Democrats eye Nevada, South Carolina after Sanders wins in New Hampshire

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Democrats eye Nevada, South Carolina after Sanders wins in New Hampshire

By John Whitesides and Amanda Becker

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders addresses supporters at his New Hampshire primary night rally in Manchester, N.H., U.S., February 11, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar

 

MANCHESTER, N.H. (Reuters) - Democrats vying for the right to challenge U.S. President Donald Trump turned their focus on Wednesday to Nevada and South Carolina after Bernie Sanders solidified his front-runner status with a narrow victory in New Hampshire, with Pete Buttigieg close behind him.

 

While Sanders, a U.S. senator from neighboring Vermont, and Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, finished first and second in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary respectively, the contest also showed the growing appeal of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who placed third after surging over the past few days.

 

Two Democrats whose fortunes have been fading - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and former Vice President Joe Biden - limped out of New Hampshire, finishing fourth and fifth respectively amid fresh questions about the viability of their candidacies.

 

New Hampshire was the second contest in the state-by-state battle to pick a Democratic nominee to face Trump, a Republican, in the Nov. 3 election. Sanders and Buttigieg finished in a virtual tie in the first contest last week in Iowa and won an equal number of delegates - who formally vote at the party's convention in July to select a nominee - in New Hampshire.

 

More than 294,000 voters cast ballots in New Hampshire's Democratic primary, the state party said, breaking the record of 288,000 set in 2008, when Barack Obama's historic candidacy energized the party.

 

The campaign's focus now shifts to states more demographically diverse than the largely white and rural kickoff states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

 

The next contest is on Feb. 22 in Nevada, where more than a quarter of the residents are Latino, followed a week later by South Carolina, where about a fourth are African-American.

 

After that, 14 states, including California and Texas, vote in the March 3 contests known as Super Tuesday, which will also be the first time voters see the name of former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg on the Democratic presidential ballot.

 

Democrats must decide whether their best choice to challenge Trump would be a moderate like Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Biden or Bloomberg - or a candidate further to the left like Sanders or Warren.

 

Only one of the candidates has public events planned on Wednesday. Bloomberg, a billionaire media mogul, plans rallies in Chattanooga and Nashville, Tennessee.

 

With an eye toward a potential general election campaign against Trump, Bloomberg on Wednesday announced the opening of a campaign office in New Hampshire. Bloomberg also picked up endorsements from three black members of the U.S. House of Representatives after he came under scrutiny over past support for a policing tactic known as stop and frisk that disproportionately affected racial minorities.

 

In New Hampshire, Sanders drew 26% of the vote and Buttigieg had 24%. Klobuchar had 20%, Warren 9% and Biden 8%.

 

Buttigieg on Wednesday said his strong results in Iowa and New Hampshire showed he had momentum going forward, "settling the questions of whether we could build a campaign across age groups and different kinds of communities."

 

His campaign said it would double its organizing staff in Nevada to 100. Buttigieg also launched a new television ad in the state emphasizing his healthcare proposal that would provide access to a government-run Medicare plan but let people keep their private insurance if they want.

 

Buttigieg, who would be the first openly gay U.S. president if elected, still faces questions about what opinion polls show is his weakness with black voters, one of the most loyal and vital Democratic voting blocs.

 

'A WHOLE NEW LOOK'

Asked about how he could gain the confidence of racial minority voters, Buttigieg told MSNBC he was focused on economic empowerment and suggested he had learned lessons, sometimes "the hard way," as mayor of South Bend. He pointed to a plan he released last summer aimed at fighting racism.

 

"I think we're getting a whole new look from black and Latino voters who have so much riding on making sure that we defeat Donald Trump, because they are among those with most to lose if they have to endure yet another term of this president," Buttigieg told MSNBC.

 

The Democratic field shrank to eight candidates after New Hampshire. Deval Patrick, 63, the former Massachusetts governor, dropped out on Wednesday, saying his poor showing in the state did not create "the practical wind at the campaign's back to go on to the next round of voting."

 

Businessman Andrew Yang and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, who had trailed in the polls and also performed poorly in New Hampshire, dropped out on Tuesday night.

 

In a sign of the growing rivalry between Sanders, 78, and Buttigieg, 38, supporters of the senator booed and chanted "Wall Street Pete!" when Buttigieg's post-primary speech was shown on screens.

 

Biden, 77, was once the front-runner in the Democratic race, but stumbled to his second consecutive poor finish after placing fourth in Iowa. He is certain to face growing questions about his ability to consolidate moderate support against a surging Buttigieg and Klobuchar.

 

Klobuchar's campaign said it was spending more than $1 million (£771,069.47) on ads in Nevada.

 

For a graphic on Calendar of each state’s Democratic nominating contest and its allocated delegates:

https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ELECTION-CALENDAR/0100B31F26V/index.html

 

(Reporting by John Whitesides, James Oliphant, Simon Lewis, Michael Martina and Amanda Becker in New Hampshire, additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington; Writing by Will Dunham and John Whitesides; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis and Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-13

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[Tug]

Joe will do better when will Mike Bloomberg be included he’s the one to watch

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.

 

[bristolboy]

34 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

Let's see if Trump puts out more record turn out numbers. Just in case some people thought Trump supporters were losing energy and tired of winning.

 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-breaks-new-hampshire-record-for-voter-turnout-for-any-incumbent-president

Just in case some people thought Democrats were losing energy and tired after winning back the House.

New Hampshire Democratic Primary Turnout Sets New Record

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/02/new-hampshire-democratic-primary-turnout-sets-new-record.html

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Joe will do better when will Mike Bloomberg be included he’s the one to watch

Super Tuesday. He's not on the ballot in SC or NV. 

[canopus1969]

Give the youngster Buttigieg a go - Sanders is a relic and has one foot in the grave 

[heybruce]

56 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

Give the youngster Buttigieg a go - Sanders is a relic and has one foot in the grave 

Buttigieg or any other centrist not in his/her seventies.

[Mick501]

^{Demi's tried to fool the world they had a Trump card, only to be exposed as the three of clubs when they played it.  Now stampeding towards inevitable defeat in the face of superb economic management by President Trump and his team.}

Edited February 13, 2020 by Mick501

[Jingthing]

24 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Buttigieg or any other centrist not in his/her seventies.

It's not only about the age number. Bernie seems to still be at high level brain functioning although I'm not sure because his talking points do sound like a broken record. I have no reason to think that Bloomberg is not all there either. On the other hand, Biden has obviously suffered mental decline with age as has much more extremely the currently impeached president. 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, canopus1969 said:

Give the youngster Buttigieg a go - Sanders is a relic and has one foot in the grave 

He seems very green and in my opinion too cerebral to win the American presidency. Obama was cerebral too but he combined that with lots of charisma. But of course all decent Americans will unite behind any democrat nominee against an impeached wanna be and now largely realized dictator president that has brought the USA democracy down to the autocratic level of Russia, Turkey, and Hungary.

Edited February 13, 2020 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

3 hours ago, bristolboy said:

Just in case some people thought Democrats were losing energy and tired after winning back the House.

New Hampshire Democratic Primary Turnout Sets New Record

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/02/new-hampshire-democratic-primary-turnout-sets-new-record.html

Fantastic news! It seems like New Hampshire was sending a message not only to the nominating process but to the DNC of Iowa as well!

[heybruce]

53 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It's not only about the age number. Bernie seems to still be at high level brain functioning although I'm not sure because his talking points do sound like a broken record. I have no reason to think that Bloomberg is not all there either. On the other hand, Biden has obviously suffered mental decline with age as has much more extremely the currently impeached president. 

Mentally Bernie seems sharper than Biden; physically his heart is a concern.  Also, he isn't a centrist, he's a far left sometimes Democrat and a career politician with no history of significant legislative accomplishments.

 

He's loud and energetic at rallies, but I don't want a politician who puts on a good show at rallies.  I want a politician with experience, practical ideas for improving the country, and a track record of getting things done.

[Cryingdick]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Fantastic news! It seems like New Hampshire was sending a message not only to the nominating process but to the DNC of Iowa as well!

 

Just remember Trump just did this as well. The difference is he keeps the votes or 98% of them. So yeah records were broken on both sides. Trump will continue to hold rallies in states where the democrats events are. 

 

 

[heybruce]

1 hour ago, Mick501 said:

^{Demi's tried to fool the world they had a Trump card, only to be exposed as the three of clubs when they played it.  Now stampeding towards inevitable defeat in the face of superb economic management by President Trump and his team.}

Trump took office when the economy was strong and juiced it up with massive deficit spending.  Not surprising, Republicans love deficit spending when they have the White House.  In spite of that, economic growth under Trump is comparable to the final four years of Obama.

 

 

[DrTuner]

Trump will have fun if it's Sanders or Buttigieg against him. One is one foot in the grave, the other one gay and has a name ripe for bad jokes. Should be an entertaining election.

[RPCVguy]

The OP is an interesting starting point as to what is ahead in the primaries and then the general election. I found this article in the Huffington Post a good rebuttal to those still hoping to find a moderate path with ongoing economic security. It paints it as a pipe dream - then provides the reasons.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/amy-klobuchar-platform-fantasy_n_5e3e3602c5b6bb0ffc1155c9

I get it, many (most?) Americans want to be rid of this president and his gang of crooks AND they want to keep the corporate juggernaut that gave them decades of wealth compared to most nations. It is the "Cake-n-Eat-it-too" promise that Americans often fall for when faced with tough choices. "Can't we have both?"

Look around. The Climate catastrophes of recent years (floods, fires, major storms - and now homeowners facing lack of insurance) these are real changes that will not be lessened via band-aide tweaks to programs. Just as surely as the major tax cuts started by Reagan bribed people to ignore the early energy and climate warnings of Carter, the desire to compromise sounds reasonable now. Reagan gave us the super rich and a stagnant (shrinking) middle class.

This time will be worse, and quicker. Nature is not waiting for humans to wake up to mounting consequences; it is in control and does not compromise. If Americans are unable to get to a deal in the senate, then the population will suffer - at an accelerating rate. It may be difficult, but it is more possible to change the senate, to change those in government, than it is going to be to change the laws of nature/ physics and chemistry.

People need a viable safety net with good healthcare AND we need a #GreenNewDeal - we need BOTH and we need them ASAP. Amy, Biden, Buttigieg, Bloomberg and especially 45 are hindrances to a government that can best deal with the needs ahead.

[Baerboxer]

6 hours ago, Tug said:

Joe will do better when will Mike Bloomberg be included he’s the one to watch

 

A 77 year old POTUS, seemingly involved in corruption with his family, who shows signs of senility - great just what the US needs.

 

If Biden gets selected, and if he beats Trump, both big "if's", then who will be really running things?

Edited February 13, 2020 by Baerboxer

[Cryingdick]

I am beginning to think this will be Bernie vs. Bloomberg. That's going to be an epic battle.

[Jingthing]

6 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

A 77 year old POTUS, seemingly involved in corruption with his family, who shows signs of senility - great just what the US needs.

 

If Biden gets selected, and if he beats Trump, both big "if's", then who will be really running things?

Biden? I guess you didn't get the memo that the Biden campaign has fallen apart.

[Cryingdick]

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Biden? I guess you didn't get the memo that the Biden campaign has fallen apart.

 

Isn't Sanders around the same age and Bloomberg for that matter?

Edited February 13, 2020 by Cryingdick

[johnnybangkok]

2 hours ago, Mick501 said:

^{Demi's tried to fool the world they had a Trump card, only to be exposed as the three of clubs when they played it.  Now stampeding towards inevitable defeat in the face of superb economic management by President Trump and his team.}

But don't mention the deficit currently standing at $1.067 trillion and for gods sake don't mention the National Debt currently standing at a whopping $22 trillion an increase of $2 trillion since Trump took office.

Oh and just for context:- 

1 million seconds is 11 days

1 trillion seconds is 31,709 YEARS

[Tug]

I’m kinda leaning towards Bloomberg now he has the information machine to counter trumps lie machine it also will expose trumps sponsored foreign interference + mike is the real deal a sielf made man not like trump all daddies money and rentals 

[Jingthing]

26 minutes ago, Tug said:

I’m kinda leaning towards Bloomberg now he has the information machine to counter trumps lie machine it also will expose trumps sponsored foreign interference + mike is the real deal a sielf made man not like trump all daddies money and rentals 

Anyone but Gabbard is fine by me including Bernie with the caveat that I don't think Bernie is electable. 

[Berkshire]

2 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Trump will have fun if it's Sanders or Buttigieg against him. One is one foot in the grave, the other one gay and has a name ripe for bad jokes. Should be an entertaining election.

While I think that your criticism is weak, many will agree with you.  A lot of Americans believed the nonsense leveled at Hillary in 2016 and they're believing the nonsense leveled at Biden in 2020.  With Sanders and Buttigieg, it may be too easy.  Rush Limbaugh is already all over it....

 

“So you’re faced with dyed-in-the-wool socialist who’s not even a Democrat,” the conservative talker declared. “A gay guy, 37 years old, loves kissing his husband on debate stages. Can you see Trump have fun with that?”

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/rush-limbaugh-mr-man-trump-194910689.html?.tsrc=jtc_news_index

 

I still like Biden because...who the heck else is left? 

[Tippaporn]

Laugh my ar$e off to watch the Democrats trying to find somebody who could take Trump on.  Anyone.  Their desperation is palpable.  CNN taped this live coverage in Dover, NH:

 

CNN Correspondent: I Spoke to Over 100 NH Voters and Haven’t Heard from Anyone Who Supports Biden

 

Not sure if my link would be an acceptable source so just Google the above line and you'll easily find it.

 

Joe Biden . . . Bah bye bye

Elizabeth Warren . . . Bah bye bye

 

The communist Bernie Sanders and Buttigieg are again tied for delegates.  Both extremely formidable candidates <sarc>.

 

Is that all the Dems got?  Laugh my ar$e off.

 

Now take a look at this and be very afraid:

 

[Tippaporn]

 

Some Joe Biden donors are panicking after New Hampshire primary flop, but others remain hopeful

 

"Panic set in among some of Biden’s financiers on Wall Street and in other industries when it became clear Tuesday night that the one-time Democratic front-runner wouldn’t score any delegates from the New Hampshire vote."

 

LOL.  Joe's history now.  Warren's next.

 

Dems don't have anyone as a viable candidate.  How often do the libs/Dems here threaten, "Wait 'till November."  It can't come soon enough for me.  Can't wait for the debates between Trump and whoever ends up with the impossible task of winning against Trump.

[ChouDoufu]

none of the above.

brokered convention.

 

look for hillary to wander out of the woods to save us.

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, ChouDoufu said:

none of the above.

brokered convention.

 

look for hillary to wander out of the woods to save us.

No. Don't look for HRC. Democrats absolutely do not want that to happen. That's strictly a fantasy of the 45 cult of personality people.

 

Of course there may well be a convention that doesn't have the votes to nominate anybody. Call that brokered if you want. So then a compromise candidate needs to emerge and that would likely depend a lot on who exactly are the front runners at that time. The choice from that could be Klobuchar, Bloomberg, Buttigeig or Warren or even one of the dropouts like Booker. It won't be Sanders or Biden. 

Edited February 13, 2020 by Jingthing

[Tippaporn]

9 hours ago, Tug said:

I’m kinda leaning towards Bloomberg now he has the information machine to counter trumps lie machine it also will expose trumps sponsored foreign interference + mike is the real deal a sielf made man not like trump all daddies money and rentals 

Amazing that it's come to this . . . . the only quality about a Democrat hopeful that American voters seem to care about is whether or not they can beat Trump.  Mind numbing!

[heybruce]

4 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Amazing that it's come to this . . . . the only quality about a Democrat hopeful that American voters seem to care about is whether or not they can beat Trump.  Mind numbing!

When a house is on fire and has other problems, putting out the fire is the top priority.

Edited February 13, 2020 by heybruce