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| Super Tuesday: Kamala Harris to reportedly endorse Joe Biden – live | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| California senator, who clashed with Biden in earlier Democratic debates, set to back former vice-president at Oakland rally on Tuesday – follow live | |
| California Senator Kamala Harris, who dropped out of the presidential race in early December, is apparently ready to endorse Joe Biden today. | |
| That would be a huge fillip for Biden, not least in California, where he is extremely keen to spoil a Sanders primary landslide. But it will be a big bonus nationwide as Super Tuesday voters stream to the polls, a terrific last-minute boost for the former VP in his dramatic comeback. | |
| But what are the chances of Harris being named as Biden’s running mate if he wins the nomination? Many will be asking that question today. | |
| All of the Democrats running for president have pitched substantial climate plans - responding to voters’ increasing concerns about rising temperatures and their widespread effects. | |
| Two in three registered voters (66%) are worried about global warming, according to Yale’s climate change communication program. That includes 84% of liberal Democrats, 72% of moderate/conservative Democrats, and about half of liberal/moderate Republicans, but only a quarter of conservative Republicans. | |
| In one Super Tuesday state, Texas, two-thirds of voters want to develop more renewable energy. | |
| But presidential contenders, particularly the more moderate ones, are cautiously navigating climate politics. | |
| Both Joe Biden and Mike Bloomberg have refused to commit to banning fracking, which will likely give them an edge in oil and gas states. | |
| Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren would ban the method of extracting oil and gas, which would drastically reduce drilling in the US. Banning fracking, however, would require action from Congress, which seems politically untenable. | |
| Supporters of Biden and Bloomberg say they are focused on the actions they can achieve with executive authority. | |
| The candidates also split over nuclear power - which provides more than half of zero-carbon electricity in the US. Many experts argue that climate plans that don’t include nuclear aren’t serious. | |
| Sanders would prohibit the construction of new nuclear plants and stop renewing licenses for existing ones. | |
| Warren said she opposed new nuclear plants and would phase out existing ones, but she has since backtracked. California has already shut down its nuclear plants. | |
| It was a scene that was hard to imagine just one week ago. Joe Biden, 77, and until Sunday his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination Pete Buttigieg, 38, appeared together before a tiny crowd in the Chicken Scratch restaurant in Dallas, Texas, where Buttigieg endorsed the former vice president, Reuters writes. | |
| Fighting back tears, Biden compared the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, to his late son Beau, saying it was the highest compliment he could offer any person. | |
| Having ditched his own bid for the nomination, Buttigieg, who had spent months calling for generational change, said Biden would “bring back dignity to the White House.” | |
| Buttigieg’s endorsement was the most eye-catching among over 100 that flooded in for Biden from mostly moderate Democrats after his dominant South Carolina win on Saturday, narrowly preceded by Amy Klobuchar’s endorsement and followed by former candidate Beto O’Rourke’s last night. | Buttigieg’s endorsement was the most eye-catching among over 100 that flooded in for Biden from mostly moderate Democrats after his dominant South Carolina win on Saturday, narrowly preceded by Amy Klobuchar’s endorsement and followed by former candidate Beto O’Rourke’s last night. |
| Biden’s comeback in South Carolina, after poor showings in other early voting states, was exactly the kind of a victory that Democratic Party officials, alarmed that front-runner Bernie Sanders is far too liberal to beat Trump, had been craving, according to more than two dozen people who either gave their endorsements or were involved behind the scenes. | Biden’s comeback in South Carolina, after poor showings in other early voting states, was exactly the kind of a victory that Democratic Party officials, alarmed that front-runner Bernie Sanders is far too liberal to beat Trump, had been craving, according to more than two dozen people who either gave their endorsements or were involved behind the scenes. |
| “I hadn’t planned on endorsing anybody, but then I started getting worried that Bernie Sanders would become the nominee,” said former Senator Barbara Boxer of California, a longtime Senate colleague of both Biden and Sanders. | “I hadn’t planned on endorsing anybody, but then I started getting worried that Bernie Sanders would become the nominee,” said former Senator Barbara Boxer of California, a longtime Senate colleague of both Biden and Sanders. |
| On the eve of the South Carolina primary, she called longtime Biden aide Steve Ricchetti, telling him she would endorse Biden if he won the race. | On the eve of the South Carolina primary, she called longtime Biden aide Steve Ricchetti, telling him she would endorse Biden if he won the race. |
| People both inside and outside the Biden campaign said that while the effort to garner endorsements involved calls from Biden aides asking for help, most decided on their own. | People both inside and outside the Biden campaign said that while the effort to garner endorsements involved calls from Biden aides asking for help, most decided on their own. |
| “People woke up and got a sense of urgency,” said one person close to Biden. | |
| Buttigieg’s endorsement, in particular, surprised Biden. | |
| Biden did not ask Buttigieg for his endorsement nor did the former mayor say he was going to announce support, Biden said at the Texas chicken restaurant event. | Biden did not ask Buttigieg for his endorsement nor did the former mayor say he was going to announce support, Biden said at the Texas chicken restaurant event. |
| The event, which lasted only a few minutes and involved a small crowd of press, campaign supporters and people who just happened to be at the restaurant, was hastily arranged to accommodate a quick, last-minute announcement, said one person familiar with the matter. | The event, which lasted only a few minutes and involved a small crowd of press, campaign supporters and people who just happened to be at the restaurant, was hastily arranged to accommodate a quick, last-minute announcement, said one person familiar with the matter. |
| Virginia is the fourth-largest prize on Super Tuesday, awarding 99 pledged delegates, ranking behind California (415), Texas (228) and North Carolina (110), the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. | Virginia is the fourth-largest prize on Super Tuesday, awarding 99 pledged delegates, ranking behind California (415), Texas (228) and North Carolina (110), the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. |
| It’s a huge day in this increasingly-blue swing state and will be a useful early indicator of how things are going for the leading candidates Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren when polls close at 7pm ET. Meanwhile, WDBJ7, the CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Roanoke, Va, reports: | It’s a huge day in this increasingly-blue swing state and will be a useful early indicator of how things are going for the leading candidates Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren when polls close at 7pm ET. Meanwhile, WDBJ7, the CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Roanoke, Va, reports: |
| Virginia congresswoman and moderate Democrat Abigail Spanberger, part of the Blue Wave in the 2018 midterms, who flipped her red district in her first ever run for office, mourns the departure of Klobuchar and urges her fellow Virginians to get out and vote in this key primary today. | Virginia congresswoman and moderate Democrat Abigail Spanberger, part of the Blue Wave in the 2018 midterms, who flipped her red district in her first ever run for office, mourns the departure of Klobuchar and urges her fellow Virginians to get out and vote in this key primary today. |
| Abby to Amy: | Abby to Amy: |
| Rocky in the Rockies? | Rocky in the Rockies? |
| Will Joe Biden pull back from way behind in Colorado primary voting today and, if making significant progress, how many delegates will he pull in? | Will Joe Biden pull back from way behind in Colorado primary voting today and, if making significant progress, how many delegates will he pull in? |
| Two Colorado polls last week gave Sanders leads of 12 and 14 percentage points over the rest of the field in the purple state, the Denver Post reports. | Two Colorado polls last week gave Sanders leads of 12 and 14 percentage points over the rest of the field in the purple state, the Denver Post reports. |
| Those were pre-Biden South Carolina primary landslide, obviously, but the indications had been that Elizabeth Warren could come in second behind Sanders. So will the Biden phoenix-like rise of late make a difference tonight? | Those were pre-Biden South Carolina primary landslide, obviously, but the indications had been that Elizabeth Warren could come in second behind Sanders. So will the Biden phoenix-like rise of late make a difference tonight? |
| State watchers expect a strong voter turn-out in Colorado today and a lot of undecided voters making late decisions - perhaps wise in light of the developments of the last 48 hours. | State watchers expect a strong voter turn-out in Colorado today and a lot of undecided voters making late decisions - perhaps wise in light of the developments of the last 48 hours. |
| It’s definitely Bernie’s to lose. | It’s definitely Bernie’s to lose. |
| Bernie just voted | Bernie just voted |
| He’s in his home state of Vermont today and will be there tonight as the results come rolling in. It could be a long night, especially waiting for a result in California, where the polls don’t close until 8pm local time. Will Bernie Sanders follow his strong performances in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada voting with a good show east and west? Will it be enough to hold off Joe Biden? | He’s in his home state of Vermont today and will be there tonight as the results come rolling in. It could be a long night, especially waiting for a result in California, where the polls don’t close until 8pm local time. Will Bernie Sanders follow his strong performances in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada voting with a good show east and west? Will it be enough to hold off Joe Biden? |
| If he beats Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts tonight it could be a harbinger for where Warren’s campaign is going to end up. But will it mean the start of a sweep for Sanders, or will Biden capitalize strongly on his South Carolina win - leaving California as a late-night cliffhanger? | If he beats Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts tonight it could be a harbinger for where Warren’s campaign is going to end up. But will it mean the start of a sweep for Sanders, or will Biden capitalize strongly on his South Carolina win - leaving California as a late-night cliffhanger? |
| The Boston Globe has a handy “everything you need to know on Super Tuesday in Massachusetts” piece, here. The Globe has endorsed Warren for the Democratic nomination. | The Boston Globe has a handy “everything you need to know on Super Tuesday in Massachusetts” piece, here. The Globe has endorsed Warren for the Democratic nomination. |
| And my senior politics reporter colleague Lauren Gambino will be on the spot when Joe Biden rounds off a hectic day of campaigning in some key Super Tuesday states, with an event in Los Angeles. | And my senior politics reporter colleague Lauren Gambino will be on the spot when Joe Biden rounds off a hectic day of campaigning in some key Super Tuesday states, with an event in Los Angeles. |
| Here she shares her thoughts on what to expect from Super Tuesday with the Guardian’s award-winning news podcast Today in Focus. At 29 minutes long it’s the perfect commuter-listen. | Here she shares her thoughts on what to expect from Super Tuesday with the Guardian’s award-winning news podcast Today in Focus. At 29 minutes long it’s the perfect commuter-listen. |
| Ah, so the president perhaps thinks the Federal Reserve’s emergency rate cut over coronavirus concerns is kinda cute, but Not Enough for Potus’s liking. | Ah, so the president perhaps thinks the Federal Reserve’s emergency rate cut over coronavirus concerns is kinda cute, but Not Enough for Potus’s liking. |
| Follow all the business details on our dedicated live blog out of London. | Follow all the business details on our dedicated live blog out of London. |
| Today is the biggest voting event of 2020 before actual election day in November. With California bringing its primary voting forward to join Super Tuesday and the warring moderate wing of the Democratic party suddenly coalescing around Joe Biden, it’s going to be an exhilarating/nail-biting night. | Today is the biggest voting event of 2020 before actual election day in November. With California bringing its primary voting forward to join Super Tuesday and the warring moderate wing of the Democratic party suddenly coalescing around Joe Biden, it’s going to be an exhilarating/nail-biting night. |
| They say everything is big in Texas and the biggest thing going on there today is Joe Biden’s hope - because if he loses Tex and California to Bernie it could be very grim for his prospects. | They say everything is big in Texas and the biggest thing going on there today is Joe Biden’s hope - because if he loses Tex and California to Bernie it could be very grim for his prospects. |
| After a rambunctious rally in Dallas last night, after a string of key endorsements, the Biden campaign is reportedly feeling very confident. | After a rambunctious rally in Dallas last night, after a string of key endorsements, the Biden campaign is reportedly feeling very confident. |
| “I expect to win Texas,” Cristobal Alex, a senior adviser to Biden and native of El Paso, told Politico. | “I expect to win Texas,” Cristobal Alex, a senior adviser to Biden and native of El Paso, told Politico. |
| The Lone Star state will award 261 pledged delegates at today’s primary. | The Lone Star state will award 261 pledged delegates at today’s primary. |
| If Texas is really in play for the Democrats this November, today is a good day to start. | If Texas is really in play for the Democrats this November, today is a good day to start. |
| Down ticket, new names are emerging in the effort to push Texas to the blue end of purple and try to flip the state. | Down ticket, new names are emerging in the effort to push Texas to the blue end of purple and try to flip the state. |
| Barbra: “We can’t go on like this” | Barbra: “We can’t go on like this” |
| We HAVE to pivot now. To Barbra Streisand. One of Hollywood’s most loyal Democratic donors over the years, the 77-year-old’s written a searing op-ed for Variety, so stop what you’re doing and check this out before you hit the polling station, if you’re in a Super Tuesday voting state. | We HAVE to pivot now. To Barbra Streisand. One of Hollywood’s most loyal Democratic donors over the years, the 77-year-old’s written a searing op-ed for Variety, so stop what you’re doing and check this out before you hit the polling station, if you’re in a Super Tuesday voting state. |
| She says she fears the country “could be extinguished” if Donald Trump wins reelection in November. | She says she fears the country “could be extinguished” if Donald Trump wins reelection in November. |
| The US Federal Reserve has slashed US interest rates in an emergency measure to protect America’s economy from the coronavirus. Follow our business live blog for all the developments, here. | The US Federal Reserve has slashed US interest rates in an emergency measure to protect America’s economy from the coronavirus. Follow our business live blog for all the developments, here. |
| In an unscheduled move, the Fed is cutting its benchmark rate to between 1% and 1.25%. That’s down from 1.5% to 1.75%. | In an unscheduled move, the Fed is cutting its benchmark rate to between 1% and 1.25%. That’s down from 1.5% to 1.75%. |
| The move comes two weeks before its next official meeting, but just three hours after that joint conference call with G7 finance ministers and central bankers. | The move comes two weeks before its next official meeting, but just three hours after that joint conference call with G7 finance ministers and central bankers. |
| The Fed says: | The Fed says: |
| Michael Ellis, a White House lawyer and former counsel to the House intelligence committee under Republican Devin Nunes is the new senior director for intelligence on the National Security Council. | Michael Ellis, a White House lawyer and former counsel to the House intelligence committee under Republican Devin Nunes is the new senior director for intelligence on the National Security Council. |
| It’s the latest instance of Donald Trump elevating a trusted loyalist to control the intelligence community, according to a Politico report this morning. | It’s the latest instance of Donald Trump elevating a trusted loyalist to control the intelligence community, according to a Politico report this morning. |
| Warren still on the hunt | Warren still on the hunt |
| Elizabeth Warren will be deep in a rabbit hole tonight if she doesn’t make a surprisingly good showing in Super Tuesday voting. | Elizabeth Warren will be deep in a rabbit hole tonight if she doesn’t make a surprisingly good showing in Super Tuesday voting. |
| She badly needs to win, at the very least, her home state of Massachusetts, which she represents in the Senate - but there’s a danger of Bernie Sanders winning there tonight. | She badly needs to win, at the very least, her home state of Massachusetts, which she represents in the Senate - but there’s a danger of Bernie Sanders winning there tonight. |
| If she doesn’t win Mass or Oklahoma, where she grew up, the landscape will be bleak, with a path to the nomination (contested party convention...?) very had to see. She gives fantastic performances on the trail and the enthusiasm mask has never slipped, but this has been a devastating few months for Warren’s campaign - especially as she is arguably the most qualified of anyone for the White House (including the incumbent). | If she doesn’t win Mass or Oklahoma, where she grew up, the landscape will be bleak, with a path to the nomination (contested party convention...?) very had to see. She gives fantastic performances on the trail and the enthusiasm mask has never slipped, but this has been a devastating few months for Warren’s campaign - especially as she is arguably the most qualified of anyone for the White House (including the incumbent). |
| Warren’s busy on a Twitter fundraising streak this morning, as if oblivious to the fact that Buttigieg and Klobuchar have abruptly dropped out and moved quickly to heal division in the Democratic ranks, despite beating her in the early contests. | Warren’s busy on a Twitter fundraising streak this morning, as if oblivious to the fact that Buttigieg and Klobuchar have abruptly dropped out and moved quickly to heal division in the Democratic ranks, despite beating her in the early contests. |
| And progressive rival Bernie Sanders has mountains more support at this point, based on most recent polls, in states from New England to California via Texas. | And progressive rival Bernie Sanders has mountains more support at this point, based on most recent polls, in states from New England to California via Texas. |
| Does the candidate with “a plan for that” have a plan for tomorrow morning if she tanks tonight? | Does the candidate with “a plan for that” have a plan for tomorrow morning if she tanks tonight? |
| US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has said the Group of Seven leading industrial countries agreed this morning to do “everything possible” to limit harm from the coronavirus outbreak to the world’s economies. | US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has said the Group of Seven leading industrial countries agreed this morning to do “everything possible” to limit harm from the coronavirus outbreak to the world’s economies. |
| There was an international special conference call on this earlier this morning, led by Mnuchin and US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, with finance and economics ministers from around the globe. | There was an international special conference call on this earlier this morning, led by Mnuchin and US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, with finance and economics ministers from around the globe. |
| You can follow all the developments live on our dedicated coronavirus blog, here. | You can follow all the developments live on our dedicated coronavirus blog, here. |
| And all the business news on our live blog, here. | And all the business news on our live blog, here. |
| Just hours after endorsing former Joe Biden for president, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar joined NBC News’ Today program this morning - and firmly rejected the notion that she and other Democrats are trying to crush progressive champ Bernie Sanders in the 2020 race. | Just hours after endorsing former Joe Biden for president, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar joined NBC News’ Today program this morning - and firmly rejected the notion that she and other Democrats are trying to crush progressive champ Bernie Sanders in the 2020 race. |
| “You want a candidate that not just builds a coalition of fired-up Democrats, which we’ve got, but also brings in independents, moderate Republicans. That’s how we won back the House of Representatives [in the 2018 midterm elections], and that’s what Joe Biden can do,” Klobuchar told program host Savannah Guthrie. | “You want a candidate that not just builds a coalition of fired-up Democrats, which we’ve got, but also brings in independents, moderate Republicans. That’s how we won back the House of Representatives [in the 2018 midterm elections], and that’s what Joe Biden can do,” Klobuchar told program host Savannah Guthrie. |
| She added, “I don’t look at the Mayor [Pete Buttigieg, who dropped out on Sunday], Beto O’Rourke [who’s been MIA since he dropped out of the presidential race late last year] and myself as ‘establishment’.” | She added, “I don’t look at the Mayor [Pete Buttigieg, who dropped out on Sunday], Beto O’Rourke [who’s been MIA since he dropped out of the presidential race late last year] and myself as ‘establishment’.” |
| And she continued: “I look at us as new leaders for the party, fresh faces for the party and we’re basically saying we’ve got to win here and that’s why we’re supporting Joe Biden...None of us had talked to each other. We came to our own decisions...We made the decision, instead of a personal victory for ourselves or a personal quest that this was about our country.” | And she continued: “I look at us as new leaders for the party, fresh faces for the party and we’re basically saying we’ve got to win here and that’s why we’re supporting Joe Biden...None of us had talked to each other. We came to our own decisions...We made the decision, instead of a personal victory for ourselves or a personal quest that this was about our country.” |
| On leaving the Democratic primary race, Klobuchar said: “There literally was no push from anyone. It was a decision I made...The hardest part was actually telling our staff...but I think everyone knew this was the right thing to do.” | On leaving the Democratic primary race, Klobuchar said: “There literally was no push from anyone. It was a decision I made...The hardest part was actually telling our staff...but I think everyone knew this was the right thing to do.” |
| And on if she discussed with Biden serving in his administration, should he win the White House in November, Klobuchar said, “No actually not one bit,” and when asked about the possibility of being Biden’s running mate she responded, “I’m just doing my work right now, I’m one day out of having left my own campaign.” | And on if she discussed with Biden serving in his administration, should he win the White House in November, Klobuchar said, “No actually not one bit,” and when asked about the possibility of being Biden’s running mate she responded, “I’m just doing my work right now, I’m one day out of having left my own campaign.” |
| The eventual party nominee chooses his or her own candidate for vice-president, some time after the party convention in the summer. | The eventual party nominee chooses his or her own candidate for vice-president, some time after the party convention in the summer. |
| Hello all, Joanna Walters here: I’m taking over the blog in New York now, from my esteemed colleague in London, Martin Belam, and will be you walking with you through this Super Tuesday morning before passing the baton on to others for an exciting afternoon and then a dramatic night of results. Stay tuned here for all the action. | Hello all, Joanna Walters here: I’m taking over the blog in New York now, from my esteemed colleague in London, Martin Belam, and will be you walking with you through this Super Tuesday morning before passing the baton on to others for an exciting afternoon and then a dramatic night of results. Stay tuned here for all the action. |
| Bloomberg’s D-Day | Bloomberg’s D-Day |
| Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg appears on primary voting ballots for the first time today and it’s make or break for him. After Biden’s overnight surge of support from his South Carolina result, Bloomberg’s billions could end up counting for very little in his personal race. | Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg appears on primary voting ballots for the first time today and it’s make or break for him. After Biden’s overnight surge of support from his South Carolina result, Bloomberg’s billions could end up counting for very little in his personal race. |
| He’s spent a record-breaking $566 million of his own money so far on his gamble of launching a campaign but not actually competing in a primary or caucus until today. | He’s spent a record-breaking $566 million of his own money so far on his gamble of launching a campaign but not actually competing in a primary or caucus until today. |
| And of that, a whopping $215 million has been spent in the 14 Super Tuesday states where primary voters go to the polls today to pick their Democratic party nominee to face Donald Trump in November. | And of that, a whopping $215 million has been spent in the 14 Super Tuesday states where primary voters go to the polls today to pick their Democratic party nominee to face Donald Trump in November. |
| Oddly, Bloomberg’s spending the day in Florida, which doesn’t vote until March 17, at events in Orlando and Miami before watching the results at an event in West Palm Beach, coincidentally the location of Trump’s private resort club Mar-a-Lago and a billionaire snowbird playground. | Oddly, Bloomberg’s spending the day in Florida, which doesn’t vote until March 17, at events in Orlando and Miami before watching the results at an event in West Palm Beach, coincidentally the location of Trump’s private resort club Mar-a-Lago and a billionaire snowbird playground. |
| And here’s Trump’s generous take on his rival. | And here’s Trump’s generous take on his rival. |
| Donald Trump is inevitably having his say on the Democrat’s Super Tuesday primaries from the comfort of his phone. He’s just been tweeting that voters in Texas and Oklahoma should shun Mike Bloomberg, as he will have a negative impact on their fossil fuel-based energy industries. | Donald Trump is inevitably having his say on the Democrat’s Super Tuesday primaries from the comfort of his phone. He’s just been tweeting that voters in Texas and Oklahoma should shun Mike Bloomberg, as he will have a negative impact on their fossil fuel-based energy industries. |
| Trump has gone on to describe Bloomberg as a “chocker”, which is rapidly becoming the covfefe of election season. | Trump has gone on to describe Bloomberg as a “chocker”, which is rapidly becoming the covfefe of election season. |
| Talking of Mike Bloomberg and Texas, a few hours ago Time published this in-depth look at his campaign from Molly Ball in Houston. | Talking of Mike Bloomberg and Texas, a few hours ago Time published this in-depth look at his campaign from Molly Ball in Houston. |
| Read it here - Time: Mike Bloomberg wants to fix America. But can he fix the Democrats? | Read it here - Time: Mike Bloomberg wants to fix America. But can he fix the Democrats? |
| The AP are reporting that a super PAC is sending out robocalls today in five Super Tuesday states that feature positive words about Joe Biden from former president Barack Obama. | The AP are reporting that a super PAC is sending out robocalls today in five Super Tuesday states that feature positive words about Joe Biden from former president Barack Obama. |
| Amanda Loveday of Unite the Country PAC says the call is running through Tuesday in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia. | Amanda Loveday of Unite the Country PAC says the call is running through Tuesday in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia. |
| The call features audio from a speech in which Obama calls Biden “a statesman, leader who sees clearly the challenges facing America in a changing world.” | The call features audio from a speech in which Obama calls Biden “a statesman, leader who sees clearly the challenges facing America in a changing world.” |
| Loveday said the call also ran in South Carolina before its primary last Saturday and could be used in other states that vote in the future. She says the group did not need permission to use the audio, nor did it seek permission. | Loveday said the call also ran in South Carolina before its primary last Saturday and could be used in other states that vote in the future. She says the group did not need permission to use the audio, nor did it seek permission. |
| Obama has so far gone out of his way not to specifically endorse Biden - or any other candidate - in person. Sources close to the former president have suggested that he feels his voice may be best saved until later in the year, to bring unity to the Democrat campaign against Trump once a nominee is chosen. | Obama has so far gone out of his way not to specifically endorse Biden - or any other candidate - in person. Sources close to the former president have suggested that he feels his voice may be best saved until later in the year, to bring unity to the Democrat campaign against Trump once a nominee is chosen. |
| Last week the former president threatened legal action against a Republican super PAC that was running an anti-Biden campaign which, he said, used Obama’s words out of context to paint his vice president in a negative light. | Last week the former president threatened legal action against a Republican super PAC that was running an anti-Biden campaign which, he said, used Obama’s words out of context to paint his vice president in a negative light. |