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Pete Buttigieg drops out as crucial Super Tuesday looms – live updates Pete Buttigieg drops out as crucial Super Tuesday looms – live updates
(31 minutes later)
Crucial day of campaigning ahead as Democrat field narrows before Super TuesdayCrucial day of campaigning ahead as Democrat field narrows before Super Tuesday
The Supreme Court has announced it will hear a case on whether a part of Obamacare is unconstiutional.
The justices said they would take up the case in their next term, which begins in October, so a decision is not expected until after the 2020 election.
The healthcare law will remain in effect until then, so its future will become even more of a top concern in this year’s presidential election.
The announcement comes after a federal appeals court ruled in December that Obamacare’s individual mandate, which requires every American to have health insurance, was unconstitutional, casting doubt upon the rest of the law.
Nineteen Democratic states appealed the decision, which will now be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam.
Pete Buttigieg’s fourth-place finish in South Carolina on Saturday sealed his decision to withdraw from the presidential primary, as it became clear the young former mayor’s struggle to appeal to voters of color would plague his candidacy on Super Tuesday.
The AP reports:
I’m just about to hand over to Joan Greve in Washington. In the meantime, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference is on today, and there’s a live stream on their website. There will be speeches in the next couple of hours from vice president Mike Pence, Democratic Presidential Candidate Mike Bloomberg and Senator Cory Booker. You can watch it here.I’m just about to hand over to Joan Greve in Washington. In the meantime, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference is on today, and there’s a live stream on their website. There will be speeches in the next couple of hours from vice president Mike Pence, Democratic Presidential Candidate Mike Bloomberg and Senator Cory Booker. You can watch it here.
One quirk of Pete Buttigieg dropping out of the race to be the Democratic nomination at the weekend is that now Joe Biden, incredibly, is the youngest man seeking to be the Democrats’ next nominee.One quirk of Pete Buttigieg dropping out of the race to be the Democratic nomination at the weekend is that now Joe Biden, incredibly, is the youngest man seeking to be the Democrats’ next nominee.
At 77, he is younger than both Mike Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders, who are both 78. All of which makes Donald Trump’s 73 years look positively sprightly.At 77, he is younger than both Mike Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders, who are both 78. All of which makes Donald Trump’s 73 years look positively sprightly.
Of the remaining women, Elizabeth Warren is 70, Amy Klobuchar is 59, and Tulsi Gabbard is a very youthful 38.Of the remaining women, Elizabeth Warren is 70, Amy Klobuchar is 59, and Tulsi Gabbard is a very youthful 38.
This looks like a chewy read to keep you busy for a bit over a coffee. Atlantic magazine have just published their cover story for April online. By George Packer, he is arguing that “The president is winning his war on American institutions”.This looks like a chewy read to keep you busy for a bit over a coffee. Atlantic magazine have just published their cover story for April online. By George Packer, he is arguing that “The president is winning his war on American institutions”.
Read it here - The Atlantic: The president is winning his war on American institutionsRead it here - The Atlantic: The president is winning his war on American institutions
It is difficult to over-estimate the importance of Super Tuesday tomorrow.It is difficult to over-estimate the importance of Super Tuesday tomorrow.
14 states across the country – Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia – as well as one US territory (American Samoa) and Democrats abroad will cast their votes on the same day.14 states across the country – Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia – as well as one US territory (American Samoa) and Democrats abroad will cast their votes on the same day.
Between them, more than a third of available delegates are up for grabs. Here’s a refresher on what to expect on the night: What is Super Tuesday?Between them, more than a third of available delegates are up for grabs. Here’s a refresher on what to expect on the night: What is Super Tuesday?
Among those states, it is California which could carry the most weight. It is the first time that the state’s primary has been part of the Super Tuesday line-up, and California will send a total of 495 delegates to the Democratic national convention. Here’s a guide specifically for how the day will unfold on the west coast.Among those states, it is California which could carry the most weight. It is the first time that the state’s primary has been part of the Super Tuesday line-up, and California will send a total of 495 delegates to the Democratic national convention. Here’s a guide specifically for how the day will unfold on the west coast.
Reuters have just published a few more details of the meeting that Donald Trump is expected to have today with drug company executives.Reuters have just published a few more details of the meeting that Donald Trump is expected to have today with drug company executives.
The White House has not said which pharmaceutical makers would be at today’s meeting with the president and his White House coronavirus task force. However it is now known that executives from Sanofi SA, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer Inc will attend, according to representatives for the companies.The White House has not said which pharmaceutical makers would be at today’s meeting with the president and his White House coronavirus task force. However it is now known that executives from Sanofi SA, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer Inc will attend, according to representatives for the companies.
Trump, in an early morning tweet, said they would discuss “progress on a vaccine and cure.”Trump, in an early morning tweet, said they would discuss “progress on a vaccine and cure.”
Top US health officials have said any vaccine is at least a year from hitting the market, and there is no treatment, although patients can receive supportive care.Top US health officials have said any vaccine is at least a year from hitting the market, and there is no treatment, although patients can receive supportive care.
The number of coronavirus cases has ticked up in recent days, with more than 75 confirmed cases in the US, including two deaths. Both deaths occurred in Washington state where a cluster of cases is centered on a nursing home near Seattle. New York and Florida, among other U.S. states, have also confirmed cases.The number of coronavirus cases has ticked up in recent days, with more than 75 confirmed cases in the US, including two deaths. Both deaths occurred in Washington state where a cluster of cases is centered on a nursing home near Seattle. New York and Florida, among other U.S. states, have also confirmed cases.
Some slightly unconventional reports coming out of the Trump campaign today that they are planning to fly a blimp over swing states during the summer.Some slightly unconventional reports coming out of the Trump campaign today that they are planning to fly a blimp over swing states during the summer.
The blimp with Trump logos is apparently set to fly between May and July, and will encourage Trump supporters to text the campaign in a move aimed at helping to refine the campaign’s data on voters in key states.The blimp with Trump logos is apparently set to fly between May and July, and will encourage Trump supporters to text the campaign in a move aimed at helping to refine the campaign’s data on voters in key states.
There’s no indication yet of what the blimp might look like - although it is unlikely to be adopting the design of the controversial Trump baby blimp that has flown over London in recent years when the president has been visiting the UK.There’s no indication yet of what the blimp might look like - although it is unlikely to be adopting the design of the controversial Trump baby blimp that has flown over London in recent years when the president has been visiting the UK.
Mike Bloomberg and president Trump are having a little tit-for-tat over on Twitter. One of Trump’s early morning flurry of tweets today mentioned Bloomberg, criticising his “bad debate performances” and his handling of a crises when he was New York’s mayor.Mike Bloomberg and president Trump are having a little tit-for-tat over on Twitter. One of Trump’s early morning flurry of tweets today mentioned Bloomberg, criticising his “bad debate performances” and his handling of a crises when he was New York’s mayor.
Bloomberg has just taken a swipe back, linking to a piece from the Washington Post and describing it as a “Very sad Washington Post story with your own aides trashing you and making fun of you behind your back.”Bloomberg has just taken a swipe back, linking to a piece from the Washington Post and describing it as a “Very sad Washington Post story with your own aides trashing you and making fun of you behind your back.”
The piece, from a couple of days ago, was a widely shared story headlined “Inside Trump’s frantic attempts to minimize the coronavirus crisis”The piece, from a couple of days ago, was a widely shared story headlined “Inside Trump’s frantic attempts to minimize the coronavirus crisis”
My colleague Julia Carrie Wong in San Francisco has an interesting dive into where employees of Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, Uber, Tesla and SpaceX, Oracle and Microsoft are donating their dollars during this election campaign.My colleague Julia Carrie Wong in San Francisco has an interesting dive into where employees of Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, Uber, Tesla and SpaceX, Oracle and Microsoft are donating their dollars during this election campaign.
It is not perhaps a huge surprise that a workforce that skews towards youth is also, like the demographics of the race to the White House as a whole, skewing towards Bernie Sanders.It is not perhaps a huge surprise that a workforce that skews towards youth is also, like the demographics of the race to the White House as a whole, skewing towards Bernie Sanders.
California votes tomorrow, and with 415 pledged delegates on offer, it is the biggest prize for Democrats on Super Tuesday.California votes tomorrow, and with 415 pledged delegates on offer, it is the biggest prize for Democrats on Super Tuesday.
You can have a look at the figures - and how little cash Donald Trump is raising from these people - here:You can have a look at the figures - and how little cash Donald Trump is raising from these people - here:
As time goes on and we get closer to Super Tuesday, some people have begun to question why former president Barack Obama is yet to endorse the man who was his VP for eight years - Joe Biden.
Jeff Zeleny has been looking at this, and an Obama confidant told CNN: “[Obama] feels that he’s singularly positioned to help unify the party at the end of this. And if he were try to put his thumb on the scale now, it would take away his ability to do so when it’s most needed -- the general election.”
It also seems like the Obama team are concerned that an early endorsement might “backfire”.
You can read the full piece here - CNN: Obama tells Biden he won’t endorse anybody yet
Trump is up and tweeting, and confirming that he will be meeting “major pharmaceutical companies today at the White House” with regard to the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed two people in the US.
The global death toll from the coronavirus outbreak exceeded 3,000 on Monday. Covid-19 has now infected more than 88,000 people and spread to more than 60 countries.
Bill Kristol has come out strongly for Joe Biden this morning in The Bulwark, urging readers not to “overthink your Super Tuesday vote”.
It feels like one of those endorsements that might end up energising the Sanders’ support base as much as it manages to shift any floating voters in Biden’s direction.
You can read it here - The Bulwark: The Simple Answer
Senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice Theodore R Johnson has written for us, urging people not to assume that the whole of black America has spoken in South Carolina with the overwhelming victory that Joe Biden enjoyed in the state.
You can read his piece here:
“You’ve probably seen more ads for Michael Bloomberg than the rest of us running for president put together” says Elizabeth Warren in one of her new campaign ads.
CBS News have an interesting piece here on just where the Democrats ad-spend is going before Super Tuesday. It is no surprise who is spending the most.
Buttigieg was also advertising heavily before he pulled the plug on his campaign at the weekend. Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar and Joe Biden have been more likely to rely on Super PAC money. Warren’s campaign has spent less than $2 million on ads, but the Persist PAC supporting her has splashed out $12m.
Read the full analysis here - CBS News: Where are candidates spending on the airwaves before Super Tuesday?
Away from the Democratic race for a moment, yesterday a federal judge ruled that Ken Cuccinelli was unlawfully appointed to lead the US Citizenship and Immigration Services agency and, as a result, lacked authority to give asylum seekers less time to prepare for initial screening interviews.
Cuccinelli, a former Virginia attorney general and an immigration hardliner, was named to a new position of “principal deputy director” in June, which immediately made him acting director because Lee Francis Cissna had just resigned. The agency grants green cards and other visas and also oversees asylum officers.
US District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington found Cuccinelli’s appointment violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, a 1998 law governing who is eligible to lead federal agencies in an acting capacity. The impact of the ruling wasn’t immediately clear.
Donald Trump has favoured temporary appointments. At Homeland Security, Chad Wolf is acting secretary, and the heads of Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services are also in acting roles.
Homeland Security Department spokesperson Heather Swift said, “We obviously disagree with the court’s opinion and are looking more closely at it.”
Cuccinelli is now acting deputy Homeland Security secretary, the department’s No. 2 position. Joseph Edlow, a longtime congressional aide who joined Citizenship and Immigration Services in July, was named last month to run the agency’s day-to-day operations.
There will a lot of post-mortems of the Buttigieg campaign published today - here’s a fine one from Elena Schneider in Politico:
Read it here - Politico: Inside the sudden end of Pete Buttigieg’s campaign
And here’s a reminder of how his campaign ended:
Mike Bloomberg’s campaigning on Sunday also produced protest images at the historic Brown Chapel in Selma, Alabama that he probably would have rather avoided.
Bloomberg’s campaign has been dogged by his history of controversial statements on race, and his record on stop-and-frisk policing while he was mayor of New York. Inviting him to appear at an event commemorating one of the civil rights movement’s most emotional milestones was always likely to be controversial.
Sam Levine and Ankita Rao’s report from the church includes quotes from those who decided to protest Bloomberg’s appearance:
It isn’t just his record on race that risks derailing the Bloomberg bid to be a billionaire president - his troubling record with women could also pose a huge problem for him.
Lucia Graves has the latest in our series on the billionaire candidate:
More than one of the Democratic challengers had difficult campaigning days on Sunday. Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar ended up cancelling a rally in her home state after protesters took over the stage over the case of a black teen sentenced to life in prison while Klobuchar was the county’s top prosecutor.
Klobuchar was scheduled to speak at St. Louis Park High School in suburban Minneapolis. But dozens of protesters entered the gymnasium, raised signs and chanted “black lives matter” and “Myon,” a reference to Myon Burrell, who was convicted of the murder of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards.
Burrell was sent to prison for life following a police investigation some say was flawed. Klobuchar has said if there is new information in the case then it should be considered - a response that some activists have said doesn’t go far enough.
Klobuchar has struggled to win support from black voters, a major problem for her campaign, but she has rejected suggestions she drop out of the race, saying she plans to compete at least through the upcoming Super Tuesday contests.
Well then, good morning. It’s an absolutely crucial day of campaigning ahead of Super Tuesday - but it is a campaign that has changed shape dramatically after the events of the weekend.
Firstly Joe Biden’s margin of victory in South Carolina re-energised his bid for the nomination - and also showed that Bernie Sanders had failed to gain ground in a state where he was crushed by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary.
Tom Steyer may have been expected to drop out after a disappointing showing on Saturday – and he did – but it was former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg’s withdrawal last night that radically alters the situation.
Following his narrow win in Iowa, Buttigieg had already amassed more pledged delegates than Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Mike Bloomberg and Tulsi Gabbard combined - yet still couldn’t see a way through to winning the nomination.
It remains to be seen who Mayor Pete will endorse now - and whether we’ve seen the last of him for this election cycle. Could he end up being someone’s pick for VP?
Today Sanders will be in Utah and Minnesota, Biden is due in Texas, and Warren will be campaigning in California. Here’s our guide to Super Tuesday if you want a refresher on what is at stake.
Away from the Democratic race, there’s plenty going on in government. Donald Trump is meeting the Colombian president, having lunch with vice-president Mike Pence, and then meeting members of the Coronavirus Task Force. The US has confirmed approximately 60 cases of the severe respiratory illness with two deaths.
The president will later be at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mike Pence will be putting in an appearance at AIPAC, as will Mike Bloomberg and Joe Biden.