usatoday--2020-02-11--Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg campaigns both request Iowa caucus results recanvass

DES MOINES — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders submitted Monday a list of 25 precincts and three satellite caucus locations he wants reviewed , arguing if corrected it could tilt national delegates at stake in his favor .
The Iowa Democratic Party set a deadline of noon Monday for a recanvass request .
It extended the deadline to request a recanvass after a cascade of events — from a malfunctioning reporting app and overwhelmed call center to apparent errors in the data — delayed a release of preliminary results until several days after the caucus itself .
`` While a recanvass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process and we don ’ t expect it to change the current calculations , it is a necessary part of making sure Iowans can trust the final results of the caucus , ” Bernie 2020 senior adviser Jeff Weaver said in a statement .
“ Our volunteers and supporters worked too hard , and too many people participated for the first time to have the results depend on calculations that even the party admits are incorrect .
Once the recanvass and a subsequent recount are completed in these precincts , we feel confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegate our volunteers and grassroots donors earned . ''
After Sanders campaign made the request , a similar request came in from former mayor Pete Buttigieg 's campaign .
MORE : Inside the Iowa Democratic Party 's 'boiler room , ' where 'hell ' preceded the results catastrophe The preliminary results reported by the party show Buttigieg with a narrow lead over Sanders in state delegate equivalents and delegates to the Democratic National Convention , where the party 's presidential nominee will be formally selected this summer .
Buttigieg said in his letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that his recanvass request is based on reporting discrepancies , calculation/math errors and a reporting and calculation error in how state delegate equivalents were awarded to in-state satellite caucuses .
State delegate equivalents , or SDEs , are used to calculate the winner of Iowa 's Democratic caucus .
In his letter , Buttigieg acknowledged that the Sanders campaign planned to seek an audit .
Since the Democrats ' rules say the party will only recanvass precincts for which it has requests , `` we are compelled to submit a recanvass request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sanders campaign , mathematical errors and inconsistencies in tabulations give Buttigieg too many state delegates and Sanders too few — enough to make a difference in the ultimate Iowa winner .
`` These errors and inconsistencies are ripe for review because their correction would change the national delegate allocation by moving , at a minimum , one ( national pledged ) delegate from Mayor Buttigieg to my campaign , '' Sanders wrote in a letter to Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price .
Between Sanders ' and Buttigieg 's campaigns , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 85 of Iowa 's nearly 1,700 precincts .
A recanvass is a hand-audit of caucus math worksheets and reporting forms to ensure they were tallied and reported correctly .
However , Price has said that the final results reported by precinct chairs — even with glaring errors in the underlying math — are legally binding , limiting what changes the party can make .
MORE : Iowa caucus 2020 : What is a recanvass ?
How is it different than a recount ?
`` The math worksheet is actually a legal document , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference .
`` It 's signed by the precinct chair and the precinct captains , the campaign representatives in those precincts .
And so we are not allowed to change that .
We have to report out what 's reported to us . ''
The Iowa Democratic Party has 48 hours to accept or reject the request .
If it accepts the campaign 's request , it will give an anticipated timeline for review and estimated cost to the candidate for the review .
That would almost certainly move back final results from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results of New Hampshire 's second-in-the-nation contest , a primary election , are known .
The New Hampshire vote is on Tuesday .
The Associated Press , used by multiple news organizations to call election winners , has said since Feb. 3 caucus that the Iowa race was too close to call .
On Monday , a week after Iowans caucuses , it still could not determine a winner .
`` Even when the vote count in Iowa does come to an end , it may not be fully accurate , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editor at AP who oversees the cooperative 's coverage of polling and elections .
`` We continue to see irregularities in the results provided by the Iowa Democratic Party and unless they are resolved , we will remain unable to call the race . ''
Nick Coltrain is a politics and data reporter for the Register .
Reach him at ncoltrain @ registermedia.com or at 515-284-8361 .

Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg campaigns both request Iowa caucus results recanvass
Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: The three things that led to the Iowa caucus disaster Three things led to a disastrous caucus night for Democrats. The Des Moines Register
DES MOINES — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders submitted Monday a list of 25 precincts and three satellite caucus locations he wants reviewed, arguing if corrected it could tilt national delegates at stake in his favor.
The Iowa Democratic Party set a deadline of noon Monday for a recanvass request. It extended the deadline to request a recanvass after a cascade of events — from a malfunctioning reporting app and overwhelmed call center to apparent errors in the data — delayed a release of preliminary results until several days after the caucus itself.
"While a recanvass is just the first step in the process and we don’t expect it to change the current calculations, it is a necessary part of making sure Iowans can trust the final results of the caucus,” Bernie 2020 senior adviser Jeff Weaver said in a statement. “Our volunteers and supporters worked too hard, and too many people participated for the first time to have the results depend on calculations that even the party admits are incorrect. Once the recanvass and a subsequent recount are completed in these precincts, we feel confident we will be awarded the extra national delegate our volunteers and grassroots donors earned."
After Sanders campaign made the request, a similar request came in from former mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign.
MORE: Inside the Iowa Democratic Party's 'boiler room,' where 'hell' preceded the results catastrophe
Iowa caucus: Just how much influence does it have on the primary? The Iowa caucus is sure to be competitive this year. But what makes caucuses different from primaries? Just the FAQs
The preliminary results reported by the party show Buttigieg with a narrow lead over Sanders in state delegate equivalents and delegates to the Democratic National Convention, where the party's presidential nominee will be formally selected this summer.
Buttigieg said in his letter, obtained by the Des Moines Register, that his recanvass request is based on reporting discrepancies, calculation/math errors and a reporting and calculation error in how state delegate equivalents were awarded to in-state satellite caucuses. State delegate equivalents, or SDEs, are used to calculate the winner of Iowa's Democratic caucus.
In his letter, Buttigieg acknowledged that the Sanders campaign planned to seek an audit. Since the Democrats' rules say the party will only recanvass precincts for which it has requests, "we are compelled to submit a recanvass request of our own."
According to the Sanders campaign, mathematical errors and inconsistencies in tabulations give Buttigieg too many state delegates and Sanders too few — enough to make a difference in the ultimate Iowa winner.
"These errors and inconsistencies are ripe for review because their correction would change the national delegate allocation by moving, at a minimum, one (national pledged) delegate from Mayor Buttigieg to my campaign," Sanders wrote in a letter to Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price.
Between Sanders' and Buttigieg's campaigns, the party has received requests to recanvass about 85 of Iowa's nearly 1,700 precincts.
A recanvass is a hand-audit of caucus math worksheets and reporting forms to ensure they were tallied and reported correctly. However, Price has said that the final results reported by precinct chairs — even with glaring errors in the underlying math — are legally binding, limiting what changes the party can make.
MORE: Iowa caucus 2020: What is a recanvass? How is it different than a recount?
"The math worksheet is actually a legal document," Price said at a Friday news conference. "It's signed by the precinct chair and the precinct captains, the campaign representatives in those precincts. And so we are not allowed to change that. We have to report out what's reported to us."
The Iowa Democratic Party has 48 hours to accept or reject the request. If it accepts the campaign's request, it will give an anticipated timeline for review and estimated cost to the candidate for the review.
That would almost certainly move back final results from Iowa's first-in-the-nation nominating contest to after the results of New Hampshire's second-in-the-nation contest, a primary election, are known. The New Hampshire vote is on Tuesday.
The Associated Press, used by multiple news organizations to call election winners, has said since Feb. 3 caucus that the Iowa race was too close to call. On Monday, a week after Iowans caucuses, it still could not determine a winner.
"Even when the vote count in Iowa does come to an end, it may not be fully accurate," said David Scott, a deputy managing editor at AP who oversees the cooperative's coverage of polling and elections. "We continue to see irregularities in the results provided by the Iowa Democratic Party and unless they are resolved, we will remain unable to call the race."
Nick Coltrain is a politics and data reporter for the Register. Reach him at ncoltrain@registermedia.com or at 515-284-8361.


usatoday--2020-02-12--Bernie Sanders' campaign defends narrow win in New Hampshire after big 2016 showing

MANCHESTER , N.H. – A top adviser for Bernie Sanders ’ presidential campaign pushed back at anyone criticizing the small margin of the senator ’ s victory in the New Hampshire Democratic primary on Tuesday .
Sanders , I-Vt. , ended up winning by fewer than two percentage points even though he was polling with a double-digit lead in one poll as recently as last week .
“ Folks will remember in the fall that , in fact , we were behind , ” said Jeff Weaver , a senior adviser for the Sanders campaign , who was its campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , Elizabeth Warren was ahead here .
There was polling that had Pete Buttigieg winning here .
So I think , maybe you should ask those campaigns about why they had leads that did not materialize tonight . ''
Sanders won New Hampshire by 22 percentage points in the 2016 New Hampshire Democratic primary against Hillary Clinton .
Weaver said most important was Sanders won the coalition of supporters he needs to beat Trump , pointing to working-class voters in place slice Manchester , young voters and the small number of minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Hampshire : Amy Klobuchar 's surprising strength and other takeaways from the New Hampshire primary “ Bernie Sanders is putting together that coalition .
He did it in Iowa .
He did it here and now we ’ re going to go to Nevada and do it again , ” Weaver said .
Some have speculated that Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar ’ s late rise in New Hampshire might have taken votes from the second-place finisher , former South Bend , Indian Mayor Pete Buttigieg , helping Sanders to victory .
Analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Joe Biden insists he still has a path to the nomination .
Others have trouble seeing it .
Weaver rejected that suggestion , saying he believes Klobuchar ’ s ascension was “ stunted ” in Iowa because she , like Sanders , had to spend time in Washington for President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment hearings .
He said he respects the “ grit ” Klobuchar has shown by overcoming limited resources in the campaign .
“ But I think at the end of the day people are looking for more transformative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be evident as we go down through the process.
” New Hampshire results : Bernie Sanders wins New Hampshire , while Buttigieg , Klobuchar finishes are keeping the field muddled

DNC Chair Tom Perez wants a 'conversation' about the order of primaries - New Hampshire updates
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
WASHINGTON – Appearing on CNN, Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez said he wanted to have a "conversation" within the party about the order of states in the Democratic primary election.
Citing previous debates within the Democratic Party that had led to the elimination of super delegates after the 2016 primary election, Perez said, "the next frontier of discussion in the Democratic Party needs to be, do we need further caucus reform?"
"Our party is incredibly diverse, and what should the order of our primary cycle be? I think the time is ripe for that conversation," he continued.
The Democratic Party has faced some criticism for the lack of diversity in the first states in the Democratic presidential primary race, which began with Iowa and New Hampshire. The next two states to vote – Nevada and South Carolina – have more diverse primary electorates.
New Hampshire outcome: Bernie Sanders wins New Hampshire, while Buttigieg, Klobuchar finishes are keeping the field muddled
All of the remaining candidates in the Democratic primary are white except for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, who is of Asian, Caucasian and Polynesian descent, according to her campaign.
- Nicholas Wu
Trump complains Dems overshadowed his 'record-setting' NH vote
President Donald Trump celebrated his victory in New Hampshire's Republican primary on Twitter and complained that his win was overshadowed by the hotly contested Democratic election.
"The Fake News Media is looking hard for the Big Democrat Story, but there is nothing too fabulous," Trump tweeted late Tuesday. "Wouldn’t a big story be that I got more New Hampshire Primary Votes than any incumbent president, in either party, in the history of that Great State? Not an insignificant fact!"
"Fake News @CNN and MSDNC have not surprisingly refused to talk about my record setting number of voters in New Hampshire (and in Iowa)," the president tweeted Wednesday, vowing to "win both states in November."
Trump did receive more total votes than any previous incumbent with more than 120,000, while his lone national challenger, former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, got 12,993. But former President Ronald Reagan received a slightly higher percentage of the vote in 1984 as an incumbent seeking reelection with only a nominal challenge from a former Republican governor.
As a New Englander, Weld had hoped to secure as much as 20% of the vote in the Northeastern state to give his campaign momentum, but his total came to 9.2%.
Trump campaigned more aggressively in the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucuses than previous incumbents who did not face a major challenger or were running unopposed. The president sent top surrogates to both states and held rallies in them ahead of both elections.
The president's efforts were primarily about building strength in New Hampshire ahead of the general election. Trump narrowly lost New Hampshire, once considered a swing state, to Hillary Clinton in 2016. But the state has broken for the Republican only once in the previous seven election cycles, when George W. Bush won it in 2000.
– William Cummings
Difference between caucus and primary, explained The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But what’s the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Sanders' campaign defends narrow win in N.H.
MANCHESTER, N.H. – A top adviser for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign pushed back at anyone criticizing the small margin of the senator’s victory in the New Hampshire Democratic primary on Tuesday.
Sanders, I-Vt., ended up winning by less than 2 percentage points even though he was polling with a double-digit lead in one poll as recently as last week.
“Folks will remember in the fall that, in fact, we were behind,” said Jeff Weaver, a senior adviser for the Sanders campaign, who was its campaign manager in 2016. “At one point, Elizabeth Warren was ahead here. There was polling that had Pete Buttigieg winning here. So I think, maybe you should ask those campaigns about why they had leads that did not materialize tonight."
Sanders won New Hampshire by 22 percentage points in the 2016 New Hampshire Democratic primary against Hillary Clinton.
Weaver said that most important was Sanders won the coalition of supporters he needs to beat Trump, pointing to working-class voters in place slice Manchester, young voters and the small number of minority communities in New Hampshire.
Takeaways from New Hampshire: Amy Klobuchar's surprising strength and other takeaways from the New Hampshire primary
“Bernie Sanders is putting together that coalition. He did it in Iowa. He did it here and now we’re going to go to Nevada and do it again,” Weaver said.
Some have speculated that Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s late rise in New Hampshire might have taken votes from the second-place finisher, Pete Buttigieg, helping Sanders to victory.
Analysis: What's next for Biden?Joe Biden insists he still has a path to the nomination. Others have trouble seeing it.
Weaver rejected that suggestion, saying he believes Klobuchar’s ascension was “stunted” in Iowa because she, like Sanders, had to spend time in Washington for President Donald Trump’s impeachment hearings. He said he respects the “grit” Klobuchar has shown by overcoming limited resources in the campaign.
“But I think at the end of the day people are looking for more transformative change, and I think that will be evident as we go down through the process.”
New Hampshire results: Bernie Sanders wins New Hampshire, while Buttigieg, Klobuchar finishes are keeping the field muddled
– Joey Garrison


usatoday--2020-02-12--Bernie Sanders wins New Hampshire, while Buttigieg, Klobuchar finishes are keeping the field muddled

MANCHESTER , N.H. – Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders edged former South Bend , Indiana , mayor Pete Buttigieg in New Hampshire 's first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday , a closer-than-expected finish that leaves the race for the Democratic presidential nomination still muddled .
Sanders topped Buttigieg by about a point when the Associated Press declared him the winner just before midnight .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar came in a surprising third , a finish that built on her well-received performance at Friday 's debate in New Hampshire .
That could keep the race for the Democratic nominee more unsettled than it often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have at least six national delegates , lead by Buttigieg and Sanders .
Sanders ' victory was not by the 22-point margin that jolted the race against eventual nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016 , when he played the role of upstart challenger .
But he did n't stumble either , winning a neighboring state over a large field after leading in almost every poll over the past two months as his rival for the progressive wing of the party – Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren – slowly faded .
“ At this point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billionaires and we are taking on candidates who are funded by billionaires , but we are going to win because we have the agenda that speaks to the working people of this country , '' Sanders said to the crowd at his election night party shortly after 11 p.m. Warren and former vice president Joe Biden ended up fourth and fifth , respectively , disappointing finishes for one-time leading candidates .
Analysis : Joe Biden insists he still has a path to the nomination .
Others have trouble seeing it .
Sanders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the left anchored by young voters , finished first in the state 's largest cities including Manchester , Nashua and Concord .
Buttigieg performed best in the southeast part of the state .
They both won townships on New Hampshire 's Connecticut River Valley that border Sanders ' home Vermont .
Sanders arrived on stage at his election party , held in a basketball gym on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University , to chants of “ Bernie !
Bernie !
Bernie ” from supporters with John Lennon ’ s “ Power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s on to Nevada .
It ’ s on to South Carolina , ” Sanders said , concluding his brief remarks .
“ It ’ s on to win the Democratic nomination , and together , I have no doubt that we will defeat Donald Trump.
” A few hours before , loud cheers erupted from Sanders supporters when CNN showed him in first place before final results were in early Tuesday night .
The crowd , many waving “ Bernie ” signs , counted down , “ 5 , 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” as polls closed .
They burst into cheers throughout the night as votes trickled in and Sanders ’ lead maintained .
“ I believe in the movement , I believe in the cause and I believe it ’ s time to take America back by the people and for the people , ” said Scott Dakota , a 55-year-old musician and composer from Keene , New Hampshire , positioned directly in front of the stage where Sanders would be speaking .
“ No recent Democrat nor Republican recent candidate has made sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Dakota , a campaign volunteer who opened his house as a canvassing station .
“ Bernie Sanders brought me back into politics.
” 2020 candidates on the issues : A voter 's guide to where they stand on health care , gun control and more 'We ’ ve accomplished so much together ' : Andrew Yang ends his campaign for presidency John Thyng , 47 , of Deering , N.H. , wearing a purple SEIU Local 1984 sweatshirt , said he ’ s hopeful Sanders ’ performance in New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of the country.
” “ He ’ s great for workers , working people , and we need to make a change , ” Thyng said .
“ We need a revolution and he ’ s the person who ’ s going to help us do it.
” Standing next to Thyng , Ruth Simcox , 69 , a volunteer from Bloomington , Indiana , said she ’ s been volunteering in New Hampshire since last Thursday , mostly helping with canvassing .
She said she talked to many Sanders supporters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning on this being a big night for us.
” “ I think Bernie Sanders is one of the truest , honest candidates we ’ ve had in a long time , ” Simcox said .
“ He ’ s for the people , not for the money.
” Buttigieg was seen as needing more decisive victories in Iowa and New Hampshire to consolidate behind him the center-left Democrats who fear nominating a democratic socialist like Sanders will handicap the party in November .
He did not get that Tuesday , but his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a virtual unknown a year ago .
As networks called a narrow victory for Sanders , Buttigieg thanked New Hampshire for validating his campaign .
“ Thanks to you , ” he said , “ a campaign that some say shouldn ’ t be here at all has shown that we are here to stay . ''
Klobuchar likely took some New Hampshire momentum from Buttigieg .
“ Tonight is about grit , ” Klobuchar told her cheering supporters as she stood in front of a large , green “ Amy ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like so many of yours , is one of reliance.
” About half of those surveyed in a CNN Exit Poll said the most recent debate – in which Buttigieg took much of the incoming fire – was an important factor in Tuesday ’ s vote .
Leaving the polls , Marilyn Muir , 88 , told USA Today the debate sealed her support for Klobuchar .
“ She was so determined and so honest , ” said Muir , who is retired .
“ That ’ s what I felt .
Up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determined who I would vote for .
It was between her and Biden , but I went for her.
” What 's next on the campaign trail Sanders , 78 , now heads to Nevada for that state ’ s Feb. 22 caucuses where he has shown strength with Latino voters .
But he faces pushback from the powerful Culinary Union in Nevada , which fears Sanders ’ push for Medicare for All would worsen their members ’ health insurance .
A week later , on Feb. 29 , is South Carolina ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Biden is unable to marshal support among the African American voters he ’ s been counting on to buoy his campaign .
Biden has already pivoted to South Carolina , leaving New Hampshire Tuesday before polls closed .
Instead of addressing supporters at a post-results event in Nashua , as had been previously planned , Biden spoke at a “ launch party ” in Columbia , S.C. Having lost in Iowa and New Hampshire , where white voters make up a disproportionate amount of the electorate , Biden is pinning his hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Up ‘ til now , we haven ’ t heard from the most committee constituency in the Democratic Party , the African American community .
And the fastest growing segment of society , the Latino community , ” he said .
“ So to hear all these pundits and experts , all these cable TV talkers talk about the race , tell them : ‘ It ain ’ t over , man .
We ’ re just getting started .
Our votes count too ’ .
” Results : Follow results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last three decades , Democrats have picked as their nominee the candidate who received the most primary support from black voters , according to Theodore Johnson , a senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice .
That could be bad news for Sanders ’ closest rival , Buttigieg .
He has struggled to connect with a significant share of black voters.The same is true for Klobuchar Even before voting was completed Tuesday , Buttigieg told NBC 's `` Today '' he was getting `` the look that we now need as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada , South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states that have a lot of racial diversity and where we can make that case eye-to-eye.
” The next few weeks are a grind Biden had a five-point lead over Sanders in a Post and Courier-Change Research poll of South Carolina Democrats that was released Feb. 2 .
Buttigieg was fifth , polling behind Tom Steyer and Warren .
There have been no recent polls in Nevada , a tougher state to survey because of the complexities of a caucus system over a primary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and in single digits , in polls taken there in January .
All the candidates also are looking ahead to Super Tuesday , when one-third of the pledged delegates will be divvied up .
Early voting has already started in California , the state that will award the largest cache of delegates on March 3 .
Candidates also will have a chance to shake up the race at upcoming debates on Feb. 19 and 25 .
And looming after the first four states is former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending heavily on advertising and campaign staff across the rest of the country .
Bloomberg adds to the mix another choice for Democrats uneasy about giving the nomination to Sanders .
The plethora of candidates competing to be the main alternative to Sanders has made it harder for the center-left wing of the party to head off his momentum .
Klobuchar ’ s surge to third place in New Hampshire increases the turbulence of the contest .
Iowa failed to perform its usual winnowing of the field after the state party took days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The campaigns of both Sanders and Buttigieg have asked for those results to be reviewed .
While Klobuchar faces significant challenges going forward , her third-place finish is a blow to Biden ’ s campaign .
Biden has presented himself as the Democrat who would fare best against President Donald Trump in November .
But his poor showing in Iowa followed by Klobuchar ’ s surge in New Hampshire punches a huge hole in his electability argument .
Warren will also face big questions about her viability after being bested in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market has made her well known .
Sanders , whose campaign is fueled by small donations , has outraised the field .
But he ’ s been outspent by Bloomberg and activist Tom Steyer who have poured millions of their own money into their campaigns .
“ I don ’ t begrudge his wealth , but I do begrudge a billionaire thinking he can buy the election , ” Sanders told NBC ’ s Lester Holt .

Ledyard King, Maureen Groppe and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

Bernie Sanders wins New Hampshire, while Buttigieg, Klobuchar finishes are keeping the field muddled
Show Caption Hide Caption New Hampshire: Sanders victorious, Yang and Bennet bow out Bernie Sanders beats out Pete Buttigieg to win the New Hampshire primary. Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet drop out of the race. USA TODAY
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders edged former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday, a closer-than-expected finish that leaves the race for the Democratic presidential nomination still muddled.
Sanders topped Buttigieg by about a point when the Associated Press declared him the winner just before midnight. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar came in a surprising third, a finish that built on her well-received performance at Friday's debate in New Hampshire.
That could keep the race for the Democratic nominee more unsettled than it often is after the first two contests. Five candidates have at least six national delegates, lead by Buttigieg and Sanders.
Sanders' victory was not by the 22-point margin that jolted the race against eventual nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016, when he played the role of upstart challenger.
But he didn't stumble either, winning a neighboring state over a large field after leading in almost every poll over the past two months as his rival for the progressive wing of the party – Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren – slowly faded.
“At this point of the campaign, we are taking on billionaires and we are taking on candidates who are funded by billionaires, but we are going to win because we have the agenda that speaks to the working people of this country," Sanders said to the crowd at his election night party shortly after 11 p.m.
Warren and former vice president Joe Biden ended up fourth and fifth, respectively, disappointing finishes for one-time leading candidates.
Analysis: Joe Biden insists he still has a path to the nomination. Others have trouble seeing it.
Inside Sanders' election night party
Sanders, who won by assembling a coalition on the left anchored by young voters, finished first in the state's largest cities including Manchester, Nashua and Concord. Buttigieg performed best in the southeast part of the state. They both won townships on New Hampshire's Connecticut River Valley that border Sanders' home Vermont.
Sanders arrived on stage at his election party, held in a basketball gym on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University, to chants of “Bernie! Bernie! Bernie” from supporters with John Lennon’s “Power to the People” blasting.
“It’s on to Nevada. It’s on to South Carolina,” Sanders said, concluding his brief remarks. “It’s on to win the Democratic nomination, and together, I have no doubt that we will defeat Donald Trump.”
A few hours before, loud cheers erupted from Sanders supporters when CNN showed him in first place before final results were in early Tuesday night.
The crowd, many waving “Bernie” signs, counted down, “5, 4, 3, 2, 1!” as polls closed. They burst into cheers throughout the night as votes trickled in and Sanders’ lead maintained.
“I believe in the movement, I believe in the cause and I believe it’s time to take America back by the people and for the people,” said Scott Dakota, a 55-year-old musician and composer from Keene, New Hampshire, positioned directly in front of the stage where Sanders would be speaking.
“No recent Democrat nor Republican recent candidate has made sense to me until Bernie Sanders came along,” said Dakota, a campaign volunteer who opened his house as a canvassing station. “Bernie Sanders brought me back into politics.”
2020 candidates on the issues: A voter's guide to where they stand on health care, gun control and more
'We’ve accomplished so much together': Andrew Yang ends his campaign for presidency
John Thyng, 47, of Deering, N.H., wearing a purple SEIU Local 1984 sweatshirt, said he’s hopeful Sanders’ performance in New Hampshire will “set the stage for the rest of the country.”
“He’s great for workers, working people, and we need to make a change,” Thyng said. “We need a revolution and he’s the person who’s going to help us do it.”
Standing next to Thyng, Ruth Simcox, 69, a volunteer from Bloomington, Indiana, said she’s been volunteering in New Hampshire since last Thursday, mostly helping with canvassing. She said she talked to many Sanders supporters who “after Iowa, they’re planning on this being a big night for us.”
“I think Bernie Sanders is one of the truest, honest candidates we’ve had in a long time,” Simcox said. “He’s for the people, not for the money.”
Difference between caucus and primary, explained The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But what’s the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Buttigieg, Klobuchar came close
Buttigieg was seen as needing more decisive victories in Iowa and New Hampshire to consolidate behind him the center-left Democrats who fear nominating a democratic socialist like Sanders will handicap the party in November. He did not get that Tuesday, but his continued success is stunning, considering he was a virtual unknown a year ago.
As networks called a narrow victory for Sanders, Buttigieg thanked New Hampshire for validating his campaign.
“Thanks to you,” he said, “a campaign that some say shouldn’t be here at all has shown that we are here to stay."
Klobuchar likely took some New Hampshire momentum from Buttigieg.
“Tonight is about grit,” Klobuchar told her cheering supporters as she stood in front of a large, green “Amy” sign. “And my story, like so many of yours, is one of reliance.”
About half of those surveyed in a CNN Exit Poll said the most recent debate – in which Buttigieg took much of the incoming fire – was an important factor in Tuesday’s vote.
Leaving the polls, Marilyn Muir, 88, told USA Today the debate sealed her support for Klobuchar.
“She was so determined and so honest,” said Muir, who is retired. “That’s what I felt. Up to then, I hadn’t determined who I would vote for. It was between her and Biden, but I went for her.”
What's next on the campaign trail
Sanders, 78, now heads to Nevada for that state’s Feb. 22 caucuses where he has shown strength with Latino voters. But he faces pushback from the powerful Culinary Union in Nevada, which fears Sanders’ push for Medicare for All would worsen their members’ health insurance.
A week later, on Feb. 29, is South Carolina’s turn, where Sanders could benefit if Biden is unable to marshal support among the African American voters he’s been counting on to buoy his campaign.
Biden has already pivoted to South Carolina, leaving New Hampshire Tuesday before polls closed. Instead of addressing supporters at a post-results event in Nashua, as had been previously planned, Biden spoke at a “launch party” in Columbia, S.C. Having lost in Iowa and New Hampshire, where white voters make up a disproportionate amount of the electorate, Biden is pinning his hopes on the voters in more diverse states.
“Up ‘til now, we haven’t heard from the most committee constituency in the Democratic Party, the African American community. And the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community,” he said. “So to hear all these pundits and experts, all these cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them: ‘It ain’t over, man. We’re just getting started. Our votes count too’.”
Results: Follow results from the New Hampshire Democratic primary
For the last three decades, Democrats have picked as their nominee the candidate who received the most primary support from black voters, according to Theodore Johnson, a senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice.
That could be bad news for Sanders’ closest rival, Buttigieg. He has struggled to connect with a significant share of black voters.The same is true for Klobuchar
Even before voting was completed Tuesday, Buttigieg told NBC's "Today" he was getting "the look that we now need as we will travel directly to states like Nevada, South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states that have a lot of racial diversity and where we can make that case eye-to-eye.”
The next few weeks are a grind
Biden had a five-point lead over Sanders in a Post and Courier-Change Research poll of South Carolina Democrats that was released Feb. 2. Buttigieg was fifth, polling behind Tom Steyer and Warren.
There have been no recent polls in Nevada, a tougher state to survey because of the complexities of a caucus system over a primary. But Buttigieg was likewise in fifth place, and in single digits, in polls taken there in January.
All the candidates also are looking ahead to Super Tuesday, when one-third of the pledged delegates will be divvied up. Early voting has already started in California, the state that will award the largest cache of delegates on March 3. Candidates also will have a chance to shake up the race at upcoming debates on Feb. 19 and 25.
And looming after the first four states is former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who skipped the early contests but has been spending heavily on advertising and campaign staff across the rest of the country.
Bloomberg adds to the mix another choice for Democrats uneasy about giving the nomination to Sanders. The plethora of candidates competing to be the main alternative to Sanders has made it harder for the center-left wing of the party to head off his momentum. Klobuchar’s surge to third place in New Hampshire increases the turbulence of the contest.
More: Michael Bennet ends campaign for president
Iowa failed to perform its usual winnowing of the field after the state party took days to tabulate the results of its caucuses. The campaigns of both Sanders and Buttigieg have asked for those results to be reviewed.
While Klobuchar faces significant challenges going forward, her third-place finish is a blow to Biden’s campaign. Biden has presented himself as the Democrat who would fare best against President Donald Trump in November. But his poor showing in Iowa followed by Klobuchar’s surge in New Hampshire punches a huge hole in his electability argument.
Warren will also face big questions about her viability after being bested in a state neighboring hers where the Boston media market has made her well known.
Sanders, whose campaign is fueled by small donations, has outraised the field. But he’s been outspent by Bloomberg and activist Tom Steyer who have poured millions of their own money into their campaigns.
“I don’t begrudge his wealth, but I do begrudge a billionaire thinking he can buy the election,” Sanders told NBC’s Lester Holt.


usatoday--2020-02-12--Amy Klobuchar's surprising strength and other takeaways from the New Hampshire primary

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders emerged as the winner in New Hampshire 's first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday , but former mayor Pete Buttigieg trailed closely behind .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar finished third .
“ Thank you , New Hampshire , ” Sanders told supporters .
“ Let me take this opportunity to thank the people of New Hampshire for a great victory tonight.
” But Sanders ' narrow victory leaves the Democratic field unsettled with no clear frontrunner .
The Vermont senator had been heavily favored to win the state where he trounced Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 by more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading up to Tuesday 's primary , Sanders had a comfortable lead in state polling by nearly 7 percentage points , according to an average by Real Clear Politics .
Sanders also had a home-field advantage , as he is the senator of neighboring Vermont and has also campaigned in the Granite State before .
Although Sanders will gain momentum from his win , it 's not enough to allow him to break away from the pack .
Sanders ' first place finish in New Hampshire comes days after he finished in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Iowa Democratic party said Buttigieg won the most pledged delegates , though Sanders won a slightly larger share of the popular votes Buttigieg faces challenges in the next two Democratic contests , the Nevada caucus on Feb. 22 and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29 .
The two states are much more diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire and Buttigieg has struggled to gain support from black and Latino voters .
Here are some of the top takeaways from New Hampshire 's primary .
Klobuchar is having a moment .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.S. senator from Minnesota had finished in fifth place in Iowa .
But in New Hampshire , she bested Sen. Elizabeth Warren – who had advantages in the Granite State , which neighbors Warren 's home state of Massachusetts .
More : Sanders , Buttigieg , Klobuchar leading New Hampshire primary field as two candidates drop out '' Thank you New Hampshire .
We love you New Hampshire , '' Klobuchar told her supporters at her campaign headquarters in Concord , N.H. `` My heart is full tonight .
While there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have beaten the odds every step of the way . ''
Klobuchar rose to the third spot in polling just a day before the primary , boosted by her strong debate performance on Friday in New Hampshire .
Nearly half of voters in the state said they made up their mind on who they were going to vote for in the last couple of days leading up to the primary .
Klobuchar has cast herself as a centrist alternative to progressives such as Sanders and Warren .
`` I do not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I do n't have the biggest bank account , '' she said in her closing statement at the debate .
`` I 'm not a political newcomer with no record , but I have a record of fighting for people ...
I 'm asking you to believe that someone who totally believes in America can win this , because if you are tired of the extremes in our politics and the noise and the nonsense , you have a home with me . ''
Klobuchar 's strong finish could help bring in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nevada caucus on Feb. 22 and South Carolina 's primary on Feb. 29 .
Klobuchar is standing in the lower single digits in both those states , according to an average of polling from Real Clear Politics .
The Minnesota senator , who has touted her Midwestern roots , has struggled to gain traction with black and Latino voters .
According to a January Washington Post/Ipsos poll , Klobuchar is at 0 % with black voters nationally .
The next hurdle for Klobuchar is to see if she can maintain that energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The acceleration of this race is hard to capture , ” David Plouffe , the 2008 campaign manager for Barack Obama , said on MSNBC .
“ She ’ s got to now put together a national campaign overnight . ''
Klobuchar campaign manager Justin Buoen wrote on Twitter that the campaign had raised more than $ 2.5 million since the polls closed in New Hampshire .
Surveys of voters taken before polls closed in the Granite State highlighted the extent to which the race was in flux .
Nearly half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their candidate in the past few days , according to an exit poll conducted for CNN and other television networks .
In addition , about half of those surveyed said Friday ’ s debate in Manchester was an important factor in deciding their vote for president .
By a roughly 2-1 margin , voters said they are looking for a candidate who can beat President Donald Trump over one who agrees with them on the issues .
Eight in 10 of those surveyed said they were `` angry '' about the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care as the most important issue , and six in 10 said they could support a single-government plan , such as Medicare for All , a proposal touted by Sanders .
Climate change was the next most often cited issue with about 3 in 10 naming it their top concern .
The exit polls , conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool , were based on interviews conducted throughout the day with 1,947 randomly selected Democratic primary voters at 45 wards in New Hampshire .
Results for the full sample had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minus 4 percentage points .
'We ’ ve accomplished so much together ' : Andrew Yang ends his campaign for presidency Former Vice President Joe Biden placed fifth in New Hampshire , behind Warren , a showing that raised new doubts about his viability .
He came in fourth in Iowa .
Long seen as the Democratic frontrunner , Biden has seen is national poll numbers plummet following his Iowa loss .
Biden did n't stick around to await the New Hampshire results .
He headed instead to South Carolina , a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters where he has been leading in the polls .
Over the past several days , Biden and his campaign had sought to lower expectations in New Hampshire and Iowa .
They have argued that the two states , which are overwhelmingly white , are not representative of the broader Democratic electorate .
Biden is polling at 31 % in South Carolina , according to an average of surveys from Real Clear Politics .
He video chatted into his New Hampshire rally from Columbia , South Carolina as results from the primary continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak to supporters in South Carolina as results continued to come in .
He noted that `` the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party , the African American community '' and `` the fastest growing segment of society , the Latino community , '' have yet to vote .
“ So to hear all these pundits and experts , all these cable TV talkers talk about the race , tell them : ‘ it ain ’ t over , man .
We ’ re just getting started .
Our votes count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at his Columbia rally .
Biden has repeatedly argued he is the best candidate to take on Trump .
But his recent losses substantially undercut his electability argument .

Amy Klobuchar's surprising strength and other takeaways from the New Hampshire primary
Show Caption Hide Caption New Hampshire: Sanders victorious, Yang and Bennet bow out Bernie Sanders beats out Pete Buttigieg to win the New Hampshire primary. Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet drop out of the race. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders emerged as the winner in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday, but former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg trailed closely behind. Sen. Amy Klobuchar finished third.
“Thank you, New Hampshire,” Sanders told supporters. “Let me take this opportunity to thank the people of New Hampshire for a great victory tonight.”
But Sanders' narrow victory leaves the Democratic field unsettled, with no clear front-runner.
Sanders, of Vermont, had been heavily favored to win the state, where he trounced Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 by more than 20 percentage points. In the days leading up to Tuesday's primary, Sanders had a comfortable 7 percentage point lead in state polling, according to an average by RealClearPolitics.
Sanders also had the benefit of being from a neighboring state.
Although Sanders will likely gain momentum from his win, it's not enough to allow him to break away from the pack.
Sanders' first place finish comes days after he finished in the top two in the Iowa caucuses. The Iowa Democratic Party said Buttigieg won the most pledged delegates in that state, although Sanders won a slightly larger share of the popular vote.
Buttigieg faces challenges in the next two Democratic contests: the Nevada caucus on Feb. 22 and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29. The two states are much more diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire, and Buttigieg has struggled to gain support from black and Latino voters.
Here are some of the top takeaways from New Hampshire's primary.
'Klomentum'
Klobuchar is having a moment. At least, she did in New Hampshire. Klobuchar, of Minnesota, had finished in fifth in Iowa. But in New Hampshire, she bested Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who had the benefit of being from neighboring Massachusetts.
More: Sanders, Buttigieg, Klobuchar leading New Hampshire primary field as two candidates drop out
"Thank you, New Hampshire. We love you, New Hampshire," Klobuchar told her supporters at her campaign headquarters in Concord, New Hampshire. "My heart is full tonight. While there are still ballots left to count, we have beaten the odds every step of the way."
Klobuchar rose to the third spot in polling just a day before the primary, boosted by her strong debate performance Friday. Nearly half of voters said they made up their minds about who they were going to vote for in the final days leading up to the primary.
Klobuchar has cast herself as a centrist alternative to progressives such as Sanders and Warren.
"I do not have the biggest name up on this stage; I don't have the biggest bank account," she said in her closing statement at the debate. "I'm not a political newcomer with no record, but I have a record of fighting for people... I'm asking you to believe that someone who totally believes in America can win this, because if you are tired of the extremes in our politics and the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me."
Klobuchar's strong finish could help bring in needed money as she looks toward Nevada and South Carolina. Klobuchar is polling in the low single digits in both states, according to an average from RealClearPolitics.
Klobuchar, who has touted her Midwestern roots, has struggled to gain traction with black and Latino voters. According to a January Washington Post/Ipsos poll, Klobuchar is at 0% with black voters nationally.
The next hurdle for Klobuchar is to see whether she can maintain momentum as the race moves to more diverse states.
“The acceleration of this race is hard to capture,” David Plouffe, the 2008 campaign manager for Barack Obama, said on MSNBC. “She’s got to now put together a national campaign overnight."
Klobuchar campaign manager Justin Buoen wrote on Twitter that the campaign had raised more than $2.5 million since the polls closed in New Hampshire.
Exit polls
Surveys of voters taken before polls closed in New Hampshire highlighted the extent to which the race was in flux.
Nearly half of those surveyed said they decided on their candidate in the past few days, according to an exit poll conducted for CNN and other television networks.
In addition, about half of those surveyed said Friday’s debate in Manchester was an important factor in deciding their vote for president.
By a roughly 2-to-1 margin, voters said they were looking for a candidate who could beat President Donald Trump over one who agrees with them on the issues. Eight in 10 of those surveyed said they were "angry" about the Trump administration.
About four in 10 cited health care as the most important issue, and six in 10 said they could support a single-government plan, such as Medicare for All, a proposal touted by Sanders. Climate change was the next most cited issue, with about 3 in 10 naming it their top concern.
The exit polls, conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool, were based on interviews conducted throughout the day, with 1,947 randomly selected Democratic primary voters at 45 wards in New Hampshire. Results for the full sample had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
'We’ve accomplished so much together': Andrew Yang ends his campaign for presidency
Difference between caucus and primary, explained The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But what’s the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Joe Biden
Former Vice President Joe Biden placed fifth in New Hampshire, behind Warren, a showing that raised new doubts about his viability. He came in fourth in Iowa.
Long seen as the Democratic front-runner, Biden has seen his national poll numbers plummet following his Iowa loss.
Biden didn't stick around for the New Hampshire results. He headed instead to South Carolina, a state with a large proportion of African American voters and where he has been leading in the polls. Over the past several days, Biden and his campaign had sought to lower expectations about New Hampshire and Iowa. They have argued that the two states, which are overwhelmingly white, are not representative of the broader Democratic electorate.
Biden is polling at 31% in South Carolina, according to an average of surveys from RealClearPolitics. He video chatted into his New Hampshire rally from Columbia, South Carolina, as results from the primary continued to roll in.
Biden went on to speak to supporters in South Carolina. He noted that "the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party, the African American community" and "the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community," have yet to vote.
“So to hear all these pundits and experts, all these cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them: ‘It ain’t over, man. We’re just getting started. Our votes count, too,'" he told voters at his Columbia rally.
Biden has repeatedly argued that he is the best candidate to take on Trump. But his recent losses substantially undercut his electability argument.
Contributing: Ledyard King, Nicholas Wu and Maureen Groppe


usatoday--2020-02-12--Donald Trump mocks 'Impeachment King Steyer' and other Democrats after New Hampshire primary

WASHINGTON – With all eyes on New Hampshire , what is the leader of the free world supposed to do ?
If you ’ re Donald Trump , you take to Twitter and offer rolling color commentary on the Democratic field as results roll in from the first-in-the-nation presidential primary .
“ A lot of Democrat dropouts tonight , very low political I.Q.
, ” Trump wrote after entrepreneur Andrew Yang and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet ended their presidential campaigns following a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary .
Trump tore into one of his favorite targets – Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats to unite as she headed for a disappointing fourth-place finish .
“ Elizabeth Warren , sometimes referred to as Pocahontas , is having a really bad night , ” he tweeted .
“ I think she is sending signals that she wants out .
Calling for unity is her way of getting there , going home , and having a ‘ nice cold beer ’ with her husband !
” Trump ripped businessman Tom Steyer , who before jumping into the Democratic primary founded and pumped millions of dollars into a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With more than two-thirds of the vote reported , Steyer appeared headed for a distant sixth-place finish .
“ Impeachment King Steyer ( how did that work out ? )
spent 200 Million Dollars and got less than 1 % of the vote in Iowa , and only 3 % of the Vote in New Hampshire , ” Trump gloated .
“ Could it be that something is just plain missing ?
Not easy to do what I did , is it ?
” Trump mocked former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Bootedgeedge ( Buttigieg ) is doing pretty well tonight , '' Trump said of the Democrat , who appeared headed for a second-place finish behind Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
`` Giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money .
Very interesting ! ''
Trump even went after former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , who wasn ’ t on the New Hampshire ballot .
“ A very bad night for Mini Mike !
” he tweeted .
Just a few hours earlier , Trump branded Bloomberg a “ lightweight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic nomination , and said he ’ d rather run against him than Sanders in November .
“ Sanders has real followers , ” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office “ Whether you like him or not , whether you agree with him or not – I happen to think it ’ s terrible what he says – he has followers .
Bloomberg is just buying his way in.
” Michael Collins covers the White House .
Reach him on Twitter @ mcollinsNEWS .

Donald Trump mocks 'Impeachment King Steyer' and other Democrats after New Hampshire primary
Show Caption Hide Caption Warren says her campaign is just getting started Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has addressed her New Hampshire supporters without waiting for results in the state's first-in-the-nation primary. Warren told supporters "we're just getting started." (Feb. 11) AP
WASHINGTON – With all eyes on New Hampshire, what is the leader of the free world supposed to do?
If you’re Donald Trump, you take to Twitter and offer rolling color commentary on the Democratic field as results roll in from the first-in-the-nation presidential primary.
“A lot of Democrat dropouts tonight, very low political I.Q.,” Trump wrote after entrepreneur Andrew Yang and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet ended their presidential campaigns following a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary.
Trump tore into one of his favorite targets – Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who called for Democrats to unite as she headed for a disappointing fourth-place finish.
“Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is having a really bad night,” he tweeted. “I think she is sending signals that she wants out. Calling for unity is her way of getting there, going home, and having a ‘nice cold beer’ with her husband!”
Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is having a really bad night. I think she is sending signals that she wants out. Calling for unity is her way of getting there, going home, and having a “nice cold beer” with her husband! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020
Trump ripped businessman Tom Steyer, who before jumping into the Democratic primary founded and pumped millions of dollars into a group calling for Trump to be impeached.
With more than two-thirds of the vote reported, Steyer appeared headed for a distant sixth-place finish.
“Impeachment King Steyer (how did that work out?) spent 200 Million Dollars and got less than 1% of the vote in Iowa, and only 3% of the Vote in New Hampshire,” Trump gloated. “Could it be that something is just plain missing? Not easy to do what I did, is it?”
Impeachment King Steyer (how did that work out?) spent 200 Million Dollars and got less than 1% of the vote in Iowa, and only 3% of the Vote in New Hampshire. Could it be that something is just plain missing? Not easy to do what I did, is it? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020
Trump mocked former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg's difficult-to-pronounce last name.
"Bootedgeedge (Buttigieg) is doing pretty well tonight," Trump said of the Democrat, who appeared headed for a second-place finish behind Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. "Giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money. Very interesting!"
Trump even went after former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who wasn’t on the New Hampshire ballot.
“A very bad night for Mini Mike!” he tweeted.
Just a few hours earlier, Trump branded Bloomberg a “lightweight,” accused him of trying to buy the Democratic nomination, and said he’d rather run against him than Sanders in November.
“Sanders has real followers,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office “Whether you like him or not, whether you agree with him or not – I happen to think it’s terrible what he says – he has followers. Bloomberg is just buying his way in.”
Michael Collins covers the White House. Reach him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.


usatoday--2020-02-12--Analysis: Joe Biden insists he still has a path to the nomination. Others have trouble seeing it.

Joe Biden insists he still has a path to the presidential nomination .
Others are having trouble seeing it .
The former vice president was viewed as the field 's frontrunner until voters started casting ballots .
Now a disappointing fourth-place finish in the opening Iowa caucuses last week was followed by a disastrous fifth-place finish in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday .
The collapse of his support into single digits will not only make raising money and rallying supporters more difficult .
It also raises questions about whether his campaign can survive until the Super Tuesday contests now three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over , man ; we 're just getting started , '' Biden told a campaign crowd in Charleston , S.C. , where he headed instead of staying in New Hampshire .
He struck a deliberately upbeat tone , emphasizing his commitment to African American and Latino concerns and noting the lack of racial diversity in the two states that had voted so far .
`` Where I come from that 's the opening bell , not the closing bell , and the fight to end Donald Trump 's presidency is just beginning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Biden does n't score a convincing win in the Feb. 29 South Carolina primary – not impossible , but a challenge – his third bid for the presidency could be effectively over , and with it a career in elective office that has spanned six decades .
‘ I 'll probably take a hit here ' : Biden faces big test in New Hampshire Meanwhile , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was riding high after carrying the popular vote in Iowa ( although not the delegate count ) and winning New Hampshire , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landslide over Hillary Clinton four years ago .
Former South Bend , Ind.
, mayor Pete Buttigieg was a solid second , and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar parlayed a strong showing in the candidate debates into a surprising third-place finish .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was a distant fourth , and Biden finished even lower .
In modern times , no candidate in either party has been nominated for president after a start as faltering as that .
All but one of the eventual nominees won either in Iowa or New Hampshire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Iowa was n't contested and Bill Clinton sold his second-place finish in New Hampshire as a victory by the `` comeback kid . ''
) This time , Biden 's calculation is that the Democratic race is so unsettled – and Sanders , a self-described democratic socialist , would be such a risky nominee – that history 's lessons wo n't apply .
Registered to vote ?
Check your status here A month ago he led the field in New Hampshire , according to the RealClearPolitics average of statewide polls .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistake but because of a mediocre campaign , overtaken by newer candidates with greater vigor .
The relentless attacks by President Trump on Biden and his son , Hunter , on unfounded allegations of corrupt behavior in Ukraine did n't help .
Now Biden 's transactional appeal to voters , once his strength , is his vulnerability .
From the start , the fundamental premise of Biden 's campaign has been that he was the most electable candidate , best able to defeat Trump in November .
The problem he faces now is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to win , and he has n't , at least not yet .
The early losses already have eroded confidence in the bargain he has offered .
Before the Iowa caucuses , 44 % of those surveyed in a national Quinnipiac University Poll said Biden had the best chance of beating Trump .
In a new poll released Monday , that number had plummeted to 27 % , only a bit higher than Sanders , at 24 % .
When Biden spied two little boys squirming in the front row at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walked over with his handheld microphone to ask their names and hold out the promise of ice cream after the politics was done .
His name was Keith , the first one said .
The other ?
`` Beau . ''
Biden looked taken aback for an instant , and the crowd of several hundred people seemed to hold its collective breath .
Then he said quietly , `` I have a Beau , too , '' and moved back to center stage .
Just about everybody in the Rex Theater knew that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a malignant brain tumor had prevented his grieving father from running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 .
Now , four years later , Joe Biden 's bid for the White House has taken on almost an elegiac air .
He has been dubbed `` Uncle Joe , '' with the familiarity and , perhaps , the eye-rolling exasperation that nickname suggests .
Voters say they like him and respect his service , but some see him as a figure from a different era , shaped by the politics of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time has passed , '' said Camille Brown , 62 , of Nashua , N.H. , the director of admissions at a community college who attended a candidate forum in Concord , N.H. , during the campaign 's final days .
`` It 's time to pass the mantle . ''
`` Thank you for your service , '' her husband , Barry Brown , 61 , said – praise , but with a sharpened point .
Who 's running for president : An interactive guide to the candidates Candidates on the issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand on health care , gun control and more Biden was 29 years old when he was elected to the U.S. Senate from Delaware in 1972 , for the first of six terms .
Now he is 77 , in good health but looking his age .
He does fewer campaign events on an average day than Sanders , who is 78 , and he does n't display the fist-pumping energy of Warren , who is 70 .
Klobuchar is 59 , and Buttigieg just turned 38 – younger than any of Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former four-term New Hampshire governor and Biden supporter , said he had been surprised by Biden 's decline but acknowledged Buttigieg 's appeal .
`` He 's a new face , and not from Washington , '' Lynch said as he waited for Biden to arrive at the Manchester rally .
`` Oftentimes people are attracted to somebody new . ''
Facing the prospect of a bad night in New Hampshire , Biden decided to get out of town , ditching announced plans to attend a `` victory party '' in Nashua and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event featuring Rep. Cedric Richmond ( D-La . )
, co-chairman of his campaign .
On Friday and Saturday , Biden is scheduled to campaign in Nevada , which holds its caucuses on Feb. 22 .
Biden 's strategists have long described the South Carolina primary as his firewall , noting his strength among more racially diverse electorates .
But the dynamics from one contest ripple through the others .
Just ask Hillary Clinton , who saw her lead in South Carolina evaporate once Obama won in Iowa in 2008 .
She ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary .
The most worrisome trend for Biden in the poll may well have been the slide in his support among black voters , although the sample size was small .
Biden 's standing with African Americans dropped to 27 % from 49 % in a poll last month .
Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg was close behind at 22 % , and Sanders was at 19 % .
Biden 's appeal to black voters has been based in part on his association with Obama , but he is n't the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic president .
Warren has been airing an ad that shows Obama praising her work on consumer protection issues , and Bloomberg is running a spot that shows Obama praising him for `` pragmatic solutions '' on education and gun violence .
After South Carolina 's primary , on the last Saturday of the month , the calendar is unforgiving .
Three days later is Super Tuesday , a behemoth of a primary day with contests in California and Texas and a dozen other states .
By then , the campaign imperative shifts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of dollars to air TV ads .
Millions of dollars is precisely what Bloomberg has , a billionaire willing to invest an unprecedented amount of his own fortune in the campaign .
He has been outspending the rest of the field , combined .
The Republican-turned-Democrat skipped the first four contests with plans to jump in on Super Tuesday March 3 .
He pitches himself as a pragmatic centrist – as does Biden – and his strategy counts on Biden stumbling out of the way .
At the moment , that seems @ @ @ @ @

Analysis: Joe Biden insists he has a path to the nomination, but others have trouble seeing it
Show Caption Hide Caption New Hampshire: Sanders victorious, Yang and Bennet bow out Bernie Sanders beats out Pete Buttigieg to win the New Hampshire primary. Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet drop out of the race. USA TODAY
Joe Biden insists he has a path to the presidential nomination. Others are having trouble seeing it.
The former vice president was the field's front-runner until voters started casting ballots. A disappointing fourth-place finish in the opening Iowa caucuses last week was followed by a disastrous fifth-place finish in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday. The collapse of his support into single digits will not only make raising money and rallying supporters more difficult, it also raises questions about whether his campaign can survive until the Super Tuesday contests three weeks away.
"It ain't over, man; we're just getting started," Biden told a campaign crowd in Charleston, South Carolina, where he headed instead of staying in New Hampshire. He struck a deliberately upbeat tone, emphasizing his commitment to African American and Latino concerns and noting the lack of racial diversity in the two states that have voted. "Where I come from, that's the opening bell, not the closing bell, and the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning, just beginning."
That said, if Biden doesn't score a convincing win in the South Carolina primary Feb. 29 – not impossible but a challenge – his third bid for the presidency could be effectively over, and with it a career in elective office that spanned six decades.
‘I'll probably take a hit here': Biden faces big test in New Hampshire
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was riding high after carrying the popular vote in Iowa (although not the delegate count) and winning New Hampshire (although with a smaller margin than his landslide over Hillary Clinton four years ago). Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg was a solid second, and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar parlayed a strong showing in the candidate debates into a surprising third-place finish. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was a distant fourth, and Biden finished even lower.
In modern times, no candidate in either party has been nominated for president after a start as faltering as that. All but one of the nominees won either in Iowa or New Hampshire. (The exception was in 1992, when Iowa wasn't contested and Bill Clinton sold his second-place finish in New Hampshire as a victory by the "comeback kid.")
This time, Biden's calculation is that the Democratic race is so unsettled – and Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, would be such a risky nominee – that history's lessons won't apply.
Registered to vote? Check your status here
A month ago, he led the field in New Hampshire, according to the RealClearPolitics average of statewide polls. That standing evaporated not because of a spectacular mistake but because of a mediocre campaign, overtaken by newer candidates with greater vigor. The relentless attacks by President Donald Trump on Biden and his son Hunter on unproven allegations of corrupt behavior in Ukraine didn't help.
Biden's transactional appeal to voters, once his strength, is his vulnerability.
From the start, the fundamental premise of Biden's campaign has been that he was the most electable candidate, best able to defeat Trump in November. The problem is that the way to demonstrate electability is to win, and he hasn't, at least not yet.
The early losses have eroded confidence in the bargain he offered. Before the Iowa caucuses, 44% of those surveyed in a national Quinnipiac University Poll said Biden had the best chance of beating Trump. In a poll released Monday, that number plummeted to 27%, only a bit higher than Sanders, at 24%.
'I have a Beau, too'
When Biden spied two little boys squirming in the front row at a rally in downtown Manchester, he walked over with his handheld microphone to ask their names and hold out the promise of ice cream after the politics was done. One boy said his name was Keith. The other? "Beau."
Biden looked taken aback for an instant, and the crowd of several hundred people seemed to hold its collective breath. Then he said quietly, "I have a Beau, too" and moved back to center stage.
Just about everybody in the Rex Theater knew that the death of Beau Biden in 2015 from a malignant brain tumor prevented his grieving father from running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016. Four years later, Joe Biden's bid for the White House has taken on almost an elegiac air.
He has been dubbed "Uncle Joe," a nickname that suggests familiarity and perhaps eye-rolling exasperation. Voters say they like him and respect his service, but some see him as a figure from a different era, shaped by the politics of the past.
"It just seems his time has passed," said Camille Brown, 62, of Nashua, New Hampshire, the director of admissions at a community college who attended a candidate forum in Concord. "It's time to pass the mantle."
"Thank you for your service," her husband, Barry, 61, said – praise but with a sharpened point.
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Biden was 29 years old when he was elected to the U.S. Senate from Delaware in 1972, for the first of six terms. Now he is 77, in good health but looking his age. He does fewer campaign events on an average day than Sanders, who is 78, and he doesn't display the fist-pumping energy of Warren, who is 70.
Klobuchar is 59, and Buttigieg just turned 38 – younger than any of Biden's children.
John Lynch, a former four-term New Hampshire governor and Biden supporter, said he was surprised by Biden's decline and acknowledged Buttigieg's appeal. "He's a new face and not from Washington," Lynch said as he waited for Biden to arrive at the Manchester rally. "Oftentimes people are attracted to somebody new."
The Obama primary
Facing the prospect of a bad night in New Hampshire, Biden decided to get out of town, ditching announced plans to attend a "victory party" in Nashua and heading to South Carolina for an event featuring Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., co-chairman of his campaign. Friday and Saturday, Biden is scheduled to campaign in Nevada, which will hold its caucuses Feb. 22.
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Biden's strategists have long described the South Carolina primary as his firewall, noting his strength among more racially diverse electorates. But the dynamics from one contest ripple through the others. Just ask Hillary Clinton, who saw her lead in South Carolina evaporate once Barack Obama won in Iowa in 2008. She ended up being swamped in the state's primary.
The most worrisome trend for Biden in the poll may have been the slide in his support among black voters, although the sample size was small. Biden's standing with African Americans dropped to 27% from 49% in a poll last month. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was close behind at 22%, and Sanders was at 19%.
Biden's appeal to black voters has been based in part on his association with Obama, but he isn't the only candidate touting his ties to the last Democratic president. Warren aired an ad that shows Obama praising her work on consumer protection issues, and Bloomberg runs a spot that shows Obama praising him for "pragmatic solutions" on education and gun violence.
After South Carolina's primary, on the last Saturday of the month, the calendar is unforgiving. Three days later is Super Tuesday, a behemoth of a primary day with contests in California and Texas and a dozen other states. By then, the campaign imperative shifts from greeting voters at diners to spending millions of dollars to air TV ads.
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Millions of dollars is what Bloomberg has; the billionaire is willing to invest an unprecedented amount of his own fortune in the campaign. He has outspent the rest of the field combined. The Republican-turned-Democrat skipped the first four contests, planning to jump in on Super Tuesday March 3. He pitches himself as a pragmatic centrist – as does Biden – and his strategy counts on Biden stumbling out of the way.
At the moment, that seems like a reasonable bet.