Super Tuesday: Bloomberg endorses Biden in bid 'to defeat Trump' as Sanders launches fresh attack on frontrunner
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to mock Michael Bloomberg after he dropped out of the Democratic 2020 race and to sow division among progressive candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren following the party’s Super Tuesday primaries, accusing the latter of splitting the vote and damaging her friend and rival’s chances in key regions.
Former US vice president Joe Biden was the big winner as 14 states went to the polls yesterday, completing the comeback he began at last weekend’s South Carolina primary by claiming at least nine key states including Texas, with Maine also projected to be confirmed in his favour.
Sanders did take home the top prize, the delegate-rich state of California, but otherwise secured only three others, an outcome that saw the moderate wing of the party come together emphatically to back Biden.
In the fallout of those contests, Mr Bloomberg held a rally in New York City where he announced he was endorsing Mr Biden.
Mr Sanders, meanwhile, opened fresh lines of attack on Mr Biden as the two gear up for a two-man race going forward.
And, Ms Warren's team suggested she is considering her path forward — with many believing that means she plans on dropping out of the race imminently.
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Barack Obama endorses Bernie Sanders (Well, not really)
The former president has not backed anyone for the White House at the moment, but you may not know that after having watched the latest ad released by the Sanders campaign. Here's my latest:
Is Elizabeth Warren planning on dropping out of the race after Super Tuesday?
An aide to Elizabeth Warren has said Democratic presidential hopeful is 'talking to her team to assess the path forward', according to reports.
Ms Warren is running to be the Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential election and is meeting with her aides this morning to reassess her position, sources say.
The 70-year-old suffered a disappointing showing on Super Tuesday coming third in the state of Massachusetts, where she serves as senator.
Ms Warren has only amassed 50 delegates so far, which is far behind frontrunners Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders on 453 and 382 delegates respectively.
Trump mocks Sessions for being forced into runoff election
Donald Trump mocked ex-Attorney General Jeff Sessions after it was reported his senatorial bid in the Alabama Republican primaries would be heading into a runoff election, while seemingly issuing a warning to his former appointees.
The president wrote in a tweet posted on Wednesday morning: "This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States [and] then doesn’t have the wisdom or courage to stare down [and] end the phony Russia Witch Hunt."
"Recuses himself on FIRST DAY in office," he added, "and the Mueller Scam begins!"
The tweet also included a Politico article showing the results of the Alabama primaries on Super Tuesday. Mr Sessions has launched a bid to reclaim his Senate seat in the state after recusing himself from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as attorney general and being forced out of his role in the Justice Department in 2018.
Trump calls Warren 'selfish,' says Biden has 'easier path' to nomination than Sanders
Calling Senator Elizabeth Warren "selfish," Mr Trump criticised her for staying in the Democratic primary and preventing Senator Bernie Sanders from capturing more delegates on Super Tuesday.
Mr Trump – who has been speaking publicly much more often since the coronavirus outbreak – called Super Tuesday "great" during a meeting he and Vice President Mike Pence held with airline executives about the virus. He also said he thinks former Vice President Joe Biden likely has an "easier path" to the Democratic nomination after taking the delegate lead.
"If Elizabeth Warren would have done what she should have done," Mr Sanders would be in better shape, Mr Trump told reporters.
"Elizabeth Warren was the single biggest favor in that election last night and it would have been a positive thing for her. She was very selfish from that point of view," the president said.
"Had Warren endorsed Bernie," he said, "we would have had a different story now."
In states like Colorado, Maine and Massachusetts, assuming most of Ms Warren's votes would have gone to Mr Sanders, he would have bested the former vice president.
But in places like Alabama, Virginia and others where Mr Biden won by wide margins, Ms Warren's exit would not have given the haul of delegates to Mr Sanders.
"Joe had absolutely no chance, according to you people," Mr Trump said, taking a shot at the media.
Biden's cash-strapped campaign has been raising more money since his Saturday win in South Carolina. And it will be getting a big cash infusion from former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who ended his bid for the Democratic nomination and endorsed Mr Biden after a poor showing on Tuesday.
"I see 'Mini Mike' just got out and he's going to save face by putting money in Biden's campaign," a dismissive Mr Trump said, contending he is not concerned about the Bloomberg-Biden alliance.
Bernie Sanders goes after Biden in Vermont press conference
Sanders said that he and Biden have differences, but signals that he is welcoming a new debate format in which they can have substantive discussion of issues.
Signaling his plan for attack — as he did last night — he promised to raise issues like Biden's social security stance, health care, and other issues that have defined this race.
Stay tuned for a full read out.
Joe Biden wins Maine primary
The Associated Press has called the race for Biden after a stellar night for the former vice president across the country yesterday.
Bloomberg makes it official with Biden
The New York billionaire is praising Biden at an event of his in New York City.
"There's no doubt in my mind we would've beaten Donald Trump in November," Bloomberg says. "And you know who else knows that? Donald Trump!"
Bloomberg reiterates his promise to ensure victory for Democrats in November.
"I will not walk away form the most important political fight of my life and I hope you won't walk away either," Bloomberg says.
Says that Joe Biden is the only candidate to take on Trump in November.
"I endorse Joe Biden, and I hope you will join me in working to make him the next president of the United States of America," he says.
'Assessing the path forward'
After a disappointing night on Super Tuesday, Elizabeth Warren and her team are having a look inward to figure out the next steps for the campaign.
Days ago she was promising to take her campaign all the way to the convention — but even that seems like a promise she may now need to reconsider.
Here's from her campaign manager:
"But we are obviously disappointed, and Elizabeth is talking with our team to assess the path forward.
All of us have worked for Elizabeth long enough to know that she isn’t a lifetime politician and doesn’t think like one. She’s going to take time right now to think through the right way to continue this fight. There’s a lot at stake for this country and the millions of people who are falling further and further behind.
This decision is in her hands, and it’s important that she has the time and space to consider what comes next."
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