freebeacon--2020-02-11--In New Hampshire, Winner Takes Second

In New Hampshire, Winner Takes Second

It is unlikely to matter much who wins Tuesday 's New Hampshire primary ; the real drama will be in who loses , and by how much .
Granite Staters have been at the polls since seven o'clock Tuesday morning and will be voting throughout the day , wrapping up around 8 p.m. Democrats are vying for 24 delegates , which will be distributed proportionally among candidates who get votes in excess of 15 percent .
( President Donald Trump is also expected to crush his only big-name opponent , former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld , in the GOP primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iowa , New Hampshire is an opportunity for Democrats to bring some much-needed clarity to the race .
The collapse of Joe Biden has made Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) the sudden presumptive nominee , as a more fractured field proves less adept at shutting him out than 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton .
The real drama of New Hampshire wo n't be in who wins—Sanders is the clear favorite .
Rather , those watching Tuesday night should be looking to see who takes second , and if he or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consolidate the `` moderate '' wing of the party after Biden 's collapse .
Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( Minn. ) both have a chance to break through and block Bernie ; the fates of Biden , and particularly Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( Mass . )
, meanwhile , turn on their rivals not getting too far ahead .
Sanders has everything working in his favor Tuesday evening : a dispositive lead in the polls , the predominantly white demographics of the state , and his not-quite-home-field advantage .
He won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points in the 2016 primary .
While he is unlikely to repeat that feat in a larger field , field size may play to his advantage , helping to keep others below the 15 percent threshold to share in delegate allocation .
A Sanders victory in New Hampshire was expected before his near-win in Iowa ( the final results of which remain unclear as of Tuesday morning ) .
As such , the bigger deal is whether Sanders fails to take the plurality of votes .
After Biden 's collapse in Iowa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status bolstered by polls released Monday and Tuesday that showed him leading the national vote for the first time .
If he somehow fails to win a soft-pitch state like New Hampshire , he is unlikely to fare well in other states that play less to his strengths .
The more interesting question for election watchers Tuesday night , however , is if anyone can consolidate the `` anyone but Bernie '' vote still in search of a champion .
The man to beat is former mayor Pete Buttigieg , who may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in second in two New Hampshire polls over the weekend .
In both surveys , Buttigieg is the only other candidate to clear the 15 percent threshold , meaning he would split delegates with Sanders .
The underlying data indicate that the former mayor is likely to perform best in southern New Hampshire , especially around Manchester , and could outcompete Sanders among voters over 65 .
That could make Pete the favorite of `` moderate '' voters going forward—although , given his platform , `` moderate '' may just mean `` slightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' At the same time , Buttigieg almost certainly benefits from demographics in the same way that Sanders does .
His support is largely composed of college-educated whites , while he persistently struggles with the party 's African-American base .
A Buttigieg second-place in New Hampshire could only go so far toward consolidation , given that he is projected to do poorly in more-diverse Nevada and South Carolina .
That means that other `` moderate '' Democrats stand to gain from a strong second or third-place finish .
Klobuchar , whose candidacy up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New York Times and almost no one else , appears to have received a bump from her performance in Friday night 's debate .
Both of this weekend 's polls show her up to 14 percent—shy of the threshold to win delegates , but enough to beat out Biden and Warren .
Klobuchar also took the lead among the 27 New Hampshire voters in the three tiny northern towns that traditionally vote just after midnight .
Those early votes rarely predict the winner , but maybe New Hampshire will finally prove the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get nearly as much traction as that of the mayor of the fourth-largest city in Indiana .
While Klobuchar could call a third-place finish a win , both Warren and Biden are likely to face another blow to their expectations .
Polling suggests neither will clear the 15-percent hurdle , meaning their delegate totals will stay at eight for Warren and six for Biden .
That would put them well behind Sanders and Buttigieg , and possibly tied with Klobuchar if she outperforms and goes over the delegate threshold .
That bodes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same regional advantage as Sanders , but her campaign lost all momentum after a disastrous Medicare for All plan rollout , leaving the primary 's progressive wing almost entirely to the Vermont senator .
Biden—who was expected to walk Jeb-Bush-like into the nomination—is faltering , and has laid all of his chips on the African-American stronghold of South Carolina .
Even there , however , one recent poll shows Sanders closing the gap .
One other specter looms over Tuesday 's competition for the moderate lane—former mayor of New York , Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ballot .
He technically won the tiny town of Dixville 's Notch , N.H. , just after midnight , with three of its five eligible voters writing him in .
The more than $ 2 million in ad spending that he dropped on the Granite State may help him deny other contenders votes through similar write-ins .
That would indicate he is a serious contender come Super Tuesday , where he has already spent seven-figure sums in several states .
What all of this means is that while the real action in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is unlikely to shake out a consensus moderate .
Buttigieg can claim victory , while Klobuchar claims momentum .
Biden will likely hold on at least through South Carolina , while Bloomberg has not even gotten started .
The scalp Sanders may be hoping for most is Warren , whose supporters would flock to him if she dropped out .
In fact , the continued disarray to his right means that Sanders might now be strolling to the nomination .
That raises another question , which only November can answer : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's foremost socialist ?

It is unlikely to matter much who wins Tuesday's New Hampshire primary; the real drama will be in who loses, and by how much.
Granite Staters have been at the polls since seven o'clock Tuesday morning and will be voting throughout the day, wrapping up around 8 p.m. Democrats are vying for 24 delegates, which will be distributed proportionally among candidates who get votes in excess of 15 percent. (President Donald Trump is also expected to crush his only big-name opponent, former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, in the GOP primary.)
After last week's disaster in Iowa, New Hampshire is an opportunity for Democrats to bring some much-needed clarity to the race. The collapse of Joe Biden has made Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) the sudden presumptive nominee, as a more fractured field proves less adept at shutting him out than 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton.
The real drama of New Hampshire won't be in who wins—Sanders is the clear favorite. Rather, those watching Tuesday night should be looking to see who takes second, and if he or she can do so definitively enough to consolidate the "moderate" wing of the party after Biden's collapse. Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) both have a chance to break through and block Bernie; the fates of Biden, and particularly Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), meanwhile, turn on their rivals not getting too far ahead.
Sanders has everything working in his favor Tuesday evening: a dispositive lead in the polls, the predominantly white demographics of the state, and his not-quite-home-field advantage. He won New Hampshire by more than 20 percentage points in the 2016 primary. While he is unlikely to repeat that feat in a larger field, field size may play to his advantage, helping to keep others below the 15 percent threshold to share in delegate allocation.
A Sanders victory in New Hampshire was expected before his near-win in Iowa (the final results of which remain unclear as of Tuesday morning). As such, the bigger deal is whether Sanders fails to take the plurality of votes. After Biden's collapse in Iowa, Sanders is the national frontrunner, a status bolstered by polls released Monday and Tuesday that showed him leading the national vote for the first time. If he somehow fails to win a soft-pitch state like New Hampshire, he is unlikely to fare well in other states that play less to his strengths.
The more interesting question for election watchers Tuesday night, however, is if anyone can consolidate the "anyone but Bernie" vote still in search of a champion. The man to beat is former mayor Pete Buttigieg, who may have bested Bernie in Iowa and who came in second in two New Hampshire polls over the weekend.
In both surveys, Buttigieg is the only other candidate to clear the 15 percent threshold, meaning he would split delegates with Sanders. The underlying data indicate that the former mayor is likely to perform best in southern New Hampshire, especially around Manchester, and could outcompete Sanders among voters over 65. That could make Pete the favorite of "moderate" voters going forward—although, given his platform, "moderate" may just mean "slightly to the right of the socialist."
At the same time, Buttigieg almost certainly benefits from demographics in the same way that Sanders does. His support is largely composed of college-educated whites, while he persistently struggles with the party's African-American base. A Buttigieg second-place in New Hampshire could only go so far toward consolidation, given that he is projected to do poorly in more-diverse Nevada and South Carolina.
That means that other "moderate" Democrats stand to gain from a strong second or third-place finish. Klobuchar, whose candidacy up until this point has been backed by the New York Times and almost no one else, appears to have received a bump from her performance in Friday night's debate. Both of this weekend's polls show her up to 14 percent—shy of the threshold to win delegates, but enough to beat out Biden and Warren.
Klobuchar also took the lead among the 27 New Hampshire voters in the three tiny northern towns that traditionally vote just after midnight. Those early votes rarely predict the winner, but maybe New Hampshire will finally prove the breakthrough for a campaign that has struggled to get nearly as much traction as that of the mayor of the fourth-largest city in Indiana.
While Klobuchar could call a third-place finish a win, both Warren and Biden are likely to face another blow to their expectations. Polling suggests neither will clear the 15-percent hurdle, meaning their delegate totals will stay at eight for Warren and six for Biden. That would put them well behind Sanders and Buttigieg, and possibly tied with Klobuchar if she outperforms and goes over the delegate threshold.
That bodes poorly for both contenders. Warren has the same regional advantage as Sanders, but her campaign lost all momentum after a disastrous Medicare for All plan rollout, leaving the primary's progressive wing almost entirely to the Vermont senator. Biden—who was expected to walk Jeb-Bush-like into the nomination—is faltering, and has laid all of his chips on the African-American stronghold of South Carolina. Even there, however, one recent poll shows Sanders closing the gap.
One other specter looms over Tuesday's competition for the moderate lane—former mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, who isn't even on the ballot. He technically won the tiny town of Dixville's Notch, N.H., just after midnight, with three of its five eligible voters writing him in. The more than $2 million in ad spending that he dropped on the Granite State may help him deny other contenders votes through similar write-ins. That would indicate he is a serious contender come Super Tuesday, where he has already spent seven-figure sums in several states.
What all of this means is that while the real action in New Hampshire will be for second place, it is unlikely to shake out a consensus moderate. Buttigieg can claim victory, while Klobuchar claims momentum. Biden will likely hold on at least through South Carolina, while Bloomberg has not even gotten started.
The scalp Sanders may be hoping for most is Warren, whose supporters would flock to him if she dropped out. In fact, the continued disarray to his right means that Sanders might now be strolling to the nomination. That raises another question, which only November can answer: Are Democrats ready to vote for America's foremost socialist?


freebeacon--2020-02-11--Anti-Corruption Warren Stumping in NH with Dem Rep Still Under Investigation

Joining Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's ( D. , Mass . )
team as she stumps across New Hampshire pledging to eliminate corruption from Washington is campaign surrogate Lori Trahan , a first-term Massachusetts congresswoman under investigation for violating campaign finance law .
Warren 's plans to battle Washington corruption are central to her 2020 candidacy , making Trahan a potentially problematic surrogate after Office of Congressional Ethics investigators discovered `` substantial reason to believe '' Trahan committed a violation in 2018 .
The House Ethics Committee announced in December it would investigate the matter further .
Warren 's pitch to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country has incorporated battling corruption and side-dealing in Washington that benefits the powerful and well-connected .
She also swore off big-dollar fundraising events during the primary and recently pledged not to do them during the general election if she wins the nomination .
`` Here ’ s the good news : I have the biggest anti-corruption plan since Watergate , '' Warren said at a town hall in Derry last week .
`` Here ’ s the bad news : we need the biggest anti-corruption plan since Watergate . ''
Trahan endorsed Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has helped with New Hampshire canvassing efforts , joining Sen. Ed Markey ( D. , Mass . )
and other Massachusetts lawmakers backing Warren .
Trahan faces accusations of skirting campaign finance laws that could have boosted her to a razor-thin margin of victory in her 2018 Democratic primary .
Congressional investigators discovered Trahan 's husband David donated $ 300,000 to Trahan 's 2018 campaign .
The campaign misreported when the contributions were made to disguise the source of the transactions , the Boston Globe reported .
`` On three occasions in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her campaign committee that originated from her husband ’ s personal funds , '' the Office of Congressional Ethics said in its December report .
`` While these loans do not appear to have originated from Rep. Trahan 's personal funds , the campaign committee repeatedly reported them as personal loans . ''
Federal law limited David to giving $ 5,400 to his wife for the 2017-18 election cycle , although Trahan has argued the $ 300,000 was hers because it was communal property by virtue of their prenuptial agreement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 2,557,501 Trahan raised in the race for Massachusetts 's Third Congressional District .
The Globe reported a $ 200,000 deposit from David Trahan into their joint checking account on Aug. 21 , 2018 , allowed his wife to launch a late advertising blitz ahead of that September 's Democratic primary .
She edged former Boston City Hall aide Dan Koh in a recount before going on to win the general election .
Koh cried foul after December 's report , saying Trahan owed it to the district 's voters to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her conduct during the election and the consulting clients she claims funded her campaign . ''
`` Congresswoman Trahan has been transparent about this politically motivated complaint since the very beginning , and is fully cooperating with the Ethics Committee 's review of the matter , '' Trahan spokesman Mark McDevitt told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` She remains confident that when the Committee has the opportunity to review her case , it will be resolved favorably . ''
The House Ethics Committee has not made a public statement on the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment when contacted by the Washington Free Beacon .
Warren 's campaign did not respond to request for comment .
Meanwhile , another congressional surrogate is causing a headache for Warren for a different reason .
Warren backers are fuming about Rep. Joe Kennedy III ( D. , Mass . )
, who has been almost entirely absent from Warren campaign events since introducing the senator at her campaign launch .
A scion of one of the country 's most famous political families , Kennedy has made only two campaign appearances for Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Joining Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D., Mass.) team as she stumps across New Hampshire pledging to eliminate corruption from Washington is campaign surrogate Lori Trahan, a first-term Massachusetts congresswoman under investigation for violating campaign finance law.
Warren's plans to battle Washington corruption are central to her 2020 candidacy, making Trahan a potentially problematic surrogate after Office of Congressional Ethics investigators discovered "substantial reason to believe" Trahan committed a violation in 2018. The House Ethics Committee announced in December it would investigate the matter further.
Warren's pitch to voters in New Hampshire and around the country has incorporated battling corruption and side-dealing in Washington that benefits the powerful and well-connected. She also swore off big-dollar fundraising events during the primary and recently pledged not to do them during the general election if she wins the nomination.
"Here’s the good news: I have the biggest anti-corruption plan since Watergate," Warren said at a town hall in Derry last week. "Here’s the bad news: we need the biggest anti-corruption plan since Watergate."
Trahan endorsed Warren at the presidential campaign's outset and has helped with New Hampshire canvassing efforts, joining Sen. Ed Markey (D., Mass.) and other Massachusetts lawmakers backing Warren.
https://twitter.com/LoriTrahanMA/status/1227228480141692930?s=20
Trahan faces accusations of skirting campaign finance laws that could have boosted her to a razor-thin margin of victory in her 2018 Democratic primary.
Congressional investigators discovered Trahan's husband David donated $300,000 to Trahan's 2018 campaign. The campaign misreported when the contributions were made to disguise the source of the transactions, the Boston Globe reported.
"On three occasions in 2018, Rep. Trahan may have loaned money to her campaign committee that originated from her husband’s personal funds," the Office of Congressional Ethics said in its December report. "While these loans do not appear to have originated from Rep. Trahan's personal funds, the campaign committee repeatedly reported them as personal loans."
Federal law limited David to giving $5,400 to his wife for the 2017-18 election cycle, although Trahan has argued the $300,000 was hers because it was communal property by virtue of their prenuptial agreement.
The $300,000 represented nearly 12 percent of the $2,557,501 Trahan raised in the race for Massachusetts's Third Congressional District.
The Globe reported a $200,000 deposit from David Trahan into their joint checking account on Aug. 21, 2018, allowed his wife to launch a late advertising blitz ahead of that September's Democratic primary. She edged former Boston City Hall aide Dan Koh in a recount before going on to win the general election.
Koh cried foul after December's report, saying Trahan owed it to the district's voters to make a "full, honest account of her conduct during the election and the consulting clients she claims funded her campaign."
"Congresswoman Trahan has been transparent about this politically motivated complaint since the very beginning, and is fully cooperating with the Ethics Committee's review of the matter," Trahan spokesman Mark McDevitt told the Washington Free Beacon. "She remains confident that when the Committee has the opportunity to review her case, it will be resolved favorably."
The House Ethics Committee has not made a public statement on the investigation since December, and it had no comment when contacted by the Washington Free Beacon.
Warren's campaign did not respond to request for comment.
Meanwhile, another congressional surrogate is causing a headache for Warren for a different reason.
Warren backers are fuming about Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D., Mass.), who has been almost entirely absent from Warren campaign events since introducing the senator at her campaign launch. A scion of one of the country's most famous political families, Kennedy has made only two campaign appearances for Warren over the last year, Politico reported.


freebeacon--2020-02-11--CNN Correspondent: Warren Is Struggling to Stay Relevant

A CNN correspondent said Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
is struggling to stay relevant in New Hampshire as primary voting is underway in the state .
`` For Elizabeth Warren , it 's been a struggle to really remain relevant , frankly .
She has had a hard time building a level of support she expected , being someone from nearby Massachusetts , '' Ryan Nobles said during a report from the state Tuesday morning .
He also said that Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) have taken different approaches to criticize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders [ is ] not afraid to go after who he right now views as his chief rival in Pete Buttigieg , hammering his donor base , suggesting that it would influence his presidency , '' Nobles said , `` while Warren , even though she 's struggling in the polls right now , continues to remain above the fray , arguing that what the Democrats need to beat Donald Trump is a unity candidate .
Even though she 's struggling at this point , she 's not trying to bring down her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders has solidified his support from the 2016 New Hampshire primary where he defeated eventual nominee Hillary Clinton .
Results from early voting in the state show Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) in the lead .
Recent polling showed Sanders leading with 29 percent support in the state .
Former South Bend , Ind.
, mayor Pete Buttigieg came in second with 22 percent support , and former vice president Joe Biden came in third with 11 percent , edging out Warren who had 10 percent .

A CNN correspondent said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) is struggling to stay relevant in New Hampshire as primary voting is underway in the state.
"For Elizabeth Warren, it's been a struggle to really remain relevant, frankly. She has had a hard time building a level of support she expected, being someone from nearby Massachusetts," Ryan Nobles said during a report from the state Tuesday morning.
He also said that Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) have taken different approaches to criticize their fellow Democratic presidential candidates.
"Sanders [is] not afraid to go after who he right now views as his chief rival in Pete Buttigieg, hammering his donor base, suggesting that it would influence his presidency," Nobles said, "while Warren, even though she's struggling in the polls right now, continues to remain above the fray, arguing that what the Democrats need to beat Donald Trump is a unity candidate. Even though she's struggling at this point, she's not trying to bring down her other opponents."
Nobles said that Sanders has solidified his support from the 2016 New Hampshire primary where he defeated eventual nominee Hillary Clinton.
Results from early voting in the state show Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) in the lead. Recent polling showed Sanders leading with 29 percent support in the state. Former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg came in second with 22 percent support, and former vice president Joe Biden came in third with 11 percent, edging out Warren who had 10 percent.


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`` RED SCARE : Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire , Takes Control of Democratic Party , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : Sanders 's strong performance , on the heels of a ( sort of ) victory in the disastrous Iowa caucus , makes him the prohibitive favorite to win the nomination of a party to which he does n't belong , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skeptical of his socialist bravado … Speaking of failed predictions , as recently as October 2019 , betting markets considered [ Elizabeth ] Warren a 52.5 percent favorite to win the Democratic nomination .
Today that number sits at just 3.8 percent .
Donald Trump , among others , took notice .
`` Elizabeth Warren , sometimes referred to as Pocahontas , is having a really bad night , '' the president tweeted .
He was n't wrong .
DO NOT RESUSCITATE … `` Biden looks to S.C. to revive faltering campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as certain , '' via WAPO : `` Black voters in South Carolina really like Joe Biden , trust Joe Biden and respect Joe Biden , '' said Steve Benjamin , the mayor of Columbia and a Bloomberg supporter .
`` But they are pragmatic and want to win and beat Trump .
If your number one argument is electability , and you can ’ t crack the top four in two or three states in a row , that ’ s a tough argument to make . ''
HE PAID RETAIL … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Them In Congress .
Now , They ’ re Endorsing Him.
, '' via HUFFPOST : In the 2018 midterms , when [ Rep. Harley ] Rouda was locked in one of the most contested elections in the country , Bloomberg spent $ 4.5 million of his vast personal fortune on ads thrumming Rouda ’ s Republican opponent .
Now , Rouda is in Congress—and one of three members who endorsed Bloomberg after a super PAC financed by Bloomberg spent millions of dollars to help elect them , records reviewed by HuffPost show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … `` Pro-Biden Super PAC Warns Of ‘ Doomsday Scenario ' For Democrats , '' via FOX NEWS : A super PAC supporting former vice president Joe Biden ’ s White House bid is urging donors to `` dig deep right now '' into their pockets and is warning that if Biden ’ s campaign collapses , Democrats could face `` a doomsday scenario '' … The memo , written by Unite the Country treasurer Larry Rasky , argues that the `` [ Bernie ] Sanders- [ Elizabeth ] Warren wing of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] Bloomberg fight .
Democrats can not afford a split Convention . ''
FROM WAR PATH TO NARROW PATH … `` Warren , In New Memo , Outlines Her Path And Rivals ’ Flaws , '' via NYT : The nearly 2,000-word memo describes a `` volatile and unpredictable '' 2020 race that they expect to remain muddled through Super Tuesday in early March and outlines her path despite a disappointing third-place finish in Iowa and [ fourth-place finish in ] New Hampshire on Tuesday … There is a long history of candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nominating calendar predicting comebacks that never materialize .
CALIFORNIA EAST … `` Virginia House Dems Pass ‘ Assault Weapons ’ Ban , Magazine Confiscation , '' by WFB ’ s Stephen Gutowski : The bill would outlaw new sales of some of the country 's most popular firearms , including the AR-15 .
It would also make possession of ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 12 rounds punishable by up to one year in prison even if the magazines were legally purchased … It is the most controversial measure Democratic lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have advanced since taking control of both houses of the state legislature in November .
SAY NO TO THAT CHICOM CASH … `` U.S. Officials Say Huawei Can Covertly Access Telecom Networks , '' via WSJ : U.S. officials say Huawei Technologies Co. can covertly access mobile-phone networks around the world through `` back doors '' designed for use by law enforcement , as Washington tries to persuade allies to exclude the Chinese company from their networks .
Intelligence shows Huawei has had this secret capability for more than a decade , U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
SCORPION MAKES PROPOSAL TO FROG … `` Afghan president says Pompeo reports progress in U.S.-Taliban talks , '' via REUTERS : In a post on Twitter , [ Afghan president Ashraf ] Ghani wrote that [ Secretary of State Mike ] Pompeo had informed him in a telephone call that the Taliban had made a proposal `` with regards to bringing a significant and enduring reduction in violence . ''
Ghani ’ s tweet indicated a possible breakthrough in talks between U.S. and Taliban negotiators , who have been deadlocked in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree to significantly reduce violence as part of any American troop withdrawal accord .
GOOGLE CENKS STREET CRED … `` Google Provides Six-Figure Sum to Liberal Outlet With History of Genocide Denial , '' by WFB ’ s Alex Griswold : Google gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Young Turks as others have distanced themselves from the progressive YouTube series over its founder 's denials of the Armenian genocide and other offensive comments … The Armenian National Committee of America ( ANCA ) , one of the leading U.S. organizations lobbying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed displeasure with Google 's decision to fund the Young Turks .
SO THIRSTY … `` MSNBC Anchors Praise Warren for Still Taking Pictures After Losing in NH , '' by WFB ’ s Cameron Cawthorne : `` This is awesome , '' anchor Rachel Maddow said .
[ Brian ] Williams said Warren was `` still at work '' as MSNBC aired live pictures of her being photographed with some supporters on a night when she will not be receiving any delegates .
`` She 's a really , really , really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace added .
JUSTICE FOR JUICY … `` Jussie Smollett Has Been Charged — Again — Over His Alleged Fake Attack , '' via BUZZFEED : Almost a year after charges were dropped against Empire star Jussie Smollett , the actor was charged once again on Tuesday in connection to the allegedly false police report he filed last year , insisting he was attacked by two men in Chicago .
Cook County special prosecutor Dan Webb , who was appointed by a judge last year to reevaluate the circumstances around the Smollett case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a grand jury with six counts of disorderly conduct for making false reports to police .
POLITICAL TERRORIST SEEKS MEDIA COVERAGE … `` Man Who Attacked Florida GOP Volunteers Told Police He Didn ’ t Like Trump , '' by WFB ’ s Brent Scher : The man who deliberately crashed his van into a Republican voter registration tent in Jacksonville admitted to authorities that he `` does not like Donald Trump , '' according to a redacted copy of the Jacksonville Sheriff 's Office report .
The driver , Gregory Timm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ram his vehicle through the Duval County Republican Party 's tent after noticing it on a trip to Walmart … The incident has only been covered a handful of times on CNN and MSNBC since it occurred Sunday , according to a Tuesday afternoon Washington Free Beacon analysis .
BITING THE HAND … `` Bloomberg Gave a Liberal Group $ 5 Million .
Its Political Director Just Called Him a ‘ True Terrorist ’ Over Stop and Frisk.
, '' by WFB ’ s Brent Scher : A top official for a liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 million donation from Michael Bloomberg recently called the billionaire Democratic presidential candidate a `` true terrorist . ''
Andre Fields is the political director for Fair Fight Action , a voting rights focused group launched by failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 3 .
Welcome back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

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MENSHEVIKS PREPARE FOR LAST STAND … "Democratic Leaders Willing to Risk Party Damage to Stop Bernie Sanders," via NYT: Since Mr. Sanders’s victory in Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, the Times has interviewed 93 party officials—all of them superdelegates … and found overwhelming opposition to handing the Vermont senator the nomination if he arrived with the most delegates but fell short of a majority …
Since Mr. Sanders won Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, four donors have approached former representative Steve Israel of New York to ask if he can suggest someone to run a super PAC aimed at blocking Mr. Sanders. He declined their offer.
THE NEW NEW DEMOCRATS … "2020 Dem Plans Reflect Party of the ‘Professional Class’," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: The [Manhattan Institute] report examines the distributive impacts of major proposals, including Medicare for All, student debt forgiveness, and the repeal of key components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). It argues that while Democratic candidates talk big about supporting workers and the poor, these programs primarily serve the interests of the wealthy …
Long branded as representatives of the working class, the Democratic Party has come to appeal primarily to the college-educated, often affluent residents of urban America, data indicate.
MIKE GOT IT DONE … "Bloomberg Locked Up Nearly Half a Million People on Marijuana Charges," by WFB’s Yuichiro Kakutani: The administrations of [Michael] Bloomberg's three predecessors … collectively arrested 226,000 people, or 25 people daily, for the same charge over a 24-year period between 1978 and 2001. During Bloomberg's tenure, approximately 471,000 people were arrested on possession charges …
The possession arrests for Bloomberg's tenure peaked in 2011 when the police hauled in more than 50,000 New Yorkers.
DOWNLOAD UNAVAILABLE IN WISCONSIN … "Coming to a podcast near you: Hillary Clinton," via POLITICO: The former first lady, secretary of State, and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee is planning to launch a new audio program in late spring, just in time for her to have a powerful new megaphone during the 2020 election …
Clinton’s show will feature her in conversation with a brand-name guest, who might be drawn from world leaders and politicians, of course, but also celebrities, authors and perhaps famous chefs.
BOOK THROWN … "Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh sentenced to 3 years for ‘Healthy Holly’ children’s book fraud scheme," via BALTIMORE SUN: [Pugh] told reporters: "This is not the last you’ll see of Catherine Pugh" …
Pugh’s political fall began in March when the Baltimore Sun revealed she had entered into a no-bid deal with the University of Maryland Medical System, where Pugh sat on the board of directors, to buy 100,000 copies of her sloppily self-published "Healthy Holly" books for $500,000.
YANG HOLDS OUT FOR BETTER OFFER … "Michael Bloomberg’s Campaign Sought Andrew Yang’s Backing, Floated Vice- Presidential Slot," via WSJ: Aides to the former New York City mayor reached out to discuss ways the two entrepreneurs-turned-politicians could work together as Mr. Bloomberg seeks the Democratic nomination, these people said.
Mr. Yang, who dropped out of the race earlier this month, didn’t commit to join forces, as he considers his own political future, a third person familiar with the discussions said.
NO SURRENDER … "Congressional Republicans Warn Trump Against Inking Peace Deal With Taliban," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: The lawmakers … are demanding they receive assurances the administration "will not place the security of the American people into the hands of the Taliban" …
The lawmakers are also demanding the release of so-called secret annexes in the draft agreement that they claim establish a set of unknown side deals with the Taliban, a move reminiscent of the Obama administration's secret agreements with Iran when the Iran nuclear deal was being negotiated.
TEHRAN MARY … "Iran Vice President Is One of 7 Officials to Contract Coronavirus," via NYT: The disclosure came a day after a cabinet meeting in which she was in close contact with other government leaders, including [Hassan] Rouhani. A photo posted by a BBC Persia reporter on Twitter showed she had been sitting a few yards from the president.
[Masoumeh] Ebtekar, one of four vice presidents, was known to Americans as "Mary" during the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, when, as a young revolutionary, she was a spokeswoman for the captors of the 52 Americans held at the United States Embassy.
PICTURE OF COWARDICE … "Sony World Photography Awards Removes Hong Kong Protest Images," via HYPERALLERGIC: Since pro-democracy protests prompted by the Hong Kong government’s now-scrapped extradition bill erupted across the city in spring 2019, China has tightened its grip on the media …
Now, some speculate WPO yielded to pressure from China to take down the photographs, especially because other entries featuring arguably graphic or politically sensitive content have not faced a similar fate in past competitions.
THE REAL VICTIMS … "Mark Halperin Says Murderers Are Treated More Fairly Than Canceled People," via MOTHER JONES: "I haven’t had a job interview in two years," Halperin said, adding that he has applied to work at restaurants and Target, trying to get health insurance for his three-year-old son …
When [asked to] differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate ways that he had been held accountable for his behavior … he said victims deserve "top priority" but complained again that there isn’t a mechanism for reintegrating canceled people.
THIS IS CNN … "Sasse Criticizes CNN for Referring to a Baby as a ‘Fetus That Was Born’," via CNN: "The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is about babies who have already been born," [Sen. Ben] Sasse said to the Washington Free Beacon. "I’m glad CNN finally made the correction, but there’s no reason this needed to take two days. Planned Parenthood desperately wants to misrepresent this bipartisan, pro-babies bill, and unfortunately too many reporters have bought their spin hook, line, and sinker."
PUNK IS DEAD … "Billy Idol is helping de Blasio take on idling cars in new campaign," via NY POST: Billy Idol has a new Rebel Yell: helping Mayor Bill de Blasio fight fume-spewing vehicles that idle on Big Apple streets …
The campaign will also publicize the city’s 2018 "Citizens Air Complaint Program," where individuals who see a bus or delivery truck idling for longer than four minutes can file a complaint and collect a 25 percent bounty off the fine, worth $87.50.
"The First Postmodern Pandemic," via WFB’s Matthew Continetti: We were better off when the media focused on impeachment. Now that it is interested in coronavirus, a familiar pattern will set in. Data will be publicized without the slightest sense of proportion. The most outrageous scenarios will receive the most attention. Speculation will be paraded as fact …
The Washington Post transcribes Democratic Party talking points when it suggests Vice President Mike Pence is incapable of overseeing the government's efforts because he opposes needle-sharing programs. Among the reasons [President Donald] Trump is said to have weakened public health? He defunded Planned Parenthood.
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-02-12--Bloomberg Gave a Liberal Group $5 Million. Its Political Director Just Called Him a ‘True Terrorist’

Bloomberg Gave a Liberal Group $5 Million. Its Political Director Just Called Him a ‘True Terrorist’ Over Stop and Frisk.

A top official for a liberal group that last year received a $ 5 million donation from Michael Bloomberg recently called the billionaire Democratic presidential candidate a `` true terrorist . ''
Andre Fields is the political director for Fair Fight Action , a voting rights focused group launched by failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams .
The $ 5 million from Bloomberg accounted for more than a third of Fair Fight 's total fundraising in the second half of last year , and he was the featured guest at the activist summit the group held last month .
Fields @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Twitter to join the droves of liberal activists reacting to an audio recording of Bloomberg defending the stop and frisk policy adopted in New York City while he was mayor .
`` Some of us know the true terrorist that he is , '' Fields wrote in a now-deleted reference to Bloomberg .
Bloomberg 's decision to mount a last-minute presidential campaign has caused Democrats to re-examine many aspects of his record , particularly as the party 's putative frontrunner , Joe Biden , appears on the brink of collapse .
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's actions as the Republican mayor of New York City , when he was a proponent of targeted policing in minority neighborhoods , a position that puts him far out of the Democratic mainstream .
Fields was stating his agreement with fellow Georgia activist Jon Leon , who threw cold water on the idea that Bloomberg was gaining traction in the Democratic primary .
The comments came in the immediate aftermath of the release of the audio recording , in which Bloomberg defends stop and frisk as sensible policy to stop murders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming almost entirely from the African-American community .
`` Bloomberg ai n't surging from anyone who was ever stopped and frisked , '' Leon wrote in a Monday night tweet that Fields retweeted and favorited .
Fields did not respond to a request for comment on Bloomberg 's funding of Fair Fight and whether he was asked to delete his tweet .
Fair Fight also did not respond to a request for comment .
Since announcing his candidacy , Bloomberg has used his massive personal fortune to flood the airwaves with political ads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has supplemented the hundreds of millions of dollars he 's spent on his presidential campaign with large contributions to liberal groups , giving $ 10 million , for example , to the liberal super PAC dedicated to defending the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives .
He has pledged to spend a sizable portion of his personal fortune to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election , whether it 's through his own campaign committee or outside groups .
His attempt to buy allies in the Democratic Party is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traction in the polls , which show him emerging as a contender .
The former mayor has tried to distance himself from his former policies , particularly on the issue of policing , but newly surfaced audio of Bloomberg defending his crime prevention strategy gave new ammunition to critics who hope to halt his presidential run .
Bloomberg in the tape defended his decision as mayor to place officers primarily in minority neighborhoods , arguing that 95 percent of murders were committed by young minorities .
`` That 's where all the crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recording .
`` And the way you get the guns out of the kids ' hands is to throw them up against the wall and frisk them . ''
Bloomberg on Tuesday reiterated his reversal on stop and frisk , saying his 2015 remarks `` do not reflect my commitment to criminal justice reform and racial equity . ''
`` I have taken responsibility for taking too long to understand the impact it had on Black and Latino communities , '' Bloomberg said in a statement .
The Bloomberg campaign did not respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was in communication with the group regarding the `` true terrorist '' remark .

A top official for a liberal group that last year received a $5 million donation from Michael Bloomberg recently called the billionaire Democratic presidential candidate a "true terrorist."
Andre Fields is the political director for Fair Fight Action, a voting rights focused group launched by failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. The $5 million from Bloomberg accounted for more than a third of Fair Fight's total fundraising in the second half of last year, and he was the featured guest at the activist summit the group held last month.
Fields on Monday night, however, took to Twitter to join the droves of liberal activists reacting to an audio recording of Bloomberg defending the stop and frisk policy adopted in New York City while he was mayor.
"Some of us know the true terrorist that he is," Fields wrote in a now-deleted reference to Bloomberg.
Bloomberg's decision to mount a last-minute presidential campaign has caused Democrats to re-examine many aspects of his record, particularly as the party's putative frontrunner, Joe Biden, appears on the brink of collapse. Of particular concern to many critics are Bloomberg's actions as the Republican mayor of New York City, when he was a proponent of targeted policing in minority neighborhoods, a position that puts him far out of the Democratic mainstream.
Fields was stating his agreement with fellow Georgia activist Jon Leon, who threw cold water on the idea that Bloomberg was gaining traction in the Democratic primary. The comments came in the immediate aftermath of the release of the audio recording, in which Bloomberg defends stop and frisk as sensible policy to stop murders in the city, which he says were coming almost entirely from the African-American community.
"Bloomberg ain't surging from anyone who was ever stopped and frisked," Leon wrote in a Monday night tweet that Fields retweeted and favorited.
Fields did not respond to a request for comment on Bloomberg's funding of Fair Fight and whether he was asked to delete his tweet. Fair Fight also did not respond to a request for comment.
Since announcing his candidacy, Bloomberg has used his massive personal fortune to flood the airwaves with political ads and bolster allies on the left. He has supplemented the hundreds of millions of dollars he's spent on his presidential campaign with large contributions to liberal groups, giving $10 million, for example, to the liberal super PAC dedicated to defending the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. He has pledged to spend a sizable portion of his personal fortune to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election, whether it's through his own campaign committee or outside groups.
His attempt to buy allies in the Democratic Party is being tested, however, as he gains traction in the polls, which show him emerging as a contender. The former mayor has tried to distance himself from his former policies, particularly on the issue of policing, but newly surfaced audio of Bloomberg defending his crime prevention strategy gave new ammunition to critics who hope to halt his presidential run.
Bloomberg in the tape defended his decision as mayor to place officers primarily in minority neighborhoods, arguing that 95 percent of murders were committed by young minorities.
"That's where all the crime is," Bloomberg said in the recording. "And the way you get the guns out of the kids' hands is to throw them up against the wall and frisk them."
Bloomberg on Tuesday reiterated his reversal on stop and frisk, saying his 2015 remarks "do not reflect my commitment to criminal justice reform and racial equity."
"I have taken responsibility for taking too long to understand the impact it had on Black and Latino communities," Bloomberg said in a statement.
The Bloomberg campaign did not respond to inquiries on Fair Fight and whether it was in communication with the group regarding the "true terrorist" remark.


freebeacon--2020-02-12--RED SCARE: Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire, Takes Command of Democratic Party

NASHUA , N.H. — Dreary weather failed to dampen voter turnout in New Hampshire 's `` first in the nation '' primary , and it could n't stop the socialist revolution brewing in the heart of the Democratic Party .
ABC and NBC News declared Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) the winner of the Granite State primary on Tuesday , albeit by a narrower margin than many had anticipated .
The socialist insurgent , propelled by a formidable ground game , led all candidates with 26 percent of the vote , with more than 90 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump , '' Sanders told supporters in Manchester , promising additional victories in upcoming contests thanks to his `` unprecedented grassroots movement from coast to coast . ''
Though Sanders struck a conciliatory tone by pledging to `` unite '' the Democratic Party , he also took veiled shots at his rivals , reiterating his commitment to taking on `` billionaires and candidates funded by billionaires . ''
Sanders 's strong performance , on the heels of a ( sort of ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes him the prohibitive favorite to win the nomination of a party to which he does n't belong , with an establishment wing that remains highly skeptical of his socialist bravado .
Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg appeared to build on his strong showing in Iowa with a second-place finish in New Hampshire , just 2 percentage points behind Sanders .
The result could strengthen Buttigieg 's position as the `` anti-Bernie '' alternative .
Buttigieg will need to carry that momentum into primaries in Nevada ( Feb. 22 ) and South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with large minority populations .
He has thus far been unable to demonstrate a statistically significant level of support beyond his core demographic of wealthy whites with graduate degrees .
`` Thanks to you , a campaign that some said should n't be here at all has shown that we are here to say , '' Buttigieg told supporters in Nashua on Tuesday .
`` So many of you decided that a middle-class mayor and a veteran from the industrial Midwest was the right choice to take on this president , not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it . ''
Exit polls suggested nearly half of New Hampshire primary voters made up their minds in the last few days , with many citing Friday night 's debate in Manchester as an important factor in their decision .
This dynamic appeared to benefit Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) , who surged in recent polls and appeared poised to take third place with about 20 percent of the vote , significantly outperforming Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
and former vice president Joe Biden .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count , we have beaten the odds every step of the way , '' Klobuchar said at an election night rally in Concord , taking advantage of the free air time to present herself as `` Donald Trump 's worst nightmare '' and the candidate who best represents `` the people in the middle . ''
Klobuchar 's surge in New Hampshire , while notable , was nowhere near as shocking as Biden 's total collapse .
The former vice president , who was recently overtaken by Sanders in the RealClearPolitics national polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had been reeling since his embarrassing fourth-place finish in Iowa .
Biden appeared on track to place fifth in New Hampshire after receiving less than 10 percent of the vote , well below the 15 percent threshold required to receive delegates .
Biden conceded defeat in New Hampshire—and fled the state—before most of the votes had been cast .
He canceled a scheduled appearance at an election night rally in Nashua to fly to South Carolina , a state Biden must win decisively to avoid a humiliating early exit from the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of good friends here in New Hampshire but this race ai n't over until you 've got a significant portion of the electorate that have n't voted yet , '' Biden said Tuesday before leaving town .
Recent polling suggests Biden remains well positioned to win in South Carolina , largely due to his strength among black voters .
`` When you hear all these pundits and experts , cable TV talkers , talking about the race , tell them : It ai n't over , man .
We 're just getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters in Columbia , S.C. `` We 're not going to let anyone take this election away from me . ''
Biden 's early struggles certainly have n't inspired confidence among Democratic donors .
Unite the Country , a super PAC supporting Biden , circulated a memo to donors on Tuesday urging them to `` dig deep '' for their candidate , warning of a `` doomsday scenario '' if the former VP is forced to withdraw from the race .
PAC treasurer Larry Rasky argued that Biden `` remains the one candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders 's unapologetic embrace of socialism was a `` real and dangerous '' concern for the party .
`` Democrats in swing districts will have to hide from Sanders , '' wrote Rasky .
`` We can not risk the House , state Houses , and also have no shot at dislodging [ Senate Majority Leader Mitch ] McConnell with Bernie at the top of the ticket . ''
Elizabeth Warren , who appeared on track to narrowly beat Biden for fourth place in New Hampshire , now finds herself in a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projected to fall short of the threshold to receive delegates , took the stage early on Tuesday , congratulating Sanders and Buttigieg for having `` strong nights '' and commending Klobuchar `` for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out . ''
Earlier in the day , the Warren campaign sent a memo to the New York Times that sought to reassure supporters ahead of the disappointing New Hampshire results .
Campaign manager Roger Lau predicted , unconvincingly , that Warren would emerge as `` the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats in every corner of the country . ''
Lau also predicted the emergence of a `` volatile and unpredictable '' three-way race between Warren , Biden , and Sanders .
He argued that Buttigieg would struggle to remain viable due to his lack of support among minority voters , while Klobuchar and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg would likely wither under increased scrutiny of their records .
Lau also took a shot at failed candidate Beto O'Rourke , noting that the `` people who are predicting what will happen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who a year ago predicted that Beto O'Rourke was a frontrunner for the nomination . ''
Speaking of failed predictions , as recently as October 2019 , betting markets considered Warren a 52.5 percent favorite to win the Democratic nomination .
Today that number sits at just 3.8 percent .
Donald Trump , among others , took notice .
`` Elizabeth Warren , sometimes referred to as Pocahontas , is having a really bad night , '' the president tweeted .
He was n't wrong .
The collapse of Biden and Warren has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the potential impact of Bloomberg 's formal entry into the race on March 3 , aka `` Super Tuesday , '' when 14 states , including Texas and California , will hold primaries .
Bloomberg has yet to appear on a primary ballot , but has already spent more than $ 350 million on advertising since launching his campaign in November .
While Bloomberg is widely presumed to be allied with the `` anti-Bernie '' faction of the Democratic Party , his presence on the ballot may end up helping Sanders by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least two candidates will not make it that far .
Sen. Michael Bennet ( D. , Colo. ) and tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang announced they were suspending their campaigns shortly after the polls closed in New Hampshire .
`` A lot of Democrat dropouts tonight , very low political I.Q . ''
Trump remarked .
The president 's reelection campaign , meanwhile , emailed supporters with the following take on the New Hampshire results : `` A crazy socialist and a former small town mayor just crushed the former VP . ''

NASHUA, N.H. — Dreary weather failed to dampen voter turnout in New Hampshire's "first in the nation" primary, and it couldn't stop the socialist revolution brewing in the heart of the Democratic Party. ABC and NBC News declared Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) the winner of the Granite State primary on Tuesday, albeit by a narrower margin than many had anticipated. The socialist insurgent, propelled by a formidable ground game, led all candidates with 26 percent of the vote, with more than 90 percent of the state's precincts reporting.
"This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump," Sanders told supporters in Manchester, promising additional victories in upcoming contests thanks to his "unprecedented grassroots movement from coast to coast." Though Sanders struck a conciliatory tone by pledging to "unite" the Democratic Party, he also took veiled shots at his rivals, reiterating his commitment to taking on "billionaires and candidates funded by billionaires."
Sanders's strong performance, on the heels of a (sort of) victory in the disastrous Iowa caucus, makes him the prohibitive favorite to win the nomination of a party to which he doesn't belong, with an establishment wing that remains highly skeptical of his socialist bravado.
Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg appeared to build on his strong showing in Iowa with a second-place finish in New Hampshire, just 2 percentage points behind Sanders. The result could strengthen Buttigieg's position as the "anti-Bernie" alternative. Buttigieg will need to carry that momentum into primaries in Nevada (Feb. 22) and South Carolina (Feb. 29), states with large minority populations. He has thus far been unable to demonstrate a statistically significant level of support beyond his core demographic of wealthy whites with graduate degrees.
"Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has shown that we are here to say," Buttigieg told supporters in Nashua on Tuesday. "So many of you decided that a middle-class mayor and a veteran from the industrial Midwest was the right choice to take on this president, not in spite of that experience but because of it."
Exit polls suggested nearly half of New Hampshire primary voters made up their minds in the last few days, with many citing Friday night's debate in Manchester as an important factor in their decision. This dynamic appeared to benefit Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.), who surged in recent polls and appeared poised to take third place with about 20 percent of the vote, significantly outperforming Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and former vice president Joe Biden.
"While there are still ballots left to count, we have beaten the odds every step of the way," Klobuchar said at an election night rally in Concord, taking advantage of the free air time to present herself as "Donald Trump's worst nightmare" and the candidate who best represents "the people in the middle."
Klobuchar's surge in New Hampshire, while notable, was nowhere near as shocking as Biden's total collapse. The former vice president, who was recently overtaken by Sanders in the RealClearPolitics national polling average for the first time since 2018, had been reeling since his embarrassing fourth-place finish in Iowa. Biden appeared on track to place fifth in New Hampshire after receiving less than 10 percent of the vote, well below the 15 percent threshold required to receive delegates.
Biden conceded defeat in New Hampshire—and fled the state—before most of the votes had been cast. He canceled a scheduled appearance at an election night rally in Nashua to fly to South Carolina, a state Biden must win decisively to avoid a humiliating early exit from the race.
"Look, we got a lot of good friends here in New Hampshire but this race ain't over until you've got a significant portion of the electorate that haven't voted yet," Biden said Tuesday before leaving town. Recent polling suggests Biden remains well positioned to win in South Carolina, largely due to his strength among black voters.
"When you hear all these pundits and experts, cable TV talkers, talking about the race, tell them: It ain't over, man. We're just getting started," a cheery Biden told supporters in Columbia, S.C. "We're not going to let anyone take this election away from me."
Biden's early struggles certainly haven't inspired confidence among Democratic donors. Unite the Country, a super PAC supporting Biden, circulated a memo to donors on Tuesday urging them to "dig deep" for their candidate, warning of a "doomsday scenario" if the former VP is forced to withdraw from the race.
PAC treasurer Larry Rasky argued that Biden "remains the one candidate that can beat Trump," while Sanders's unapologetic embrace of socialism was a "real and dangerous" concern for the party. "Democrats in swing districts will have to hide from Sanders," wrote Rasky. "We cannot risk the House, state Houses, and also have no shot at dislodging [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell with Bernie at the top of the ticket."
Elizabeth Warren, who appeared on track to narrowly beat Biden for fourth place in New Hampshire, now finds herself in a similar position. Warren, who was also projected to fall short of the threshold to receive delegates, took the stage early on Tuesday, congratulating Sanders and Buttigieg for having "strong nights" and commending Klobuchar "for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out."
Earlier in the day, the Warren campaign sent a memo to the New York Times that sought to reassure supporters ahead of the disappointing New Hampshire results. Campaign manager Roger Lau predicted, unconvincingly, that Warren would emerge as "the consensus choice of the widest coalition of Democrats in every corner of the country."
Lau also predicted the emergence of a "volatile and unpredictable" three-way race between Warren, Biden, and Sanders. He argued that Buttigieg would struggle to remain viable due to his lack of support among minority voters, while Klobuchar and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg would likely wither under increased scrutiny of their records. Lau also took a shot at failed candidate Beto O'Rourke, noting that the "people who are predicting what will happen a week from now are the same people who a year ago predicted that Beto O'Rourke was a frontrunner for the nomination."
Speaking of failed predictions, as recently as October 2019, betting markets considered Warren a 52.5 percent favorite to win the Democratic nomination. Today that number sits at just 3.8 percent. Donald Trump, among others, took notice. "Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is having a really bad night," the president tweeted. He wasn't wrong.
The collapse of Biden and Warren has resulted in a spike in pundit commentary on the potential impact of Bloomberg's formal entry into the race on March 3, aka "Super Tuesday," when 14 states, including Texas and California, will hold primaries. Bloomberg has yet to appear on a primary ballot, but has already spent more than $350 million on advertising since launching his campaign in November. While Bloomberg is widely presumed to be allied with the "anti-Bernie" faction of the Democratic Party, his presence on the ballot may end up helping Sanders by splitting the so-called moderate vote.
At least two candidates will not make it that far. Sen. Michael Bennet (D., Colo.) and tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang announced they were suspending their campaigns shortly after the polls closed in New Hampshire.
"A lot of Democrat dropouts tonight, very low political I.Q." Trump remarked. The president's reelection campaign, meanwhile, emailed supporters with the following take on the New Hampshire results: "A crazy socialist and a former small town mayor just crushed the former VP."


Beacon Extra 2/11/20

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
DON ’ T STOP BLEEDIN ’ … `` Election Security Institute Criticizes Newly Unveiled Nevada Caucus App After Iowa Disaster , '' via NEWSWEEK : [ The Open Source Election Technology Institute ] that studies election security criticized the Nevada Democratic Party for planning to use a digital tool for its caucuses , arguing that Nevada was likely to run into many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting app last week … '' Deja Vu ; this time in NV , '' OSET ’ s first tweet read .
`` Let 's be clear from the start : theirs is an ‘ App ' and no designation of ‘ tool ' changes that .
Let 's stop playing word games here .
The fact that its pre-loaded & may not use mobile connectivity is the only ‘ difference . '
'' GOT TA BREAK A FEW EGGS !
… `` Sanders Calls Medicare for All ‘ The Least Disruptive Approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson : In a town hall speech at Franklin Pierce University , [ Bernie Sanders ] said , `` Now , people say , ‘ Medicare for All is gon na be so disruptive , it ’ s such a radical idea , oh my goodness . '
Actually , it 's the least disruptive approach to moving toward universal health care . ''
… Medicare for All is the leading policy proposal of Sanders ’ s 2020 campaign .
It would effectively abolish private health insurance , setting up a single-payer government-run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off their current health care plans .
BIDEN BASE DEATH RATTLE : SHOT … `` Older Voters Are Getting Worried About Joe Biden , '' via HUFFPOST : `` It ’ s so sad .
I really feel sad , '' Laura Norris , 62 , said as she watched the former vice president [ Joe Biden ] speak at a town hall here on the eve of the New Hampshire primary … Biden ’ s edge with older voters has been his greatest asset so far in the race for the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire primary only days away … elderly voters are reconsidering their support for the septuagenarian in favor of some younger blood : namely Pete Buttigieg , the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend , Indiana .
CHASER … `` Quinnipiac : Nearly Half of Biden ’ s African-American Supporters Have Abandoned Him , '' via NRO : Biden has been counting on South Carolina as his firewall ( where two-thirds of Democratic primary voters are black ) , but the new national Quinnipiac poll shows support for Biden among African Americans dropping from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa caucuses .
WHY STOP THERE … `` Tom Steyer vows to raise minimum wage to $ 22 per hour if elected , '' via FOX BUSINESS : Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer vowed to call for a $ 22 hourly minimum wage if he wins his longshot bid to unseat incumbent President Trump in November … According to a Congressional Budget Office report published in July 2019 , increasing the federal minimum wage to $ 15 per hour could result in 1.3 million workers losing their jobs .
( The report estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that somewhere between zero and 3.7 million workers would lose their jobs ) .
SEND THE BOMBERS … `` New Secretive Iranian Nuclear Sites Spark Concern in Congress , '' by WFB ’ s Adam Kredo : Sen. Jim Risch ( R. , Idaho ) told the Washington Free Beacon in a wide-ranging interview on the Islamic Republic 's continued nuclear subterfuge that he is worried by new reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) that there are `` possible undeclared Iranian nuclear sites '' that remain active in Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uranium , the key component in a nuclear weapon , were found at secretive Iranian sites .
Risch said he would not contradict any recent reporting but could not go into specifics for classification reasons .
SEND THE BOMBERS THERE TOO … `` It Was China Who Stole the Data of 150 Million Americans by Hacking Equifax , Says the DOJ , '' via DAILY BEAST : In total , the members of the Chinese military are accused of stealing personally identifiable information from 145 million Americans , as well as driving license @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card numbers of around 200,000 .
A nine-count indictment unveiled Monday accused four Chinese military members of hacking into the company ’ s computer networks , maintaining unauthorized access to them , and stealing the sensitive data .
AMERICA UNINTERESTED IN SUSTAINABILITY LECTURES FROM PRIVATE JET OWNERS … `` TV Ratings : Oscars Fall to All-Time Lows , '' via THR : The three-hour-plus broadcast averaged about 23.6 million viewers and a 5.3 rating among adults 18-49 , well below the 29.56 million and 7.7 for last year 's awards … The Oscars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratings declines .
The September 2019 Emmy broadcast on Fox fell by 32 percent in viewers and 29 percent in adults 18-49 from the previous year .
CHILL , GRETA , CHILL … `` Greta Thunberg to make new documentary series for the BBC , '' via GUARDIAN : BBC Studios has announced a documentary series about the teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg .
The new show will follow Thunberg ’ s `` international crusade '' against the climate emergency , focusing on her campaign work as well as her `` journey into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thunberg meet with scientists , politicians , and businesspeople to explore the evidence around rising global temperatures .
OUR MAN IN MANCHESTER REPORTS … `` BERN NOTICE : Sanders Poised to Seize Victory in New Hampshire , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : [ Pete ] Buttigieg , meanwhile , is hoping that a strong performance here will boost his odds to emerge as the `` not Bernie Sanders '' alternative , assuming he can avoid embarrassment in South Carolina later this month , given his statistically insignificant level of support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is far more popular in rich white `` boat shoe '' strongholds , such as Nantucket , Cape Cod , and Martha 's Vineyard , has been taking shots at Sanders over the enormous costs of his proposed reforms , such as Medicare for All … [ Barack ] Obama , for his part , continues to sit on the sidelines ( and produce Oscar-winning documentaries ) as the Democratic candidates duke it out .
Not only has the former president refused to endorse his former running mate , he also tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run .
`` You do n't have to do this , Joe , '' Obama reportedly told Biden before the former VP launched his campaign .
Perhaps he should have listened .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 2 .
Welcome back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Biden stares at oblivion, while Nevada may pick up where Iowa left off
Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
DON’T STOP BLEEDIN’ … "Election Security Institute Criticizes Newly Unveiled Nevada Caucus App After Iowa Disaster," via NEWSWEEK: [The Open Source Election Technology Institute] that studies election security criticized the Nevada Democratic Party for planning to use a digital tool for its caucuses, arguing that Nevada was likely to run into many of the same issues that Iowa did with its voting app last week …
"Deja Vu; this time in NV," OSET’s first tweet read. "Let's be clear from the start: theirs is an 'App' and no designation of 'tool' changes that. Let's stop playing word games here. The fact that its pre-loaded & may not use mobile connectivity is the only 'difference.'"
GOTTA BREAK A FEW EGGS! … "Sanders Calls Medicare for All ‘The Least Disruptive Approach," by WFB’s Collin Anderson: In a town hall speech at Franklin Pierce University, [Bernie Sanders] said, "Now, people say, ‘Medicare for All is gonna be so disruptive, it’s such a radical idea, oh my goodness.' Actually, it's the least disruptive approach to moving toward universal health care." …
Medicare for All is the leading policy proposal of Sanders’s 2020 campaign. It would effectively abolish private health insurance, setting up a single-payer government-run system and booting over 181 million Americans off their current health care plans.
BIDEN BASE DEATH RATTLE: SHOT … "Older Voters Are Getting Worried About Joe Biden," via HUFFPOST: "It’s so sad. I really feel sad," Laura Norris, 62, said as she watched the former vice president [Joe Biden] speak at a town hall here on the eve of the New Hampshire primary …
Biden’s edge with older voters has been his greatest asset so far in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. But with the New Hampshire primary only days away … elderly voters are reconsidering their support for the septuagenarian in favor of some younger blood: namely Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
CHASER … "Quinnipiac: Nearly Half of Biden’s African-American Supporters Have Abandoned Him," via NRO: Biden has been counting on South Carolina as his firewall (where two-thirds of Democratic primary voters are black), but the new national Quinnipiac poll shows support for Biden among African Americans dropping from 52 percent to 27 percent since the Iowa caucuses.
WHY STOP THERE … "Tom Steyer vows to raise minimum wage to $22 per hour if elected," via FOX BUSINESS: Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer vowed to call for a $22 hourly minimum wage if he wins his longshot bid to unseat incumbent President Trump in November …
According to a Congressional Budget Office report published in July 2019, increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour could result in 1.3 million workers losing their jobs. (The report estimated there’s about a two-thirds chance that somewhere between zero and 3.7 million workers would lose their jobs).
SEND THE BOMBERS … "New Secretive Iranian Nuclear Sites Spark Concern in Congress," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: Sen. Jim Risch (R., Idaho) told the Washington Free Beacon in a wide-ranging interview on the Islamic Republic's continued nuclear subterfuge that he is worried by new reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that there are "possible undeclared Iranian nuclear sites" that remain active in Iran …
Recent reports indicate that particles of uranium, the key component in a nuclear weapon, were found at secretive Iranian sites. Risch said he would not contradict any recent reporting but could not go into specifics for classification reasons.
SEND THE BOMBERS THERE TOO … "It Was China Who Stole the Data of 150 Million Americans by Hacking Equifax, Says the DOJ," via DAILY BEAST: In total, the members of the Chinese military are accused of stealing personally identifiable information from 145 million Americans, as well as driving license numbers for ten million and the credit card numbers of around 200,000.
A nine-count indictment unveiled Monday accused four Chinese military members of hacking into the company’s computer networks, maintaining unauthorized access to them, and stealing the sensitive data.
AMERICA UNINTERESTED IN SUSTAINABILITY LECTURES FROM PRIVATE JET OWNERS … "TV Ratings: Oscars Fall to All-Time Lows," via THR: The three-hour-plus broadcast averaged about 23.6 million viewers and a 5.3 rating among adults 18-49, well below the 29.56 million and 7.7 for last year's awards …
The Oscars join the Emmy Awards in suffering steep ratings declines. The September 2019 Emmy broadcast on Fox fell by 32 percent in viewers and 29 percent in adults 18-49 from the previous year.
CHILL, GRETA, CHILL … "Greta Thunberg to make new documentary series for the BBC," via GUARDIAN: BBC Studios has announced a documentary series about the teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. The new show will follow Thunberg’s "international crusade" against the climate emergency, focusing on her campaign work as well as her "journey into adulthood". It will also see Thunberg meet with scientists, politicians, and businesspeople to explore the evidence around rising global temperatures.
OUR MAN IN MANCHESTER REPORTS … "BERN NOTICE: Sanders Poised to Seize Victory in New Hampshire," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: [Pete] Buttigieg, meanwhile, is hoping that a strong performance here will boost his odds to emerge as the "not Bernie Sanders" alternative, assuming he can avoid embarrassment in South Carolina later this month, given his statistically insignificant level of support among black voters. Mayor Pete, who is far more popular in rich white "boat shoe" strongholds, such as Nantucket, Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard, has been taking shots at Sanders over the enormous costs of his proposed reforms, such as Medicare for All …
[Barack] Obama, for his part, continues to sit on the sidelines (and produce Oscar-winning documentaries) as the Democratic candidates duke it out. Not only has the former president refused to endorse his former running mate, he also tried to persuade [Joe] Biden not to run. "You don't have to do this, Joe," Obama reportedly told Biden before the former VP launched his campaign. Perhaps he should have listened.
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW: 2. Welcome back, Joe!
"You know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden." —Former President Barack Obama
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-02-12--MSNBC Anchors Praise Warren for Still Taking Pictures After Losing in NH

MSNBC anchor Brian Williams on Tuesday lauded Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's ( D. , Mass . )
willingness to take pictures with New Hampshire voters despite being projected to finish fourth .
`` Since she gave her remarks earlier tonight , while we 've been talking , while we 've been covering other stories , Elizabeth Warren , who lives just to the south of the state of New Hampshire , is taking a picture with all who ask , '' Williams said .
`` This is awesome , '' anchor Rachel Maddow said .
Williams said Warren was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live pictures of her being photographed with some supporters on a night when she will not be receiving any delegates .
`` She 's a really , really , really good candidate , '' MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace added .
This is n't the first time the media have been impressed by Warren 's ability to take pictures , or `` selfies '' as she calls them .
Political reporters and cable news anchors were amazed by her ability to stand for four hours and take pictures with voters after one of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

MSNBC anchor Brian Williams on Tuesday lauded Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D., Mass.) willingness to take pictures with New Hampshire voters despite being projected to finish fourth.
"Since she gave her remarks earlier tonight, while we've been talking, while we've been covering other stories, Elizabeth Warren, who lives just to the south of the state of New Hampshire, is taking a picture with all who ask," Williams said.
"This is awesome," anchor Rachel Maddow said.
Williams said Warren was "still at work" as MSNBC aired live pictures of her being photographed with some supporters on a night when she will not be receiving any delegates.
"She's a really, really, really good candidate," MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace added.
This isn't the first time the media have been impressed by Warren's ability to take pictures, or "selfies" as she calls them. Political reporters and cable news anchors were amazed by her ability to stand for four hours and take pictures with voters after one of her rallies last year in New York City.


freebeacon--2020-02-12--MSNBC Has to Scroll to Find Biden in NH Results

MSNBC political correspondent Steve Kornacki on Tuesday had to scroll to find Joe Biden 's name on his New Hampshire results chart , prompting anchor Brian Williams to note that the former vice president is near the bottom .
`` It 's never good when Kornacki has to scroll up to find you parked next to Tulsi Gabbard .
That 's where Joe Biden is so far , '' Williams said during a discussion of the New Hampshire Democratic primary .
With most polling places still not reporting in , Kornacki analyzed the results from multiple New Hampshire cities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far behind Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) and others .
After analyzing the top four candidates in Dover , he said , `` I got to scroll down to get you to Joe Biden to see Biden at 5 [ percent ] . ''
Kornacki then analyzed the results in New Hampshire 's capital city , Concord , which showed Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) in first place with 32 percent of the vote .
Biden was in fifth place again , with 8 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King had more bad news for Biden : He was not running first or second anywhere in the state except Millsfield , where he was second .
And the only other place where he was better than fourth was Dixville , where he tied for third with every candidate who had zero votes .
Biden left New Hampshire early on Tuesday and landed in South Carolina shortly after the polls closed .

MSNBC political correspondent Steve Kornacki on Tuesday had to scroll to find Joe Biden's name on his New Hampshire results chart, prompting anchor Brian Williams to note that the former vice president is near the bottom.
"It's never good when Kornacki has to scroll up to find you parked next to Tulsi Gabbard. That's where Joe Biden is so far," Williams said during a discussion of the New Hampshire Democratic primary.
With most polling places still not reporting in, Kornacki analyzed the results from multiple New Hampshire cities, including Dover and Concord and found Biden far behind Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and others. After analyzing the top four candidates in Dover, he said, "I got to scroll down to get you to Joe Biden to see Biden at 5 [percent]."
Kornacki then analyzed the results in New Hampshire's capital city, Concord, which showed Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) in first place with 32 percent of the vote. Biden was in fifth place again, with 8 percent of the vote.
On CNN, anchor John King had more bad news for Biden: He was not running first or second anywhere in the state except Millsfield, where he was second. And the only other place where he was better than fourth was Dixville, where he tied for third with every candidate who had zero votes.
WATCH: CNN's John King brutally points out that the former Vice President of the United States isn't running first, second, or third anywhere in New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/uXmaVEOB0g — America Rising (@AmericaRising) February 12, 2020
Biden left New Hampshire early on Tuesday and landed in South Carolina shortly after the polls closed.


freebeacon--2020-02-12--Nevada Union Targets Sanders, Warren Over Socialized Medicine

Nevada ’ s most powerful union is attacking Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) over his support for Medicare for All , as the Vermont socialist attempts to build off of his victory in the New Hampshire primary .
The Culinary Union , the state 's largest union and a key driver of the Democrats ' 2016 victories in Nevada , is warning over 50,000 hospitality workers that the Medicare for All plans backed by Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
will `` end culinary health care '' benefits .
Those health plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strikes and work stoppages to wring concessions from casino owners and now cover more than 130,000 people .
Medicare for All would eliminate the union ’ s own health care plan .
In a flyer distributed to workers , the union said Sanders will outright end union health care while Warren will gradually `` replace '' it .
The group has previously sniped at Medicare for All in more subtle ways , distributing a different flyer in February that denounced politicians who `` promise '' that eliminating union health care will lead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s members that giving up their health care will bump their wages by $ 12,000 at a December town hall .
The union ’ s rebuke is the latest in the pushback against Medicare for All that threatens to blunt the democratic socialist ’ s momentum following his narrow victory in New Hampshire .
Most Democrats prefer a candidate who would build on Obamacare rather than implement Medicare for All , according to a January poll .
Warren ’ s support took a nosedive when rivals scrutinized the eye-popping cost of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in place for Sanders .
The union is a political heavyweight in the state , spending more than $ 2.2 million on political activities between 2016 and 2018 .
Not only did the union play a key role in Hillary Clinton 's victory over Sanders in the 2016 Nevada caucuses , but it also helped the Democratic nominee win the state during the general election , even as she trailed in many state polls .
The union remains staunchly opposed to the president , calling members to `` unite to DEFEAT Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office has remained neutral in the Democratic primary .
A Warren spokeswoman said that the union recognized that the Warren plan will replace union health care after a `` 3-year transition or at the end of a collective bargaining agreement '' and lower prices .
The Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
The union established its health care plan in 1983 as a result of a collective bargaining agreement .
It offers members access to a 24-hour health center and two pharmacies , among other perks , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been vocal about its opposition to proposals that would interfere with those benefits .
Members heckled Sanders when he tried to pitch his Medicare for All plan to them in December .
Christopher Pope , a health care policy expert at the pro-free market Manhattan Institute , said that unions would be among the `` biggest losers of Medicare for All , '' since a nationalized health care plan would strip union members of the lucrative health care coverage they secured from employers .
`` All these unions are obviously pretty skeptical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim , '' Pope said .
`` So these people are completely aware of their own interests and are aware that they 're going to end up with less paying more for it . ''
The union ’ s flyer noted that Joe Biden , Pete Buttigieg , Amy Klobuchar , and Tom Steyer will `` protect culinary health care . ''
A union spokesman said that the group is `` still deciding '' on whether to endorse a candidate ahead of the state caucus .
Charlyce Bozzello , spokeswoman for labor watchdog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was `` remarkable '' that unions are recognizing that Medicare for All is not beneficial to their members but said that other labor groups still remain silent on the matter .
Pope noted that other unions in the country are also `` uneasy '' with the threat posed by Medicare for All and said other heavyweight unions might voice their concerns as their primary and caucus dates approach .
`` I would be surprised if by the time the Michigan primary comes around , we don ’ t hear much from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Really , every union is going to be worried about this . ''
The Nevada caucus is scheduled to take place on Feb. 22 .

Nevada’s most powerful union is attacking Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) over his support for Medicare for All, as the Vermont socialist attempts to build off of his victory in the New Hampshire primary.
The Culinary Union, the state's largest union and a key driver of the Democrats' 2016 victories in Nevada, is warning over 50,000 hospitality workers that the Medicare for All plans backed by Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) will "end culinary health care" benefits. Those health plans were hard-won for union members who staged strikes and work stoppages to wring concessions from casino owners and now cover more than 130,000 people. Medicare for All would eliminate the union’s own health care plan. In a flyer distributed to workers, the union said Sanders will outright end union health care while Warren will gradually "replace" it.
The group has previously sniped at Medicare for All in more subtle ways, distributing a different flyer in February that denounced politicians who "promise" that eliminating union health care will lead to wage increases. Sanders told the union’s members that giving up their health care will bump their wages by $12,000 at a December town hall.
The union’s rebuke is the latest in the pushback against Medicare for All that threatens to blunt the democratic socialist’s momentum following his narrow victory in New Hampshire. Most Democrats prefer a candidate who would build on Obamacare rather than implement Medicare for All, according to a January poll. Warren’s support took a nosedive when rivals scrutinized the eye-popping cost of her Medicare for All plan—a similar reckoning might be in place for Sanders.
The union is a political heavyweight in the state, spending more than $2.2 million on political activities between 2016 and 2018. Not only did the union play a key role in Hillary Clinton's victory over Sanders in the 2016 Nevada caucuses, but it also helped the Democratic nominee win the state during the general election, even as she trailed in many state polls. The union remains staunchly opposed to the president, calling members to "unite to DEFEAT Trump in November," but its national office has remained neutral in the Democratic primary.
A Warren spokeswoman said that the union recognized that the Warren plan will replace union health care after a "3-year transition or at the end of a collective bargaining agreement" and lower prices. The Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
https://twitter.com/Culinary226/status/1227445058053562369?s=20
The union established its health care plan in 1983 as a result of a collective bargaining agreement. It offers members access to a 24-hour health center and two pharmacies, among other perks, all without monthly premium payments. The union has been vocal about its opposition to proposals that would interfere with those benefits. Members heckled Sanders when he tried to pitch his Medicare for All plan to them in December.
Christopher Pope, a health care policy expert at the pro-free market Manhattan Institute, said that unions would be among the "biggest losers of Medicare for All," since a nationalized health care plan would strip union members of the lucrative health care coverage they secured from employers.
"All these unions are obviously pretty skeptical about the [Medicare for All] claim," Pope said. "So these people are completely aware of their own interests and are aware that they're going to end up with less paying more for it."
The union’s flyer noted that Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Tom Steyer will "protect culinary health care." A union spokesman said that the group is "still deciding" on whether to endorse a candidate ahead of the state caucus.
Charlyce Bozzello, spokeswoman for labor watchdog Center for Union Facts, said that it was "remarkable" that unions are recognizing that Medicare for All is not beneficial to their members but said that other labor groups still remain silent on the matter.
Pope noted that other unions in the country are also "uneasy" with the threat posed by Medicare for All and said other heavyweight unions might voice their concerns as their primary and caucus dates approach.
"I would be surprised if by the time the Michigan primary comes around, we don’t hear much from the UAW, AFL-CIO," he said. "Really, every union is going to be worried about this."
The Nevada caucus is scheduled to take place on Feb. 22.