This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/contests-in-south-carolina-nevada-to-test-the-appeal-of-the-outsiders/2016/02/19/db65af30-d77f-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Sanders, Clinton do some last-minute lobbying for the Nevada caucuses | Sanders, Clinton do some last-minute lobbying for the Nevada caucuses |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LAS VEGAS — Democrats have started caucusing here in Nevada, where Sen. Bernie Sanders is battling Hillary Clinton for supremacy in one of two races Saturday that will test the strength of anti-establishment fervor in the 2016 presidential campaign. | LAS VEGAS — Democrats have started caucusing here in Nevada, where Sen. Bernie Sanders is battling Hillary Clinton for supremacy in one of two races Saturday that will test the strength of anti-establishment fervor in the 2016 presidential campaign. |
| Clinton still enjoys strong support from the Democratic establishment, and her goal in Nevada is to blunt the momentum Sanders acquired from a victory in New Hampshire and then move on next week to South Carolina, where she enjoys broad support from African Americans. | Clinton still enjoys strong support from the Democratic establishment, and her goal in Nevada is to blunt the momentum Sanders acquired from a victory in New Hampshire and then move on next week to South Carolina, where she enjoys broad support from African Americans. |
| In South Carolina earlier Saturday, voters already began casting their ballots in that state’s Republican primary, which Donald Trump is favored to win. A big Trump victory in the Palmetto State would stamp him clearly as the Republican front-runner, while a Sanders win in Nevada would raise more questions about Clinton’s appeal and add to the pressure on her to score a big victory in South Carolina. | |
| [Updates from Nevada and South Carolina] | [Updates from Nevada and South Carolina] |
| All polls in South Carolina show Trump leading, though they differ over the size of his margin ahead of the next two candidates, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. In Nevada, where polls are scarcer, Sanders and Clinton appear to be in a dead heat. The senator from Vermont has appealed to younger Hispanics to support his candidacy in an effort to counter claims that he cannot attract minority votes. | All polls in South Carolina show Trump leading, though they differ over the size of his margin ahead of the next two candidates, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. In Nevada, where polls are scarcer, Sanders and Clinton appear to be in a dead heat. The senator from Vermont has appealed to younger Hispanics to support his candidacy in an effort to counter claims that he cannot attract minority votes. |
| Sanders made a morning visit to the MGM Grand Casino, seeking to make sure the unionized workers there planned to participate in the caucuses later in the day. | Sanders made a morning visit to the MGM Grand Casino, seeking to make sure the unionized workers there planned to participate in the caucuses later in the day. |
| Scores of workers were waiting to greet Sanders and take selfies in advance of the Nevada caucuses. Among those already sold on Sanders was Laura Barrera-Perez, who said her job was cleaning the casino. | Scores of workers were waiting to greet Sanders and take selfies in advance of the Nevada caucuses. Among those already sold on Sanders was Laura Barrera-Perez, who said her job was cleaning the casino. |
| “He proposes good stuff,” she said of Sanders. “I saw his face, and he’s very honest.” | “He proposes good stuff,” she said of Sanders. “I saw his face, and he’s very honest.” |
| Ambrocio Leyva, a buffet-line server, said he was still struggling with choice but was inclined to go with Sanders over Hillary Clinton. Leyva, 46, who came to the United States from Mexico 25 years ago, said many of his co-workers had initially been for Clinton but some were rethinking their choice. | Ambrocio Leyva, a buffet-line server, said he was still struggling with choice but was inclined to go with Sanders over Hillary Clinton. Leyva, 46, who came to the United States from Mexico 25 years ago, said many of his co-workers had initially been for Clinton but some were rethinking their choice. |
| Leyva said he had waited to make a final choice until the end because “you can always hear something new” from the candidates. “I’m making that decision now,” he said. | Leyva said he had waited to make a final choice until the end because “you can always hear something new” from the candidates. “I’m making that decision now,” he said. |
| This weekend marks one of the few times when the Democratic and Republican calendars diverge. Republicans will hold caucuses in Nevada on Tuesday, and Democrats will have their primary in South Carolina next Saturday. | This weekend marks one of the few times when the Democratic and Republican calendars diverge. Republicans will hold caucuses in Nevada on Tuesday, and Democrats will have their primary in South Carolina next Saturday. |
| Nevada’s caucuses mark the first real chance for non-white voters to weigh in on the Democratic race. The next will come in South Carolina, and in the Southern-heavy line-up of states that vote on March 1. Sanders’s campaign has already targeted Colorado, a caucus state with a large Latino population, as one of its best Super Tuesday hopes. | Nevada’s caucuses mark the first real chance for non-white voters to weigh in on the Democratic race. The next will come in South Carolina, and in the Southern-heavy line-up of states that vote on March 1. Sanders’s campaign has already targeted Colorado, a caucus state with a large Latino population, as one of its best Super Tuesday hopes. |
| On Saturday morning, Clinton stopped by the cafeteria at the Harrah’s casino on the Las Vegas Strip to greet caucusgoers, minutes after Sanders had worked the same room. | On Saturday morning, Clinton stopped by the cafeteria at the Harrah’s casino on the Las Vegas Strip to greet caucusgoers, minutes after Sanders had worked the same room. |
| The heavily Latino crowd cheered “Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!” when Clinton entered. “First Lady in the house!” a man yelled. | The heavily Latino crowd cheered “Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!” when Clinton entered. “First Lady in the house!” a man yelled. |
| Across town, at a Henderson middle school, long lines greeted caucusgoers registering to participate in the day’s events. The Nevada Democratic Party said that over 31,000 people had pre-registered online, but at this location, a vast majority of participants hadn’t. | Across town, at a Henderson middle school, long lines greeted caucusgoers registering to participate in the day’s events. The Nevada Democratic Party said that over 31,000 people had pre-registered online, but at this location, a vast majority of participants hadn’t. |
| Nevada’s most prominent Democratic politician, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid arrived there to caucus with his wife, Landra Gould. Reid has pledged to remain neutral in the presidential race until after Nevada voters have spoken. | Nevada’s most prominent Democratic politician, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid arrived there to caucus with his wife, Landra Gould. Reid has pledged to remain neutral in the presidential race until after Nevada voters have spoken. |
| “It’s important that we have this furor we have in Nevada,” said Reid, who was instrumental in making his state one of the early presidential contests. “It didn’t exist 10 years ago; it exists now. I’m glad we focus on places other than New Hampshire and Iowa to find a presidential candidate for us.” | “It’s important that we have this furor we have in Nevada,” said Reid, who was instrumental in making his state one of the early presidential contests. “It didn’t exist 10 years ago; it exists now. I’m glad we focus on places other than New Hampshire and Iowa to find a presidential candidate for us.” |
| Sanders’s highest-profile Latino endorsers took one last chance to attack Hillary Clinton’s immigration record, telling reporters on a conference call that her “hypocrisy” was breaking down her “whole mythology of a firewall of color.” | Sanders’s highest-profile Latino endorsers took one last chance to attack Hillary Clinton’s immigration record, telling reporters on a conference call that her “hypocrisy” was breaking down her “whole mythology of a firewall of color.” |
| “There was a comfort zone that the Clinton campaign and their operatives were working in, that there would be no real response from the Latino community,” said Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the first member of Congress to endorse Sanders. | “There was a comfort zone that the Clinton campaign and their operatives were working in, that there would be no real response from the Latino community,” said Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the first member of Congress to endorse Sanders. |
| Grijalva has campaigned extensively through Nevada, linking Clinton to a 1996 Republican-passed immigration bill signed by her husband, President Bill Clinton. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, has battered Sanders over his vote against a 2007 immigration bill — a vote, Sanders backers have noted, that put him on the same side as Barack Obama. | Grijalva has campaigned extensively through Nevada, linking Clinton to a 1996 Republican-passed immigration bill signed by her husband, President Bill Clinton. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, has battered Sanders over his vote against a 2007 immigration bill — a vote, Sanders backers have noted, that put him on the same side as Barack Obama. |
| [GOP candidates push hard in South Carolina] | [GOP candidates push hard in South Carolina] |
| Republicans, meanwhile, focused their attention on South Carolina, where that state’s primary has a history of identifying the eventual nominee and often embracing the establishment’s choice of candidates. The pattern was broken four years ago when former House speaker Newt Gingrich handily defeated Mitt Romney. Trump threatens to do the same with a victory Saturday, which would further unsettle party regulars. | Republicans, meanwhile, focused their attention on South Carolina, where that state’s primary has a history of identifying the eventual nominee and often embracing the establishment’s choice of candidates. The pattern was broken four years ago when former House speaker Newt Gingrich handily defeated Mitt Romney. Trump threatens to do the same with a victory Saturday, which would further unsettle party regulars. |
| Establishment Republicans have yet to fully coalesce around an alternative to Trump, although Rubio, who stumbled in New Hampshire, hopes to rebound in Saturday’s balloting in South Carolina and cement himself in that role. | Establishment Republicans have yet to fully coalesce around an alternative to Trump, although Rubio, who stumbled in New Hampshire, hopes to rebound in Saturday’s balloting in South Carolina and cement himself in that role. |
| In Greenville, S.C., Stephanie Thorn went into a small room early Saturday at the West End Community Center to cast her ballot for Rubio while her husband waited outside with their young son. She said she likes Rubio’s conservative values and believes he’s the candidate best suited to carry the GOP to victory in November. | In Greenville, S.C., Stephanie Thorn went into a small room early Saturday at the West End Community Center to cast her ballot for Rubio while her husband waited outside with their young son. She said she likes Rubio’s conservative values and believes he’s the candidate best suited to carry the GOP to victory in November. |
| “I think he has just a really good chance of winning because he’s very well liked, especially with the Hispanic community,” Thorn, 30, said. “I think he would be able to beat Hillary or Bernie, as opposed to Cruz who is too divisive and Trump who is too divisive. He just seems like a really good guy.” | “I think he has just a really good chance of winning because he’s very well liked, especially with the Hispanic community,” Thorn, 30, said. “I think he would be able to beat Hillary or Bernie, as opposed to Cruz who is too divisive and Trump who is too divisive. He just seems like a really good guy.” |
| Her husband, Coben, 30, also voted Saturday but cast his vote for Cruz. | Her husband, Coben, 30, also voted Saturday but cast his vote for Cruz. |
| “I thought he had the best chance to beat Trump in this state. I’m not as socially conservative as he is, but I like his tax plan,” he said. | “I thought he had the best chance to beat Trump in this state. I’m not as socially conservative as he is, but I like his tax plan,” he said. |
| They both cited Trump’s dominance in the campaign thus far as reasons for casting their ballots for his opponents. | They both cited Trump’s dominance in the campaign thus far as reasons for casting their ballots for his opponents. |
| “I get why people like him. He says how things are a lot of times, but I feel like he’s too much of a loose cannon,” Stephanie said. “I feel like if you put nuclear codes in a guy’s hands like that and he was having a bad day, or — I don’t know, I feel like he could mess up relations with a lot of people.” | “I get why people like him. He says how things are a lot of times, but I feel like he’s too much of a loose cannon,” Stephanie said. “I feel like if you put nuclear codes in a guy’s hands like that and he was having a bad day, or — I don’t know, I feel like he could mess up relations with a lot of people.” |
| [In S.C., the GOP contest looks more and more like a three-man race] | [In S.C., the GOP contest looks more and more like a three-man race] |
| As the leading outsiders in the presidential race, Trump and Sanders continue to underscore the frustrations with politics as usual on both the left and right. Trump has tapped anti-immigration sentiment in particular and has drawn energy from working-class white voters. Sanders has energized younger voters as part of a grass-roots constituency that has given his candidacy surprising strength. | As the leading outsiders in the presidential race, Trump and Sanders continue to underscore the frustrations with politics as usual on both the left and right. Trump has tapped anti-immigration sentiment in particular and has drawn energy from working-class white voters. Sanders has energized younger voters as part of a grass-roots constituency that has given his candidacy surprising strength. |
| “There is a shift in the establishment and thinking of Republicans in South Carolina from mainstream, center-right Republicans to angry, hard-right Republicans,” said Kaeton Dawson, a former South Carolina Republican Party chairman who is not aligned with any candidate. “It’s a monumental shift against the pillars of our society: our government and our elected officials.” | “There is a shift in the establishment and thinking of Republicans in South Carolina from mainstream, center-right Republicans to angry, hard-right Republicans,” said Kaeton Dawson, a former South Carolina Republican Party chairman who is not aligned with any candidate. “It’s a monumental shift against the pillars of our society: our government and our elected officials.” |
| That reality has put establishment candidates on the defensive in South Carolina, and none more so than former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Once the nominal front-runner for the GOP nomination, Bush could find his candidacy in serious jeopardy if he finishes poorly Saturday, as some polls suggest. | That reality has put establishment candidates on the defensive in South Carolina, and none more so than former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Once the nominal front-runner for the GOP nomination, Bush could find his candidacy in serious jeopardy if he finishes poorly Saturday, as some polls suggest. |
| The Bush campaign has strongly rejected suggestions he will drop out of the race on Saturday night if he has a poor showing. He has kept pace with Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, with polls showing all three within each other’s margin of error. Failure to beat at least one of them will intensify calls for Bush’s exit. | The Bush campaign has strongly rejected suggestions he will drop out of the race on Saturday night if he has a poor showing. He has kept pace with Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, with polls showing all three within each other’s margin of error. Failure to beat at least one of them will intensify calls for Bush’s exit. |
| [Is this it for Jeb Bush?] | [Is this it for Jeb Bush?] |
| Bush began his morning at a polling site in Greenville with his wife and mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, and is scheduled to visit a precinct in the Charleston area later in the day. All week, he has attacked Trump as “unstable” and inexperienced, saying several times that the real estate magnate is on the verge of “hijacking” the Republican Party. | Bush began his morning at a polling site in Greenville with his wife and mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, and is scheduled to visit a precinct in the Charleston area later in the day. All week, he has attacked Trump as “unstable” and inexperienced, saying several times that the real estate magnate is on the verge of “hijacking” the Republican Party. |
| The tone of the South Carolina campaign has been overwhelmingly negative, and not only because of the millions of dollars in attack ads that flooded television stations in the final week. The candidates themselves have carried on an acrid dialogue in which the words “liar” and “lying” have been injected into campaign rhetoric at a volume rarely seen even in a state known for brutal intraparty contests. | The tone of the South Carolina campaign has been overwhelmingly negative, and not only because of the millions of dollars in attack ads that flooded television stations in the final week. The candidates themselves have carried on an acrid dialogue in which the words “liar” and “lying” have been injected into campaign rhetoric at a volume rarely seen even in a state known for brutal intraparty contests. |
| [Liar, liar: A charged word is now common in the GOP race] | [Liar, liar: A charged word is now common in the GOP race] |
| In the last hours before the primary, Trump sought to brush off two recent controversies — one involving former president George W. Bush, whom Trump accused of lying about the existence of weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to the Iraq War in 2003, and the other with Pope Francis, who criticized Trump’s proposal of building a wall along the Mexican border as being “not Christian.” | In the last hours before the primary, Trump sought to brush off two recent controversies — one involving former president George W. Bush, whom Trump accused of lying about the existence of weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to the Iraq War in 2003, and the other with Pope Francis, who criticized Trump’s proposal of building a wall along the Mexican border as being “not Christian.” |
| During a town hall meeting hosted by CNN on Thursday night, Trump softened his tone toward the pontiff and equivocated when pressed by a voter about whether he truly believed that Bush had lied before launching the invasion. | During a town hall meeting hosted by CNN on Thursday night, Trump softened his tone toward the pontiff and equivocated when pressed by a voter about whether he truly believed that Bush had lied before launching the invasion. |
| Trump is favored to win here, but critics say that a disappointing finish could suggest weakness ahead of a round of Southern primaries on March 1. | Trump is favored to win here, but critics say that a disappointing finish could suggest weakness ahead of a round of Southern primaries on March 1. |
| He faces persistent doubts about whether he has enough supporters to withstand a one-on-one contest in which mainstream conservatives are consolidated behind another candidate. | He faces persistent doubts about whether he has enough supporters to withstand a one-on-one contest in which mainstream conservatives are consolidated behind another candidate. |
| Katie Packer, who runs an anti-Trump super PAC and was deputy campaign manager for Romney’s 2012 campaign, said she believes South Carolina has the potential to reframe the race as a three-person contest between Trump, Cruz and Rubio. | Katie Packer, who runs an anti-Trump super PAC and was deputy campaign manager for Romney’s 2012 campaign, said she believes South Carolina has the potential to reframe the race as a three-person contest between Trump, Cruz and Rubio. |
| “There’s still some iterations to be had,” she said. “Everybody wants to rush for this race to be over. . . . We have to be patient and let the voters decide.” | “There’s still some iterations to be had,” she said. “Everybody wants to rush for this race to be over. . . . We have to be patient and let the voters decide.” |
| That is a view held by many in the party who fear the impact in November on Republican candidates in other races if Trump is the nominee. | That is a view held by many in the party who fear the impact in November on Republican candidates in other races if Trump is the nominee. |
| [Clinton’s campaign manager faces his biggest test] | [Clinton’s campaign manager faces his biggest test] |
| For Clinton, Nevada was supposed to be where months of painstaking grass-roots organizing, plus goodwill in minority communities, would put a stop to Sanders’s momentum after the contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, far less diverse states. | For Clinton, Nevada was supposed to be where months of painstaking grass-roots organizing, plus goodwill in minority communities, would put a stop to Sanders’s momentum after the contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, far less diverse states. |
| Instead, in an effort to help stanch the bleeding of minority votes, especially from Latinos, Clinton’s surrogates have turned sharply to Sanders’s record on immigration issues, which they said has been checkered by votes in favor of anti-immigration bills and a vote against comprehensive immigration reform in 2007. | Instead, in an effort to help stanch the bleeding of minority votes, especially from Latinos, Clinton’s surrogates have turned sharply to Sanders’s record on immigration issues, which they said has been checkered by votes in favor of anti-immigration bills and a vote against comprehensive immigration reform in 2007. |
| Clinton’s campaign has been playing down the importance of the Nevada vote in calls and other discussions with donors and key political supporters. The caucus format plays to Sanders’s grass-roots strengths, and the likely electorate is far less diverse than the state population as a whole, Clinton aides have told donors since her 22-point defeat in New Hampshire. | Clinton’s campaign has been playing down the importance of the Nevada vote in calls and other discussions with donors and key political supporters. The caucus format plays to Sanders’s grass-roots strengths, and the likely electorate is far less diverse than the state population as a whole, Clinton aides have told donors since her 22-point defeat in New Hampshire. |
| Her focus, instead, is on South Carolina, where Democrats will hold their primary next Saturday. | Her focus, instead, is on South Carolina, where Democrats will hold their primary next Saturday. |
| Clinton received a boost on Friday when the influential Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) offered his support. “I believe that the future of the Democratic Party and the United States of America will be best served with the experience and know-how of Hillary Clinton as our 45th president,” Clyburn said. | Clinton received a boost on Friday when the influential Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) offered his support. “I believe that the future of the Democratic Party and the United States of America will be best served with the experience and know-how of Hillary Clinton as our 45th president,” Clyburn said. |
| DeBonis reported from Washington. Anne Gearan in Washington; Jenna Johnson in North Charleston, S.C.; Sean Sullivan and Ed O’Keefe in Greenville; Abby Phillip in Las Vegas; Dan Balz and Robert Costa in Charleston; and Philip Rucker in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report. | DeBonis reported from Washington. Anne Gearan in Washington; Jenna Johnson in North Charleston, S.C.; Sean Sullivan and Ed O’Keefe in Greenville; Abby Phillip in Las Vegas; Dan Balz and Robert Costa in Charleston; and Philip Rucker in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report. |