, Biden said of the former Texas congressman, "I want to make something clear. I'm gonna guarantee you, this is not the last you're seeing of this guy. You're gonna take care of the gun problem with me. You're going to be the one who leads this effort."
More: Trump considering economic stimulus to offset coronavirus impacts, White House adviser says
Buck brought the gun to Capitol Hill in 2015, and said he submitted to local and federal regulations, taking away the capabilities necessary to actually fire the weapon. “The only dangerous thing about that gun is if someone took it off the wall and hit somebody else over the head with it," he said in 2015.
U.S. Capitol Police said then that members of Congress “may maintain firearms within the confines of their office.”
'Sickening': Bernie Sanders campaign condemns protester who unfurled swastika flag at Phoenix rally
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who is a fierce gun control advocate and used his platform as a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate to raise the issue, tweeted in response, "No one is coming for your inoperable gun, Ken. #ShootingBlanks."
Regardless, gun control advocates were quick to speak up about the video.
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., tweeted that, "This behavior is threatening and unacceptable. I feel unsafe with this in my place of work."
Your congressional office is not your private home. It is a public space.
This behavior is threatening and unacceptable. I feel unsafe with this in my place of work.
I have been in contact with the Sergeant at Arms to express my concerns. https://t.co/UTbNBXLziW — Rep. Haley Stevens (@RepHaleyStevens) March 6, 2020
Fred Guttenberg, a gun violence activist whose daughter was killed in the Parkland, Florida, school shooting in 2018, responded that if he had "seen this yesterday when in DC I gladly would have. My daughter died from a single AR 15 bullet. You may find joy in that, I don't. I will gladly come back to DC to discuss your AR 15 and removing it for safe storage. Do not make threats of AR 15 violence."
Guttenberg, who is a well-known visitor to Capitol Hill advocating for gun violence prevention, was the man who interrupted President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address this year when Trump was touting support for gun rights. Guttenberg was escorted out of the chamber.
Officials: Loaded gun recovered inside troubled Manhattan detention center
Gun control activist Brandon Wolf, who is a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub shooting of 2016, quote-tweeted Buck's video, simply saying "@FBI : just wanted to ping you on this. Happy Friday!"
“I have always been a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and will continue to stand up to any attacks on the law-abiding gun owners of Colorado’s Fourth District,” Buck said in a statement Friday, further highlighting that Capitol Hill Police gave him permission to display the gun.
Contributing: Christal Hayes, Adrianna Rodriguez


usatoday--2020-03-06--UN gender bias report offers a simple explanation for Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren on Thursday ended her presidential run .
Afterward , her supporters lamented that in a Democratic primary that boasted a record number of qualified female candidates , the contest yet again would come down to two white men .
On the same day , a new analysis from the United Nations Development Programme found 90 % of people are biased against women , and about half the world feels men make better political leaders .
“ If you say , 'Yeah , there was sexism in this race , ' everyone says , 'Whiner , '' Warren told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you say , 'No , there was no sexism , ' about a bazillion women think , 'What planet do you live on ? '
'' Men and women vote at similar rates , but there are only 10 female heads of government out of a possible 193 , the UN analysis showed .
In 2016 , former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made history when the Democratic Party nominated her to be its candidate for president , the first woman to be the standard bearer for a major party .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election – by 74 electoral votes , Clinton won the popular vote by 2.8 million .
'Element of misogyny ' : Pelosi , others , lament that Warren exit leaves presidential race to men Warren 's exit : Does n't mean Bernie Sanders gets her progressive supporters MSNBC 's Rachel Maddow interviewed Warren on Thursday night and told the Massachusetts senator her dropping out felt like the `` death knell '' to chances of having a woman president in `` our '' lifetimes .
Warren responded : `` Oh God .
Please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' adding that she has faith .
`` We 'll know we can have a woman in the White House when we finally elect a woman to the White House ! ''
she exclaimed , noting critics in the past dismissed a Catholic being elected until former President John F. Kennedy and claimed the United States would not elect a black man until former President Barack Obama .
• 28 % think it is justified for a man to beat his wife • Less than 6 % of CEOs in S & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work more hours than men , but it is more likely to be unpaid care work “ The work that has been so effective in ensuring an end to gaps in health or education must now evolve to address something far more challenging : a deeply ingrained bias – among both men and women – against genuine equality , '' said Achim Steiner , administrator of the UN Development Programme .
The analysis comes ahead of International Women 's Day on Sunday , a global celebration of women 's achievements .
The theme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizers hope will inspire people to challenge biases and question stereotypes .

UN gender bias report offers a simple explanation for Elizabeth Warren
Show Caption Hide Caption Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not go directly to Bernie Sanders Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not be turnouts for Bernie, Susan Page explains. Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY
Elizabeth Warren on Thursday ended her presidential run. Afterward, her supporters lamented that in a Democratic primary that boasted a record number of qualified female candidates, the contest yet again would come down to two white men.
On the same day, a new analysis from the United Nations Development Programme found 90% of people are biased against women, and about half the world feels men make better political leaders.
“If you say, 'Yeah, there was sexism in this race,' everyone says, 'Whiner," Warren told reporters after dropping out. "And if you say, 'No, there was no sexism,' about a bazillion women think, 'What planet do you live on?'"
Elizabeth Warren was the perfect test case: as smart or smarter than Hillary, just as prepared, just as qualified.
AND she didn't have her baggage,
AND she was a known progressive hero,
AND she turned out to be a fantastic campaigner.
And still. and still. and still. — jess mcintosh (@jess_mc) March 5, 2020
Men and women vote at similar rates, but there are only 10 female heads of government out of a possible 193, the UN analysis showed.
In 2016, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made history when the Democratic Party nominated her to be its candidate for president, the first woman to be the standard bearer for a major party. Though Trump won the Electoral College – and the election – by 74 electoral votes, Clinton won the popular vote by 2.8 million.
'Element of misogyny': Pelosi, others, lament that Warren exit leaves presidential race to men
Warren's exit: Doesn't mean Bernie Sanders gets her progressive supporters
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow interviewed Warren on Thursday night and told the Massachusetts senator her dropping out felt like the "death knell" to chances of having a woman president in "our" lifetimes.
Warren responded: "Oh God. Please no. That can't be right," adding that she has faith.
"We'll know we can have a woman in the White House when we finally elect a woman to the White House!" she exclaimed, noting critics in the past dismissed a Catholic being elected until former President John F. Kennedy and claimed the United States would not elect a black man until former President Barack Obama.
The UN report also found:
40% feel men make better business executives
28% think it is justified for a man to beat his wife
Less than 6% of CEOs in S&P 500 companies are women
Women work more hours than men, but it is more likely to be unpaid care work
“The work that has been so effective in ensuring an end to gaps in health or education must now evolve to address something far more challenging: a deeply ingrained bias – among both men and women – against genuine equality," said Achim Steiner, administrator of the UN Development Programme.
The analysis comes ahead of International Women's Day on Sunday, a global celebration of women's achievements. The theme this year is #EachforEqual, which organizers hope will inspire people to challenge biases and question stereotypes.


usatoday--2020-03-06--'Sickening': Bernie Sanders campaign condemns protester who unfurled swastika flag at Phoenix rally

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders ' campaign responded to protesters who displayed a flag bearing a swastika during his rally Thursday night in Phoenix .
Images of the flag in the crowd circulated on social media posts , which showed the flag unfurling as the crowd cheered for the Vermont senator after he declared how loud they were .
The cheers quickly turned to boos as they saw the flag .
Sanders ' supporters appeared to rip the flag from the protester 's hands , and police escorted him out .
Addressing reporters Friday morning , Sanders said that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he `` speaks for the families '' of the more than 400,000 American troops who died fighting in World War II `` against fascism . ''
`` It is horrific , beyond disgusting to see that in the United States of America there are people who would show the emblem of Hitler and Nazism , '' he continued .
If elected , Sanders would be the first Jewish president .
Many of his relatives were killed in the Holocaust .
At the time , Sanders did not appear to notice the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Whoever it was , I think they ’ re a little outnumbered tonight .
And more importantly they ’ re going to be outnumbered in November.
” Later , Sanders ' communications director Mike Casa told Ruby Cramer of BuzzFeed News that Sanders “ is aware of the flag with the swastika on it and is disturbed by it.
” Sara Pearl , supervising producer for Sanders ' campaign , tweeted Friday morning that `` Last night at Bernie ’ s rally in Arizona , someone horrifically unfurled a Nazi flag with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had just released this video of what it means for Jews like me to elect our first Jewish President who will stand up to white nationalism and hate . ''
Steven Slugocki , chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party , of which the county seat is Phoenix , tweeted that , `` We can argue about which candidate should get the Dem nomination , but antisemitic acts have no place in this world .
This is absolutely abhorrent . ''
Rep. Ilhan Omar , D-Min.
, condemned the protester via Twitter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him .
She wrote , `` This is an appalling display of anti-Semitism against a man whose family perished in the Holocaust . ''
The incidence again raised the issue of security for presidential candidates .
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf was urged Wednesday to consider Secret Service protection for Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden , the two top contenders for the Democratic nomination .
Both campaigns have been operating without government protection , but the Secret Service 's involvement appears more likely as the presidential campaign heats up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson , D-Miss.
, came a day after protesters rushed a stage in Los Angeles where Biden was celebrating a string of Super Tuesday primary wins .
Biden was not harmed by the sign-waving protesters , who were repelled by his wife , Jill Biden , and a campaign aide .
OnPolitics weekly recap : This week was just really quite a lot In a statement yesterday addressing the calls for support , the Secret Service said , `` At this time , no candidates have requested protection . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ interrupted by multiple supporters of President Donald Trump .
Former vice president Joe Biden , who is Sanders ' main competitor for the nomination , tweeted out his condemnation of the protester , saying , `` I do n't care who you 're supporting , attacks like this against a man who could be the first Jewish President are disgusting and beyond the pale .
Hatred and bigotry have no place in America — and it 's up to all of us to root out these evils wherever they 're found . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ First For America , called the display `` sickening . ''
The group , which is funding a lawsuit against the organizers of the Charlottesville march in federal court , put out a statement , saying they are `` horrified . ''
`` These are not isolated incidents – they are part of a wave of anti-Semitism , neo-Nazism , and white supremacy and we can not let this become normalized . ''

'Sickening': Bernie Sanders campaign condemns protester who unfurled swastika flag at Phoenix rally
Show Caption Hide Caption Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not go directly to Bernie Sanders Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not be turnouts for Bernie, Susan Page explains. Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign responded to protesters who displayed a flag bearing a swastika during his rally Thursday night in Phoenix.
Images of the flag in the crowd circulated on social media posts, which showed the flag unfurling as the crowd cheered for the Vermont senator after he declared how loud they were. The cheers quickly turned to boos as they saw the flag.
Sanders' supporters appeared to rip the flag from the protester's hands, and police escorted him out.
Addressing reporters Friday morning, Sanders said that he not only speaks as a Jewish American, but he "speaks for the families" of the more than 400,000 American troops who died fighting in World War II "against fascism."
"It is horrific, beyond disgusting to see that in the United States of America there are people who would show the emblem of Hitler and Nazism," he continued.
If elected, Sanders would be the first Jewish president. Many of his relatives were killed in the Holocaust.
From Arizona: Bernie Sanders rally in Phoenix, Nazi flag video surfaces
At the time, Sanders did not appear to notice the man, though he later said, “Whoever it was, I think they’re a little outnumbered tonight. And more importantly they’re going to be outnumbered in November.”
Later, Sanders' communications director Mike Casa told Ruby Cramer of BuzzFeed News that Sanders “is aware of the flag with the swastika on it and is disturbed by it.”
Sara Pearl, supervising producer for Sanders' campaign, tweeted Friday morning that "Last night at Bernie’s rally in Arizona, someone horrifically unfurled a Nazi flag with a swastika on it. Earlier we had just released this video of what it means for Jews like me to elect our first Jewish President who will stand up to white nationalism and hate."
Last night at Bernie’s rally in Arizona, someone horrifically unfurled a Nazi flag with a swastika on it. Earlier we had just released this video of what it means for Jews like me to elect our first Jewish President who will stand up to white nationalism and hate. Watch pls https://t.co/xF5pSDyBmK — Sara Pearl (@skenigsberg) March 6, 2020
Steven Slugocki, chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party, of which the county seat is Phoenix, tweeted that, "We can argue about which candidate should get the Dem nomination, but antisemitic acts have no place in this world. This is absolutely abhorrent."
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Min., condemned the protester via Twitter. Omar endorsed Sanders and has been campaigning for him. She wrote, "This is an appalling display of anti-Semitism against a man whose family perished in the Holocaust."
The incidence again raised the issue of security for presidential candidates.
More: Secret Service protection of presidential candidates factors in aggressive crowds, mass shootings
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf was urged Wednesday to consider Secret Service protection for Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden, the two top contenders for the Democratic nomination. Both campaigns have been operating without government protection, but the Secret Service's involvement appears more likely as the presidential campaign heats up.
The request from House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., came a day after protesters rushed a stage in Los Angeles where Biden was celebrating a string of Super Tuesday primary wins. Biden was not harmed by the sign-waving protesters, who were repelled by his wife, Jill Biden, and a campaign aide.
OnPolitics weekly recap: This week was just really quite a lot
In a statement yesterday addressing the calls for support, the Secret Service said, "At this time, no candidates have requested protection."
Sanders' Thursday night event was also interrupted by multiple supporters of President Donald Trump.
This is an appalling display of anti-Semitism against a man whose family perished in the Holocaust.
And this SAME white nationalist has been harassing the Muslim community for years.
Our struggles are tied.https://t.co/9lsfceJmYQ — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 6, 2020
Former vice president Joe Biden, who is Sanders' main competitor for the nomination, tweeted out his condemnation of the protester, saying, "I don't care who you're supporting, attacks like this against a man who could be the first Jewish President are disgusting and beyond the pale. Hatred and bigotry have no place in America — and it's up to all of us to root out these evils wherever they're found."
Amy Spitalnick, executive director of Integrity First For America, called the display "sickening."
The group, which is funding a lawsuit against the organizers of the Charlottesville march in federal court, put out a statement, saying they are "horrified."
"These are not isolated incidents – they are part of a wave of anti-Semitism, neo-Nazism, and white supremacy and we cannot let this become normalized."
Contributing: Kevin Johnson