Front-runner Biden crushes Sanders in Florida, projected to win Illinois

By John Whitesides and Ginger Gibson

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the 11th Democratic candidates debate of the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, held in CNN's Washington studios without an audience because of the global coronavirus pandemic, in Washington, U.S., March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Joe Biden coasted to a blowout victory over Bernie Sanders in Florida's Democratic presidential primary and was projected to win Illinois on Tuesday, edging closer to the nomination to face President Donald Trump in November's election.

 

Biden led Sanders by 61% to 23% with 91% of the precincts reporting in Florida, the largest of the three states voting on Tuesday, and beat Sanders in every county in the traditional political battleground state. Other candidates who have since dropped out made up the remainder.

 

Fox News projected Biden also won in Illinois, where he opened a huge early lead of 55% to 39% over Sanders, with 15% of the precincts reporting. Polls were scheduled to close in Arizona, the third state voting on Tuesday, at 10 p.m. EDT (0200 GMT on Wednesday).

 

Biden, the former vice president, hopes big victories on Tuesday will help him amass an unassailable advantage over Sanders in the race to choose a challenger to the Republican Trump in the Nov. 3 election, before the race enters an extended hiatus with no voting scheduled for weeks.

 

The easy Biden wins appeared to be a sign Democrats were ready to unite for the general election against Trump, and could increase pressure on Sanders, 78, to end his presidential bid.

 

Democrats have worried about a possible repeat of 2016, when they believe his long, bitter primary battle with Hillary Clinton played a role in her upset loss to Trump, 73.

 

Florida, where Trump barely beat Clinton in the general election by 1.2 percentage points in 2016, was the biggest prize of the day with 219 delegates. Biden, 77, was projected to have won 58 delegates to Sanders' 16 in Florida so far, with more than 100 still to be allocated.

 

Despite escalating concerns about the coronavirus outbreak that has shut down large public gatherings across the country, Edison Research estimated Democratic turnout in Florida at 1.85 million - more than the 1.7 million who voted in 2016 and 1.75 million in 2008.

 

A majority of voters in all three states trusted Biden more than Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, to handle a major crisis, Edison Research polls found in a sign the deepening health crisis has helped increase Biden's appeal as a steady and experienced hand.

 

They also found seven of 10 voters in all three states believed Biden had the best chance of beating Trump, a crucial factor in this year's Democratic race where electability has been the top priority for many voters.

 

Because of the coronavirus, Edison Research, which normally conducts exit polls, spoke by telephone to early voters and others who planned to vote.

 

Biden has taken command of the Democratic race in the past two weeks, scoring victories in 16 of the last 21 state contests and building a lead of roughly 150 delegates over Sanders in the chase for the 1,991 delegates needed to clinch the nomination at July's Democratic convention.

 

'A REAL DISASTER'

The polls also showed about half of voters in Illinois were "very concerned" about the potential effects of the outbreak, which caused Ohio to cancel its planned nominating contest on Tuesday.

 

"Our goal is that no one will have to choose between their constitutional rights and risking their health," Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told a news conference on Tuesday, adding that going ahead with the vote would have been "a real, real disaster."

 

Several states have postponed their Democratic presidential primaries, including Georgia, which had been scheduled to vote on March 24; Louisiana, on April 4; Maryland, on April 28; and Kentucky, on May 19.

 

Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, urged the remaining primary states not to postpone their voting but to focus on ways to make it safer such as voting by mail and extending early voting hours.

 

Officials in the three states that voted on Tuesday had assured the public it was safe despite fears about the coronavirus, which has dramatically altered American life, forced the campaigns to abandon public events and prompted other states to postpone future primary elections.

 

In remarks livestreamed online before the voting ended on Tuesday, Sanders did not mention Tuesday's primaries but set out a detailed $2 trillion plan to deal with the health and economic impacts of coronavirus.

 

Tracy Finger, 53, wore a face mask as he cast a vote for Sanders in Miami on Tuesday. He said he expected the pandemic would offer the eventual Democratic nominee a political boost given the Trump administration's response, which has drawn criticism for a lack of urgency.

 

Armed with hand sanitizer in his jacket pocket, Bill Monnin, a 60-year-old bartender who was recently laid off because of a lack of business due to the coronavirus, went to cast his ballot in Chicago.

 

"It's important, it's our responsibility," he said as he walked into Kilmer Elementary School on Chicago's north side. "It's not an impossible situation yet. You don't have to stay home."

 

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 

 

For a graphic on Delegate tracker and results:

https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ELECTION-DELEGATE-TRACKER/0100B5DR3JT/index.html 

 

For a graphic on Where the candidates stand on key issues:

https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ELECTION-POLICIES/0100B5C33D8/index.html 

 

(Reporting by John Whitesides and Ginger Gibson in Washington; Additional reporting by Makini Brice and Amanda Becker in Washington, Chris Kahn in New York; Editing by Soyoung Kim and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-18

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they want  to put a lot of protection  around Biden /as trump will try every thing to stop him

He gave it a good run, and I admire his gumption (and even agree with some of his policy proposals), but Bernie needs to concede and bow out now.

They both probably die if they get the virus because of their age...

1 hour ago, JTXR said:

He gave it a good run, and I admire his gumption (and even agree with some of his policy proposals), but Bernie needs to concede and bow out now.

Agree.  Staying on at this point is not helping the cause and may harm it.  Bernie, the fat lady is bellowing her lungs out!

1 hour ago, JTXR said:

He gave it a good run, and I admire his gumption (and even agree with some of his policy proposals), but Bernie needs to concede and bow out now.

I'm not so sure he should quit. His supporters want him to go as far as the convention regardless. There if he wants to do the right thing he can both advocate for his issues and make a big dramatic show of unity with Biden to defeat 45. The trick is to bring along his supporters to help defeat 45. I think that might work better by taking it to the convention. However I do think it's time for Bernie to stop attacking Biden. He should focus on advocating for his issues and attacking 45. Now that it's clear that he has no chance to be nominated attacking Biden only helps 45.

1 hour ago, spiekerjozef said:

They both probably die if they get the virus because of their age...

Not probably. I think the latest risk for people in their age group with health problems is about 15 percent. 45 is also in that group. 

And this will guarantee Trump another four years. Biden has WAY too many skeletons in his closet and does not do well in confrontational settings. He's a nice old guy with early signs of dementia. Trump, while obviously insane, is a scrapper. He will tear Biden limb from limb. Biden is only fighting for ego, Trump is fighting for his very life (he goes to jail if he doesn't get re-elected).

36 minutes ago, J Town said:

And this will guarantee Trump another four years. Biden has WAY too many skeletons in his closet and does not do well in confrontational settings. He's a nice old guy with early signs of dementia. Trump, while obviously insane, is a scrapper. He will tear Biden limb from limb. Biden is only fighting for ego, Trump is fighting for his very life (he goes to jail if he doesn't get re-elected).

Almost anybody else (other than Bloomberg and Pete) would have been better. It could still happen. Let's see what comes out of the convention. I still cannot believe this guy gets the nomination. If you want Trump to have another chance at winning, you must love Biden. 

39 minutes ago, J Town said:

And this will guarantee Trump another four years. Biden has WAY too many skeletons in his closet and does not do well in confrontational settings. He's a nice old guy with early signs of dementia. Trump, while obviously insane, is a scrapper. He will tear Biden limb from limb. Biden is only fighting for ego, Trump is fighting for his very life (he goes to jail if he doesn't get re-elected).

 

I'm not convinced that the DNC doesn't want Trump to win.

2 minutes ago, zydeco said:

Almost anybody else (other than Bloomberg and Pete) would have been better. It could still happen. Let's see what comes out of the convention. I still cannot believe this guy gets the nomination. If you want Trump to have another chance at winning, you must love Biden. 

Word for word I could have written that.

1 minute ago, lannarebirth said:

 

I'm not convinced that the DNC doesn't want Trump to win.

Considering the economic abyss we are falling into, which could last for a decade, it may be that the Democrats don't want any part of the blame.

44 minutes ago, J Town said:

And this will guarantee Trump another four years. Biden has WAY too many skeletons in his closet and does not do well in confrontational settings. He's a nice old guy with early signs of dementia. Trump, while obviously insane, is a scrapper. He will tear Biden limb from limb. Biden is only fighting for ego, Trump is fighting for his very life (he goes to jail if he doesn't get re-elected).

No guarantees there will even an election at all so I can't take your post seriously. I agree though that 45 is running to stay out of prison. 

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

No guarantees there will even an election at all so I can't take your post seriously. I agree though that 45 is running to stay out of prison. 

No problem with an election, especially if the incumbent is able to "screen" all the voters for the virus as they try to enter the polling places.

48 minutes ago, J Town said:

And this will guarantee Trump another four years. Biden has WAY too many skeletons in his closet and does not do well in confrontational settings. He's a nice old guy with early signs of dementia. Trump, while obviously insane, is a scrapper. He will tear Biden limb from limb. Biden is only fighting for ego, Trump is fighting for his very life (he goes to jail if he doesn't get re-elected).

Nonsense. I remember similar things were said about Clinton's mind. They all proved to be false. Stop with your wishful thinking.  Health care is going to be a huge issue. What have Trumps and the Republicans offered? Vaporware.

4 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Nonsense. I remember similar things were said about Clinton's mind. They all proved to be false. Stop with your wishful thinking.  Health care is going to be a huge issue. What have Trumps and the Republicans offered? Vaporware.

Given the very high unemployment rate we are about to experience, I agree, healthcare will loom large. Biden is marginally better on that but still terrible. For my family Trump would be better though I could never vote for him. So my financial calculus is Biden worth the extra $!0k/yr I'm paying for Obamacare. Of course healthcare isn't the only issue.

Congratulations to Uncle Joe! 3 for 3. He won in Arizona too. Bernie people -- we love you but it's time to face reality. 45 must be defeated and Biden with an exciting VP is the ticket to do it.

2 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

Given the very high unemployment rate we are about to experience, I agree, healthcare will loom large. Biden is marginally better on that but still terrible. For my family Trump would be better though I could never vote for him. So my financial calculus is Biden worth the extra $!0k/yr I'm paying for Obamacare. Of course healthcare isn't the only issue.

It will mostly be about debt. I suspect a sizable majority of Americans are already so debt burdened that a couple of weeks without a salary will push them over the edge. Unless mortgages, loans, and credit card balances disappear, people will be nothing but debt serfs for the rest of their lives. The Fed may go to ZIRP or NIRP but those credit cards are not budging from 20 percent interest rates. As far as health care, I do believe there are a lot of people in government gleefully, albeit quietly, rubbing their hands together over the prospect of this virus doing away with the sickest of the sick and the very elderly and thus "saving" Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. 

The corrupt a***hole wins again. What else is new?

4 minutes ago, yawg said:

The corrupt a***hole wins again. What else is new?

Corruption? Surely you must be talking about the grifter in the white house. 

15 minutes ago, zydeco said:

It will mostly be about debt. I suspect a sizable majority of Americans are already so debt burdened that a couple of weeks without a salary will push them over the edge. Unless mortgages, loans, and credit card balances disappear, people will be nothing but debt serfs for the rest of their lives. The Fed may go to ZIRP or NIRP but those credit cards are not budging from 20 percent interest rates. As far as health care, I do believe there are a lot of people in government gleefully, albeit quietly, rubbing their hands together over the prospect of this virus doing away with the sickest of the sick and the very elderly and thus "saving" Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. 

 

Biden hasn't even come out for a stimulus. Shockingly, Bernie let Trump beat him out on that too. Everybody has known this was in the works for a few days now. Biden showing a lot of hubris here for someone who is flawed from head to toe. He's being lauded for being vigorous, hale and hardy for not having a syncope episode during the last debate.  The bar could not be set lower.

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 20206 yr by lannarebirth

The 2020 lineup:

 

Boundless energy, optimism, solid track record, kept promises

 

VS

 

Dementia, Establishment Corruption, Thin-skinned Belligerence

46 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

 

I'm not convinced that the DNC doesn't want Trump to win.

 

What the DNC or the Democrats want is wholly irrelevant. The only people that really matter in this election are the voters in the swing states, and for the same reasons they didn't want Hillary 4 years ago, they don't want Biden today. Absolutely nothing has changed to make the voters more receptive to the status quo. If anything, the Trump era has made them more angry and radicalized. This is just more self mutilation by the Democratic party, clinging to the old ways and refusing to see the new reality on the ground.

 

It's time everyone settle in for another 4 years of Trump. Maybe the Democrats will learn their lesson in 2024.

Edited March 18, 20206 yr by Monomial

10 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

The 2020 lineup:

 

Boundless energy, optimism, solid track record, kept promises

 

VS

 

Dementia, Establishment Corruption, Thin-skinned Belligerence

 

Narcissistic, incoherent, lying, jumping bean

 

VS

 

Perhaps somebody utterly sane, vital, and experienced coming out of the convention who is not Biden.

i think Biden will be running against trumps puppet pence 

the  bloated orange orangutan battery will die

Well, one plus of a Biden win would be not having to read Jingthing's smugly arrogant way of referring to Trump as 45.  (I am assuming that Jingy will not be referring to Biden -God help us all -  as 46.) 

8 minutes ago, blazes said:

Well, one plus of a Biden win would be not having to read Jingthing's smugly arrogant way of referring to Trump as 45.  (I am assuming that Jingy will not be referring to Biden -God help us all -  as 46.) 

 

I assure you there will be zero originality in whatever ensues....it will be a direct lift from

whatever CNN deems appropriate.

2 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

The 2020 lineup:

 

Boundless energy, optimism, solid track record, kept promises

 

VS

 

Dementia, Establishment Corruption, Thin-skinned Belligerence

Big beautiful health care, 1 trillion dollar infrastructure, huge tax breaks for corporations, deregulating wall street, filling the swamp.

3 hours ago, J Town said:

And this will guarantee Trump another four years. Biden has WAY too many skeletons in his closet and does not do well in confrontational settings. He's a nice old guy with early signs of dementia. Trump, while obviously insane, is a scrapper. He will tear Biden limb from limb. Biden is only fighting for ego, Trump is fighting for his very life (he goes to jail if he doesn't get re-elected).

I know this is all you guys have got, the Hunter Biden Rudy-conspiracy and the Sleepy Joe nonsense.  But if you put Biden and Trump side-by-side, it's pretty darn clear who's missing a few marbles and it ain't Biden.  All Trump can do is lie, bully, and repeat campaign slogans.  The man doesn't know anything!  The majority of Americans will see right through his con.  It's the few Trump-worshippers who don't want to concede that Trump has been a total disaster.  The most incompetent, corrupt, and dishonest President we will see in our lifetimes.  2021 will be a great year when the name Trump is history.    

6 hours ago, opalred said:

they want  to put a lot of protection  around Biden /as trump will try every thing to stop him

After one rally when a protester rushed Biden on stage, Biden requested and has received Secret Service protection.