ELECTION 2020
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders cemented his status as the clear front-runner in the race to be the Democratic nominee as results still pouring in on Sunday morning suggested a massive win in the diverse Nevada caucuses.
It is only the third contest along the road to the Democratic National Convention in July, when the party will chose its nominee to take on U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the first contests often see candidates drop out or surge.
Sanders’ victory in the first significantly racially diverse state of the primaries indicated that he was reaching a broader coalition of voters with his platform focused on universal healthcare, economic justice and further progressive ideals.
“We have put together a multi-generational, multiracial coalition the is going to not only win in Nevada, it’s going to sweep the country,” Sanders said from a rally in San Antonio, Texas, where he is campaigning in preparation for the Super Tuesday primaries.
Sanders had 47 percent of the county convention delegates in Nevada with 50 percent of the precincts reporting on Sunday morning.
Former Vice President Joseph Biden was a far-flung second place with 19 percent, however, it will be seen as a win for the former front-runner who struggled in the first two nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire.
“The press is ready to declare people dead quickly, but we’re alive and we’re coming back and we’re gonna win,” Biden said from Las Vegas. Considered a moderate candidate, Biden is counting on South Carolina to hand him a much-needed win in the contest.
Pete Buttigieg, who slightly edged out Sanders in Iowa, was trailing in third place with 15 percent in Nevada.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a progressive with similar ideals to Sanders, took what her campaign will be considered a disappointing fourth place at 10 percent. Warren saw a major boost in fundraising after what was considered a strong debate last week.
Senator Amy Klobuchar took five percent and billionaire Tom Steyer took four percent with half of the precincts reporting.
Moving forward, Sanders is counting on support from Latino and progressive voters at-large to grow and Biden is hoping for a strong showing in South Carolina where a large bloc of African-American voters await. In Nevada, polls showed that Biden led among African-American voters at 36 percent and Sanders followed at 27 percent.
Significantly, Sanders led in precincts dominated by members of the culinary union that told its members to vote for any candidate but the Vermont senator over his universal healthcare plan.
©️Breaking911 — Eli Ridder. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
