Biden welcomes Buttigieg support: he knows job ‘is not just to fight, is not just to win, it’s to heal’ – updates
Voters in 14 states will soon head to the polls for Super Tuesday primaries; check here for early updates
WASHINGTON – It’s official: Mayor Pete is ‘delighted’ to endorse Joe Biden
Former mayor Pete Buttigieg declared that he was “delighted” to endorse former Vice President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination Monday night.
“When I ran for president, we made it clear that the whole idea is about rallying the country together, to defeat Donald Trump, and to win the era for the values that we share. And, that was always a goal that was much bigger than me becoming President,” Buttigieg said at a stop ahead of a Biden rally in Dallas, Texas.
He continued, “It is in the name of that very same goal that I am delighted to endorse and support Joe Biden for president.
Of the endorsement, Biden said that Buttigieg “reminds me of my son Beau.”
In 2015, Beau Biden, Delaware’s attorney general, died of brain cancer. The death of his son ultimately derailed Biden’s initial plans to run for president in 2016.
“It’s the highest compliment I could give to any man or woman,” Biden said of the comparison, reiterating that Buttigieg’s character mimics that of Beau’s, and gives him hope.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me,” Biden said of Buttigieg’s endorsement. “Pete knows that the role of the president is not just to fight, is not just to win, it’s to heal.”
Sunday, Buttigieg announced he was ending the presidential campaign in which he made history as the first openly gay man to win delegates in the race for the nomination of a major political party.
— Savannah Behrmann
Bloomberg Fox News Town Hall interrupted by multiple protesters
Former New York City Mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s town hall on Fox News was interrupted by multiple groups of protesters while he was answering a question about his views on gun control.
One man angrily asked Bloomberg if “are those liberties available in New York?” after Bloomberg had answered why he supports stricter gun control measures.
Gun control has been a signature issue for Bloomberg. He helped start Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which became Everytown for Gun Safety in 2013.
That same man then told the other groups of protesters: “No, you guys, we don’t protest” as others seemed to take his interruption as an opportunity to air their grievances with the former mayor.
Some protesters could be heard shouting “release the NDAs,” a topic Bloomberg has had much scrutiny over. Bloomberg had agreed to release three women from confidentiality agreements his company signed related to comments they accused him of making.
Others yelled: “Stop and frisk is wrong!” regarding the policing tactic that disproportionately affected minorities that Bloomberg implemented while he was mayor.
The Fox anchors promptly went to a commercial break as the protesters holding signs were escorted out.
— Savannah Behrmann
Biden says he would make Buttigieg part of his administration
Former Vice President Joe Biden told Texas TV station KHOU Monday that he’d look to South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg to join his administration if he wins the presidency.
The statement comes as Buttigieg is expected to endorse Biden Monday night in Texas. Buttigieg did not immediately endorse following him exiting the race Sunday.
However, when asked about the expected endorsement, Biden said that he “did speak to Pete Buttigieg a couple days ago to encourage him to stay engaged because he has enormous talent.”
“And I indicated to him that if I became the nominee, I’d come and ask him to be part of an administration,” Biden said. “He’d be engaged in moving things forward.”
Biden also sang the praises of Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, whom he called a “great talent.” Klobuchar suspended her campaign Monday morning, and is reportedly endorsing Biden Monday night, as well.
Both former centrist candidates are reportedly going to be joining Biden Monday night at a rally in Texas ahead of Super Tuesday.
— Savannah Behrmann
Officials give rare public warning on foreign interference
In a joint statement on the eve of Super Tuesday, U.S. officials, including Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, warned the public about foreign activities to disrupt the 2020 presidential elections.
The officials said foreign actors are still spreading false information and propaganda on social media to sow chaos and confusion in the electoral process.
“Tomorrow, 2 million voters in more than a dozen states and territories will cast their votes in presidential primaries. ‘Super Tuesday’ will see more Americans head to the polls than any other day of the primary season … We encourage all voters going to the polls to check your voter registration and know ahead of time when to vote, where to vote, what’s on your ballot and whether your state requires an identification,” the officials said.
The rare statement, issued by eight U.S. officials who lead law enforcement, national security and cybersecurity agencies, comes days after the Washington Post reported that Russia is trying to interfere in the elections to help Bernie Sanders win the Democratic primary.
Sanders acknowledged he was briefed about a month ago about Russia’s efforts. U.S. officials have also briefed lawmakers that the Kremlin may be trying to help President Donald Trump win the presidential election.
Russia interference:Intelligence official warned lawmakers that Russia was interfering in 2020 to help Trump
An investigation by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller revealed a “sweeping and systemic” campaign by Russia to help Trump win the White House in 2016. Mueller’s two-year probe revealed a large-scale Russian operation that used two methods to influence the U.S. election: a hacking operation targeting the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and a disinformation and social media effort to sow chaos in the political discourse.
The investigation did not find that Trump or his campaign conspired with Russia, but the special counsel’s detailed report portrayed the campaign as an eager beneficiary of Russia’s efforts.
– Kristine Phillips
South Carolina primary turnout shatters 2016 level
Democrats who were concerned that relatively low voter turnout in the Iowa caucuses meant Democratic voters were not keyed up for the 2020 general election can take heart in the South Carolina primary.
Voter participation in that state’s Democratic primary on Saturday was slightly higher than 2008, when then-Sen. Barack Obama’s soaring rhetoric and surprise win in Iowa had voters fired up and ready to go.
According to the South Carolina secretary of state’s office, 539,046 ballots were cast in the Democratic primary this year. In 2008, that number was 532,151. Those totals indicate much higher enthusiasm than 2016, when 373,063 people voted in the Democratic primary (73% of them for Hillary Clinton).
Latest poll results:California, here they come: Sanders dominates new USA TODAY/Suffolk poll of Super Tuesday’s prize
And the lack of minority candidates did not appear to dampen the enthusiasm of the state’s large African-American voting bloc. In 2008, black voters accounted for 55% of the votes cast in South Carolina’s Democratic primary, according to exit polls. In 2020, the number was 56%.
That was down from 2016, when exit polls found that black voters cast 61% of the Democratic primary ballots. But because the overall turnout was about 44% higher this year, roughly 60,000 more black voters participated than in 2016.
If voter turnout in the 14 Super Tuesday states is comparable to that in South Carolina, Democrats have reason to be optimistic that those enthusiastic voters will also show up at the polls in November.
– William Cummings
Amy Klobuchar ends bid on Super Tuesday eve
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who pitched herself as a moderate with Midwestern appeal and the political “grit” to beat President Donald Trump, ended her presidential bid Monday.
Klobuchar enjoyed a brief boom after the New Hampshire primary, where a surprise third-place finish gave her a needed fundraising boon and fresh political momentum. Klobuchar said the New Hampshire results showed she could beat expectations and build a broad coalition, as she had in her Senate races.
“I defied expectations, and I won. And I have done it over and over again in the reddest of red districts and the bluest of blue districts,” she told supporters in New Hampshire.
But her “Klomentum” seemed to evaporate as quickly as it emerged.
The Minnesota Democrat’s exit from the race will be welcome news to the cluster of other candidates trying to claim the centrist mantle, including former Vice President Joe Biden. But it’s not clear yet where Klobuchar’s supporters will land.
– Jason Lalljee and Deirdre Shesgreen
Who will inherit Pete Buttigieg’s supporters?
Former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg called it quits just two days before one of the largest contests of the primary cycle – leaving his supporters looking for a new candidate.
Buttigieg’s exit could bring a significant shift to the race, as he was one of several moderate candidates running to win many of the same voters. Will his supporters flock to fellow center-left Democrats, such as Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Vice President Joe Biden or Michael Bloomberg?
Or could the more progressive candidates, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, benefit from the now unattached voters?
It’s unclear how Buttigieg’s announcement will affect Sanders, who is still the national front-runner.
With Buttigieg out, moderate voters could coalesce around one candidate rather than spreading across three or four candidates. Sanders, who is supported by a largely more progressive sect of the Democratic Party, could see a slimmer margin between him and more moderate candidates in upcoming primaries.
Biden and Buttigieg spoke sometime after the former mayor announced he was suspending his campaign, according to the Biden campaign.
For a closer look, see our analysis: With Pete Buttigieg out, which candidate is primed to inherit his supporters?
– Rebecca Morin