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Joe Biden steams ahead of Bernie Sanders with primary victories – live Joe Biden steams ahead of Bernie Sanders with primary victories – live
(32 minutes later)
Former vice-president solidifies frontrunner status with wins in Michigan and elsewhereFormer vice-president solidifies frontrunner status with wins in Michigan and elsewhere
Joe Biden had an interesting exchange with a worker at an assembly plant in Detroit on Tuesday, telling the man he was “full of shit” and a “horse’s ass” after he claimed the former vice-president was planning to “take away our guns”.
Donald Trump’s team saw it as a gaffe, with his deputy director of communications for rapid response quickly tweeting out the clip:
Trump’s team usually has brutally effective instincts for honing in an opponent’s weak spots – although of course they often post misleading material too.
In this instance though they may have miscalculated. The clip shows Biden at ease with a working-class crowd in a way that previous Democratic candidates – whether Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John Kerry – have often found difficult. Winning over working-class voters in the rust belt is seen to be key to Biden’s strategy for beating Trump.
It also shows him giving as good as he gets, defending his position aggressively – something that may be reassuring to many Democrats nervous about Trump steamrollering over their candidate in the presidential debates and elsewhere.
And it sets out his stall as a moderate – opposed to the extremes of gun ownership but not gun ownership itself. “I support the second amendment … I have a shotgun, I have a 20-gauge, a 12-gauge. My sons hunt,” Biden said, before asking, presumably to suggest there are limits to what ordinary gun owners should be allowed: “You need 100 rounds?”
It seems unlikely to me that Biden’s team will be disappointed if the video continues to do the rounds today.
North Dakota has been called for Bernie Sanders. He won 53% of the vote, to Biden’s 40%. The state only offers 14 delegates, however.
Washington is the only state not to have been called yet from last night’s crop.
Democratic stalwarts such as James Carville called for Bernie Sanders to drop out of the race yesterday, and South Carolina congressman Jim Clyburn – whose support for Biden in his state was instrumental there – even called for the DNC to “shut this primary down” and cancel all future debates.
The path ahead looks very difficult for the Vermont socialist. The next major slate of primaries is on March 17, and includes Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.
In Florida, Biden is 42.5 points ahead of his rival in polling averages, while recent polling in Arizona shows Biden at +28. Sanders lost all four states to Hillary Clinton in 2016.
But Sanders seems unlikely to go quietly – despite his decision not to speak after the results last night. His campaign said last night that he fully intended to take on Biden in Sunday’s debate in Arizona, and he still has a fiercely loyal support base, especially among the young and Latinos.
In 2016, his decision to stay in the race all the way to the bitter end – only endorsing Clinton in July of that year – was perceived by many of his supporters as helping push Clinton’s platform to the left, for example on healthcare. He may well aim to do the same with Biden this year.
Clinton supporters, of course, bitterly resent the fact Sanders stayed in the race so long, believing it weakened her in the general election, perhaps crucially.
Donald Trump’s response to last night’s primary results seemed a little off the pace, continuing to blame Elizabeth Warren for Bernie Sanders’ defeats:Donald Trump’s response to last night’s primary results seemed a little off the pace, continuing to blame Elizabeth Warren for Bernie Sanders’ defeats:
Good morning.Good morning.
Joe Biden last night continued to cement his extraordinary comeback in the race to become the Democratic presidential nominee and take on Donald Trump in November.Joe Biden last night continued to cement his extraordinary comeback in the race to become the Democratic presidential nominee and take on Donald Trump in November.
The former vice-president to Barack Obama won at least four states in last night’s primaries – most significantly Michigan.The former vice-president to Barack Obama won at least four states in last night’s primaries – most significantly Michigan.
Leftwing senator Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton there in the 2016 race, and last night’s disappointing result for Sanders suggested that his victory four years ago may have had more to do with dislike for the former secretary of state than his own strength in the rust belt. Last night Biden beat Sanders 53% to 37%.Leftwing senator Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton there in the 2016 race, and last night’s disappointing result for Sanders suggested that his victory four years ago may have had more to do with dislike for the former secretary of state than his own strength in the rust belt. Last night Biden beat Sanders 53% to 37%.
The centrist ex-VP also won in Idaho, Missouri and Mississippi – where he took in 81% of the vote to Sanders’ 15%.The centrist ex-VP also won in Idaho, Missouri and Mississippi – where he took in 81% of the vote to Sanders’ 15%.
Sanders is leading in North Dakota with 78% of the vote in. In Washington state, the two candidates are neck and neck on 33% with 67% in.Sanders is leading in North Dakota with 78% of the vote in. In Washington state, the two candidates are neck and neck on 33% with 67% in.
Full results are here:Full results are here:
The results put Biden on 823 delegates to Sanders’ 663 and suggest the former vice-president is now pulling decisively ahead. His polling lead over the Vermont senator has skyrocketed since the withdrawal from the race of fellow moderates Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar.The results put Biden on 823 delegates to Sanders’ 663 and suggest the former vice-president is now pulling decisively ahead. His polling lead over the Vermont senator has skyrocketed since the withdrawal from the race of fellow moderates Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar.
By contrast Sanders seems only to have seen a slight polling bump from the departure of his fellow leftwinger Elizabeth Warren.By contrast Sanders seems only to have seen a slight polling bump from the departure of his fellow leftwinger Elizabeth Warren.
Biden gave a measured victory speech before a small crowd, praising Sanders and his supporters for their “tireless passion” and calling on them to help him defeat Donald Trump together. Sanders did not give a speech and returned to Vermont.Biden gave a measured victory speech before a small crowd, praising Sanders and his supporters for their “tireless passion” and calling on them to help him defeat Donald Trump together. Sanders did not give a speech and returned to Vermont.
There was a signal yesterday of how the race might be transformed by the coronavirus outbreak, which has now affected over 1,000 people in the US. Both the Biden campaign and the Sanders campaign had cancelled scheduled election night rallies in Ohio as a precaution against spreading the virus.There was a signal yesterday of how the race might be transformed by the coronavirus outbreak, which has now affected over 1,000 people in the US. Both the Biden campaign and the Sanders campaign had cancelled scheduled election night rallies in Ohio as a precaution against spreading the virus.
Biden’s campaign also cancelled an event in Florida, and tthe Sanders campaign said it would evaluate future events on a “case by case basis”.Biden’s campaign also cancelled an event in Florida, and tthe Sanders campaign said it would evaluate future events on a “case by case basis”.
The impact on Trump – who seems to draw such energy from live events and uses them to hone attack lines – remains to be seen.The impact on Trump – who seems to draw such energy from live events and uses them to hone attack lines – remains to be seen.
Biden also said he would deliver a speech on the virus this week.Biden also said he would deliver a speech on the virus this week.
Here’s more on the primary results:Here’s more on the primary results:
Today Trump is meeting secretary of state Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence, as well as bankers with whom he will discuss the coronavirus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Dr Robert Redfield and infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci testify before the House oversight and reform committee at 9.30am ET.Today Trump is meeting secretary of state Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence, as well as bankers with whom he will discuss the coronavirus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Dr Robert Redfield and infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci testify before the House oversight and reform committee at 9.30am ET.