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New York primary: Clinton and Trump look to cement front-runner status New York primary: Voting underway as Clinton and Trump look to cement front-runner status
(35 minutes later)
NEW YORK — Voting continued Tuesday in the most raucous nominating contest of an already wild presidential campaign season, with New York a coveted prize for Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, who anticipate wins tonight that will vault them closer to their party’s nomination.NEW YORK — Voting continued Tuesday in the most raucous nominating contest of an already wild presidential campaign season, with New York a coveted prize for Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, who anticipate wins tonight that will vault them closer to their party’s nomination.
Polls show Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump leading by double-digit margins in a state with vastly diverse backdrops, from the riches of Wall Street and suburban Westchester County to the struggles of industrial cities upstate like Watervliet and Watertown. While those two spent much of the day in New York, the other candidates — Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich on the GOP side and Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) in the Democratic race — stumped for votes in Maryland and Pennsylvania, which will hold primaries next week. Polls show Clinton and Trump leading by double-digit margins in a state with vastly diverse backdrops, from the riches of Wall Street and suburban Westchester County to the struggles of industrial cities upstate like Watervliet and Watertown. While the party front-runners spent much of the day in New York, other candidates — Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich on the GOP side and Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) in the Democratic race — stumped for votes in Maryland and Pennsylvania, which will hold primaries next week.
Early exit poll results showed that Trump was poised for a commanding victory, thanks to a predominantly conservative electorate that wants an outsider in the White House.
A big win for Trump would bring him closer to securing an outright majority of Republican delegates — an outcome that remains in jeopardy and has prompted Cruz to mount a spirited, methodical campaign to force a contested convention.A big win for Trump would bring him closer to securing an outright majority of Republican delegates — an outcome that remains in jeopardy and has prompted Cruz to mount a spirited, methodical campaign to force a contested convention.
Early exit poll results showed that Trump was poised for a commanding victory thanks to a predominantly conservative electorate that favors an outsider in the White House.
[6 things to watch in New York’s primary tonight][6 things to watch in New York’s primary tonight]
If Trump falls short, a clear majority of New York Republican voters — seven in ten — say the party should nominate the leading candidate regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority of convention delegates, according to exit poll results reported by CNN. New York Republicans’ resolve in favoring the top vote-getter is larger than in Wisconsin earlier this month, when 55 percent said the vote leader should become the nominee. But if Trump falls short of the needed delegates, a clear majority of New York Republican voters — seven in ten — said the party should nominate the leading candidate regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority of convention delegates, according to exit poll results reported by CNN. More than half of New York Republican voters consider themselves “somewhat” conservative, according to exit polls reported by CNN. If that stands throughout the evening, it would be higher than any state in this year’s contests, and shows Trump’s likely support in the state.
More than half of New York Republican voters consider themselves “somewhat” conservative, according to exit polls reported by CNN. If that stands throughout the evening, it would be higher than any state in this year’s contests, and shows Trump’s likely support in the state. Most GOP primary voters — more than six in ten — said they want the next president to hail from outside the political establishment. If that figure holds, it would mark the highest level of support for a political outsider in Republican contests this year, according to CNN.
And more than six in ten New York Republican voters said they want the next president to hail from outside the political establishment. If that figure holds, it would mark the highest level of support for a political outsider in Republican contests this year, according to CNN.
A Clinton victory would provide momentum after a blitz of recent primary and caucus wins for Sanders. Unlike Trump, Clinton is so far ahead in the delegate count that it would be nearly impossible for Sanders to catch her.A Clinton victory would provide momentum after a blitz of recent primary and caucus wins for Sanders. Unlike Trump, Clinton is so far ahead in the delegate count that it would be nearly impossible for Sanders to catch her.
In New York City, officials were planning to audit the Board of Elections, which conceded that 125,000 voters in Brooklyn had been purged from the voter rolls, and residents complained about problems at polling sites across the city. Roughly four in ten New York Democratic primary voters are non-white, according to early exit poll data reported by ABC News, up slightly from 30 percent in the 2008 Democratic primary in the state. That apparent shift bodes well for Clinton if it holds through the night, as non-white voters have favored Clinton over Sanders by a 70 to 29 percent margin across earlier contests this year.
Sanders has performed especially well among independent voters this year, and preliminary exit polling reported by ABC News found nearly one-fifth of the Democratic electorate identifying as independents. While up slightly from 12 percent in the 2008 primary, New York’s current mark is below the 24 percent average in Democratic contests so far, probably due to the state’s closed primary, where only party registrants can vote.
Tuesday’s vote also signaled stronger unity among Democrats than Republicans. At least six in ten New York Democratic primary voters said they would definitely support either Clinton or Sanders as the party’s nominee, according to preliminary exit poll data reported by ABC News. There’s far less agreement among Republicans: About half said they would “definitely support” Trump, while roughly a quarter would support Cruz, and three in ten would support Kasich.
[Trump’s field director steps aside]
In New York City, officials announced plans to audit the Board of Elections, which conceded Tuesday that 125,000 Brooklyn voters had been purged from the voter rolls, and residents complained about problems at polling sites across the city.
“The next president of the United States could very easily be decided tonight. And yet the incompetence of the Board of Elections puts a cloud over these results,” New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer told reporters as he announced plans for an audit.“The next president of the United States could very easily be decided tonight. And yet the incompetence of the Board of Elections puts a cloud over these results,” New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer told reporters as he announced plans for an audit.
New York Mayor Bill be Blasio voiced support for the audit, saying he expected problems to be fixed in time for state and local primaries scheduled in June.New York Mayor Bill be Blasio voiced support for the audit, saying he expected problems to be fixed in time for state and local primaries scheduled in June.
“The perception that numerous voters may have been disenfranchised undermines the integrity of the entire electoral process and must be fixed,” de Blasio said in a statement.
Despite the troubles, many New Yorkers celebrated their newfound relevance Tuesday, even if they have grown a bit weary of the barrage of ads on the airwaves in recent weeks.Despite the troubles, many New Yorkers celebrated their newfound relevance Tuesday, even if they have grown a bit weary of the barrage of ads on the airwaves in recent weeks.
“It’s nice. I feel like our vote usually doesn’t count,” said Sunita Ray, 41, who voted for Clinton in Midtown Manhattan. Still, she said she will not miss some aspects of the heated primary campaign. “The ads were a little annoying.”“It’s nice. I feel like our vote usually doesn’t count,” said Sunita Ray, 41, who voted for Clinton in Midtown Manhattan. Still, she said she will not miss some aspects of the heated primary campaign. “The ads were a little annoying.”
Clinton cast her own vote in Chappaqua in suburban New York, where supporters had waited outside with signs and buttons. Clinton cast her own vote in Chappaqua in suburban New York, where supporters had waited outside with signs and buttons. She later flew to Washington to address the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) legislative conference, although she planned to end the day in New York City.
She and former president Bill Clinton entered the polling station in an elementary school gymnasium. They were greeted by the school’s principal, who snapped a selfie with the former first couple: “Mr. President! Get in it!” the principal said, urging Bill Clinton to join the photo.
Hillary Clinton then flew to Washington to address the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) legislative conference, although she planned to end the day in New York City.
Meanwhile, scores of onlookers gathered Tuesday morning outside Trump Tower to catch a glimpse of Trump as he left home to vote. They waved enthusiastically behind a barricade before the billionaire’s motorcade took off down 56th Street. The sidewalks surrounding Central Synagogue in Manhattan, where Trump voted, were lined with supporters and some protesters.Meanwhile, scores of onlookers gathered Tuesday morning outside Trump Tower to catch a glimpse of Trump as he left home to vote. They waved enthusiastically behind a barricade before the billionaire’s motorcade took off down 56th Street. The sidewalks surrounding Central Synagogue in Manhattan, where Trump voted, were lined with supporters and some protesters.
Someone asked Trump whom he intended to vote for. “Easy decision,” he replied, smiling.Someone asked Trump whom he intended to vote for. “Easy decision,” he replied, smiling.
Speaking Tuesday on “Fox & Friends,” the New York real estate magnate said he was confident that his home state would reject Cruz. “He does not like New York, and he doesn’t like New Yorkers,” Trump said. The Sanders campaign has played down his prospects in New York, citing the state’s closed primary.
[Trump’s field director steps aside]
“Frankly, we’re in a position where we’d like to close it out,” Trump said of amassing enough delegates to win on the first ballot at July’s GOP convention. “I think I’m going to get to the number, I’m pretty sure.”
The Sanders campaign has played down his prospects in New York, citing the state’s closed primary, which does not allow the participation of independents. The senator noted Tuesday that about 3 million independents in New York will be unable to vote in the primaries Tuesday because of the rule.
On a morning stroll around the block from the Times Square hotel where he was staying, Sanders ran into Michael Cantalupo, 21, a local television host, who told Sanders that he had missed the October deadline to switch his unaffiliated voting status to Democratic.On a morning stroll around the block from the Times Square hotel where he was staying, Sanders ran into Michael Cantalupo, 21, a local television host, who told Sanders that he had missed the October deadline to switch his unaffiliated voting status to Democratic.
“This is the problem. Tell them,” Sanders told Cantalupo, directing him to talk to more than a dozen reporters trailing the senator on his walk.“This is the problem. Tell them,” Sanders told Cantalupo, directing him to talk to more than a dozen reporters trailing the senator on his walk.
Shortly afterward, he headed to Pennsylvania for two campaign stops. During his first, in Erie, he attacked Clinton’s trade record.Shortly afterward, he headed to Pennsylvania for two campaign stops. During his first, in Erie, he attacked Clinton’s trade record.
“It took me about 12 seconds to figure out that NAFTA was going to be a disaster for American workers,” Sanders told a rally, referring to the free-trade pact involving the United States, Mexico and Canada that was approved during President Clinton’s administration.“It took me about 12 seconds to figure out that NAFTA was going to be a disaster for American workers,” Sanders told a rally, referring to the free-trade pact involving the United States, Mexico and Canada that was approved during President Clinton’s administration.
In Washington, Clinton took several swipes at her competitor without naming him. While the NABTU, which has endorsed her, had a conference program focused on domestic issues, she also emphasized the differences between Sanders and herself on international affairs and national security. In New York, Clinton has tailored her message to her tenure as the state’s junior senator for eight years, asking voters to remember the work she did on their behalf. But she has also sought to use Trump and New York’s diversity to make a sweeping case that the primary — and the election as a whole — is about a choice between her vision for the future and Trump’s divisive rhetoric.
“In addition to making good things happen for you and your families, we’ve got to have a strategy to keep our country safe and continue to lead the world in accordance with our values and interests,” the former secretary of state said. “Our next president has to be just as passionate about defending our country as she is about fixing our economy.”
On the question of trade, which is pivotal for many union members, Clinton told the audience, “I will stand with you, I will have your back, and I will stop dead in its tracks any trade deal that hurts you or hurts America.
“But I believe we need a president who doesn’t just complain about trade; we need a president who knows how to compete and win for American workers,” she added.
Clinton has tailored her message in New York to her tenure as the state’s senator for eight years, calling upon voters to remember the work she did on their behalf. But she has also sought to use Trump and New York’s diversity to make a sweeping case that the primary — and the election as a whole — is about a choice between her vision for the future and Trump’s divisive rhetoric.
[Clinton asks New Yorkers to make primary a referendum on Trump][Clinton asks New Yorkers to make primary a referendum on Trump]
Like Sanders, Cruz is bracing for a loss in New York, polling behind not only Trump in recent surveys but also Kasich, whose only primary victory so far came in his home state.Like Sanders, Cruz is bracing for a loss in New York, polling behind not only Trump in recent surveys but also Kasich, whose only primary victory so far came in his home state.
Cruz was scheduled to speak later Tuesday in Philadelphia and huddle afterward with dozens of Republicans running to serve as national convention delegates at the Cleveland convention.Cruz was scheduled to speak later Tuesday in Philadelphia and huddle afterward with dozens of Republicans running to serve as national convention delegates at the Cleveland convention.
Kasich began the day Tuesday by canvassing the lunchtime crowd at Pittsburgh’s Original Oyster House, and was scheduled to campaign later in Annapolis and Bethesda.Kasich began the day Tuesday by canvassing the lunchtime crowd at Pittsburgh’s Original Oyster House, and was scheduled to campaign later in Annapolis and Bethesda.
O’Keefe and Eilperin reported from Washington. John Wagner in New York and Erie, Pa., Abby Phillip in New York, and Scott Clement, Anne Gearan and Katie Zezima in Washington contributed to this report.O’Keefe and Eilperin reported from Washington. John Wagner in New York and Erie, Pa., Abby Phillip in New York, and Scott Clement, Anne Gearan and Katie Zezima in Washington contributed to this report.