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| Super Tuesday: polls open as 14 US states vote in crucial Democratic primary contests – follow live | Super Tuesday: polls open as 14 US states vote in crucial Democratic primary contests – follow live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Fourteen states across the country voting on key day for Sanders and Biden campaigns | Fourteen states across the country voting on key day for Sanders and Biden campaigns |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Amy Klobuchar was live on NBC News this morning in her first TV spot since dropping out. | |
| She said she made the decision to quit the race herself. She said that she stepped back while she was attending the commemoration service in Selma at the weekend, and thought to herself “What is better here? What is better for the country?” | |
| She said that announcing her support for Joe Biden last night was an “incredible joyous moment”. | |
| Asked if Super Tuesday was “do or die time” in terms of stopping Bernie Sanders, Klobuchar said: “It’s a big deal tonight. You have Sen. Sanders who has been ahead in a number of the states, but part of that was because there were so many other people. I think you will see some victories of Joe Biden in a number of the states.” | |
| Explaining her preference against Sanders, she says the Democrats want to “win big” and that means nominating a candidate that “brings in independents, moderate Republicans”. On Biden she said “He has this decency, exactly what we need right now” | |
| You can watch the full segment here: Amy Klobuchar rejects idea that moderate Dems are trying to crush Sanders | |
| Here’s a few things worth a read over your coffee this morning: | |
| Jim Newell in Slate suggesting that this Super Tuesday, anything could happen, and all he is willing to predict is that: | |
| Read it here - Slate: After Mayhem Monday, it’s Super Tuesday! | |
| Over at The Hill, Niall Stanage has a breakdown of what he says each candidate needs to do. Key takeaways - it is vital for Biden to do better than Bloomberg, Warren must win her home state of Massachusetts, and he didn’t bother working out what Tulsi Gabbard needed. And Sanders? | |
| Read it here - The Hill: What each candidate needs to do | |
| Away from the results of the election and more about the mechanics of elections temselves, Kim Zetter at Politico has been looking at the business of states investing in their own election tech. | |
| Read it here - Politico: Los Angeles County’s risky voting experiment | |
| At least 7 people were killed earlier today as two tornadoes touched down in central Tennessee, shredding about 40 buildings across the Nashville area. The state is due to vote today as part of Super Tuesday. | At least 7 people were killed earlier today as two tornadoes touched down in central Tennessee, shredding about 40 buildings across the Nashville area. The state is due to vote today as part of Super Tuesday. |
| Metro Nashville Public Schools said its schools would be closed Tuesday because of the tornado damage. Wilson County, just east of metro Nashville will close schools for the rest of the week. Election polling sites at schools were expected to remain open, as well as district offices, according to tweets from its official account. | Metro Nashville Public Schools said its schools would be closed Tuesday because of the tornado damage. Wilson County, just east of metro Nashville will close schools for the rest of the week. Election polling sites at schools were expected to remain open, as well as district offices, according to tweets from its official account. |
| Jeff Roberts of the Elections Commission said in a statement early Tuesday that information about damage to polling stations is being collected as polls open. Any voter in Davidson County whose assigned precinct has been impacted may vote at the Election Commission Offices, the statement said. | Jeff Roberts of the Elections Commission said in a statement early Tuesday that information about damage to polling stations is being collected as polls open. Any voter in Davidson County whose assigned precinct has been impacted may vote at the Election Commission Offices, the statement said. |
| Polls open in the state at various times, starting at 7 am CST, depending on the county. Polls will be opening at 8am in Nashville | Polls open in the state at various times, starting at 7 am CST, depending on the county. Polls will be opening at 8am in Nashville |
| It’s not just in the 14 Super Tuesday states that Democrats are casting their votes today. 3 March also marks the opening of the Democrats Abroad primary. There are thirteen pledged delegates at stake. The primary runs until 10 March. | It’s not just in the 14 Super Tuesday states that Democrats are casting their votes today. 3 March also marks the opening of the Democrats Abroad primary. There are thirteen pledged delegates at stake. The primary runs until 10 March. |
| To vote, you have to be a US citizen residing abroad, be 18 as of 3 November 2020 and be a member of Democrats Abroad. | To vote, you have to be a US citizen residing abroad, be 18 as of 3 November 2020 and be a member of Democrats Abroad. |
| One of the earliest voting stations to open was in Bangkok, Thailand, where the primary is taking place amid the coronavirus outbreak. There have been 43 cases and one death in the country. Some voters have been casting their ballots wearing face masks. | One of the earliest voting stations to open was in Bangkok, Thailand, where the primary is taking place amid the coronavirus outbreak. There have been 43 cases and one death in the country. Some voters have been casting their ballots wearing face masks. |
| Polls are opening across the US as 14 states vote in the biggest day of the 2020 election campaign so far. Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Mike Bloomberg and Tulsi Gabbard all still vying to win the Democrats nomination to fight Donald Trump for the White House in November. | Polls are opening across the US as 14 states vote in the biggest day of the 2020 election campaign so far. Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Mike Bloomberg and Tulsi Gabbard all still vying to win the Democrats nomination to fight Donald Trump for the White House in November. |
| The primaries in Texas and California are key battle ground, both sending swathes of delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Sanders and Warren are both facing votes in their home states. Biden has been boosted in the last two days bu the endorsements of former candidates Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Beto O’Rourke. | The primaries in Texas and California are key battle ground, both sending swathes of delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Sanders and Warren are both facing votes in their home states. Biden has been boosted in the last two days bu the endorsements of former candidates Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Beto O’Rourke. |
| Here’s Lauren Gambino in Los Angeles with our scene-setter for the day. | Here’s Lauren Gambino in Los Angeles with our scene-setter for the day. |
| 130 million people live in the states that votes today. That is more than 10 times as many people who live in the four states that have had their say so far. It is also one of the most diverse electorates of the primary season. 25% of the population in these 14 states are Hispanic, with an 11% black population and the 7% Asian population. Altogether the white vote makes up 53%. | 130 million people live in the states that votes today. That is more than 10 times as many people who live in the four states that have had their say so far. It is also one of the most diverse electorates of the primary season. 25% of the population in these 14 states are Hispanic, with an 11% black population and the 7% Asian population. Altogether the white vote makes up 53%. |
| Here are the 14 states voting today, when their polls close (in Eastern Time), and how many delegates they have on offer. | Here are the 14 states voting today, when their polls close (in Eastern Time), and how many delegates they have on offer. |
| Closing at 7pm ETVermont (16 delegates)Virginia (99) | Closing at 7pm ETVermont (16 delegates)Virginia (99) |
| Closing at 7:30pmNorth Carolina (110) | Closing at 7:30pmNorth Carolina (110) |
| Closing at 8pmAlabama (52)Maine (24)Massachusetts (91)Oklahoma (37)Tennessee (64)Texas (228) - El Paso closes at 9pm | Closing at 8pmAlabama (52)Maine (24)Massachusetts (91)Oklahoma (37)Tennessee (64)Texas (228) - El Paso closes at 9pm |
| Closing at 8:30pmArkansas (31) | Closing at 8:30pmArkansas (31) |
| Closing at 9pmColorado (67)Minnesota (75) | Closing at 9pmColorado (67)Minnesota (75) |
| Closing at 10pmUtah (29) | Closing at 10pmUtah (29) |
| Closing at 11pmCalifornia (415) | Closing at 11pmCalifornia (415) |
| You can’t expect full results on the dot though. In some primaries, for example California, postal ballots still have a couple of days to arrive and be counted after the polls close. They are still valid as long as the post-mark is before 3 March. | You can’t expect full results on the dot though. In some primaries, for example California, postal ballots still have a couple of days to arrive and be counted after the polls close. They are still valid as long as the post-mark is before 3 March. |
| Another key question - given the late drop-outs of Amy Klobuchar, Tom Steyer and Pete Buttigieg, what happens to the votes of people who opted for them in early voting? Here’s Maanvi Singh with a quick guide to ‘zombie votes’ | Another key question - given the late drop-outs of Amy Klobuchar, Tom Steyer and Pete Buttigieg, what happens to the votes of people who opted for them in early voting? Here’s Maanvi Singh with a quick guide to ‘zombie votes’ |
| Also overnight on the coronavirus outbreak, Donald Trump was flexing his muscles again over interest rates at Federal Reserve - a long-term concern of his. | Also overnight on the coronavirus outbreak, Donald Trump was flexing his muscles again over interest rates at Federal Reserve - a long-term concern of his. |
| Responding to news that Australia’s central bank has cut interest rates to a record low due to the “significant effect” of the coronavirus outbreak on the Australian economy, Trump blasted the Fed and Jerome Powell again for their interest rate position. | Responding to news that Australia’s central bank has cut interest rates to a record low due to the “significant effect” of the coronavirus outbreak on the Australian economy, Trump blasted the Fed and Jerome Powell again for their interest rate position. |
| There’s been some domestic controversy over the coronavirus outbreak brewing overnight. Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan has picked up on news that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have changed the way it reports the number of cases in the US - removing public information about how many people have been tested. | There’s been some domestic controversy over the coronavirus outbreak brewing overnight. Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan has picked up on news that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have changed the way it reports the number of cases in the US - removing public information about how many people have been tested. |
| Pocan tweeted last night to say that he has written to CDC director Robert Redfield demanding to know why this information is no longer available. | Pocan tweeted last night to say that he has written to CDC director Robert Redfield demanding to know why this information is no longer available. |
| In the letter, Pocan says: | In the letter, Pocan says: |
| He goes on to ask when the CDC will resume publishing the information. | He goes on to ask when the CDC will resume publishing the information. |
| Here’s the latest on the coronavirus situation in the US from Hallie Golden in Seattle. | Here’s the latest on the coronavirus situation in the US from Hallie Golden in Seattle. |
| One story that will not go away during the whole of the 2020 election cycle is that of vote security. Associated Press have been looking at some of the measures in place in the first big test of the system since the 2018 midterms. And there’s a new factor at play - coronavirus. | One story that will not go away during the whole of the 2020 election cycle is that of vote security. Associated Press have been looking at some of the measures in place in the first big test of the system since the 2018 midterms. And there’s a new factor at play - coronavirus. |
| In 2016, the Russians weaponized social media to sow discord among Americans, scanned state and local election systems for cyber vulnerabilities and deployed the targeted release of stolen campaign emails and documents. US intelligence chiefs have warned that foreign interference remains a threat. And the recent outbreak of a new virus could present a bad actor with an opening to spread false information to keep voters away from the polls. We’ve already seen misinformation about the virus on social media go, well, viral. | In 2016, the Russians weaponized social media to sow discord among Americans, scanned state and local election systems for cyber vulnerabilities and deployed the targeted release of stolen campaign emails and documents. US intelligence chiefs have warned that foreign interference remains a threat. And the recent outbreak of a new virus could present a bad actor with an opening to spread false information to keep voters away from the polls. We’ve already seen misinformation about the virus on social media go, well, viral. |
| One California county has sought to address concerns over the coronavirus by sending bottles of hand sanitizer to polling places and asking poll workers to post fliers from the public health department on how to avoid spreading the virus. | One California county has sought to address concerns over the coronavirus by sending bottles of hand sanitizer to polling places and asking poll workers to post fliers from the public health department on how to avoid spreading the virus. |
| Jesse Salinas, the chief elections official in Yolo County, California, told Associated Press that a few poll workers have backed out over concerns but most understand the threat is relatively low. The county had no reported cases as of Monday morning. | Jesse Salinas, the chief elections official in Yolo County, California, told Associated Press that a few poll workers have backed out over concerns but most understand the threat is relatively low. The county had no reported cases as of Monday morning. |
| “We are hoping people remain calm and still participate in the election process,” Salinas said. | “We are hoping people remain calm and still participate in the election process,” Salinas said. |
| Unlike the fiasco of the Democrat counting at the Iowa caucuses, it will be state and local election officials will be administering Tuesday’s elections. | Unlike the fiasco of the Democrat counting at the Iowa caucuses, it will be state and local election officials will be administering Tuesday’s elections. |
| “Texas voters can rest assured ... that our office and those of local and county elections officials are committed to working hand in hand to ensure smooth elections as well as the integrity of our electoral process,” said Stephen Chang, spokesman for the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. | “Texas voters can rest assured ... that our office and those of local and county elections officials are committed to working hand in hand to ensure smooth elections as well as the integrity of our electoral process,” said Stephen Chang, spokesman for the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. |
| States vary considerably in their use of technology to run elections. Some utilize computerized voter lists known as electronic pollbooks to check in voters, while others rely on paper. Voters in a few places will be using new electronic voting machines that produce a paper record of voter selections while some voters in Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma will be using older ones considered vulnerable by election security experts. | States vary considerably in their use of technology to run elections. Some utilize computerized voter lists known as electronic pollbooks to check in voters, while others rely on paper. Voters in a few places will be using new electronic voting machines that produce a paper record of voter selections while some voters in Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma will be using older ones considered vulnerable by election security experts. |
| In California - widely seen as the most crucial Democrat primary to win - a new publicly owned computerized voting system the first of its kind in the nation will face a crucial test in Los Angeles County, the nation’s largest elections jurisdiction with 5.4 million registered voters. | In California - widely seen as the most crucial Democrat primary to win - a new publicly owned computerized voting system the first of its kind in the nation will face a crucial test in Los Angeles County, the nation’s largest elections jurisdiction with 5.4 million registered voters. |
| The new system won conditional state approval despite serious security and technical issues, with the county ordered to offer all voters the option of using hand-marked paper ballots. | The new system won conditional state approval despite serious security and technical issues, with the county ordered to offer all voters the option of using hand-marked paper ballots. |
| An estimated 63 percent of voters were already expected to vote by mail using hand-marked paper ballots. Such ballots are considered the most reliable by election security experts because paper can’t be hacked or altered by programming errors. | An estimated 63 percent of voters were already expected to vote by mail using hand-marked paper ballots. Such ballots are considered the most reliable by election security experts because paper can’t be hacked or altered by programming errors. |
| If you’d like an indication of where votes might go across the states voting today, then NBC News have got a state-by-state look at who’s leading in the polls. | If you’d like an indication of where votes might go across the states voting today, then NBC News have got a state-by-state look at who’s leading in the polls. |
| They give Sanders a clear lead in California, the state where most delegates are up for grabs. Sanders has a tighter six point lead over Biden in Texas, which has 228 pledged delegates on offer. | They give Sanders a clear lead in California, the state where most delegates are up for grabs. Sanders has a tighter six point lead over Biden in Texas, which has 228 pledged delegates on offer. |
| A word of caution though. Some polling has been done in some states after Biden’s South Carolina victory, but a lot of these figures are going to be a bit stale, as they don’t reflect that Biden win, or that Klobuchar and Buttigieg have dropped. The final destination of the votes from their supporters is going to be one of the things that makes today so intriguing. | A word of caution though. Some polling has been done in some states after Biden’s South Carolina victory, but a lot of these figures are going to be a bit stale, as they don’t reflect that Biden win, or that Klobuchar and Buttigieg have dropped. The final destination of the votes from their supporters is going to be one of the things that makes today so intriguing. |
| Read it here - NBC News: Super Tuesday polls state-by-state look at who’s leading | Read it here - NBC News: Super Tuesday polls state-by-state look at who’s leading |
| Good morning. And then there were four. Well, four plus Tulsi Gabbard. | Good morning. And then there were four. Well, four plus Tulsi Gabbard. |
| Super Tuesday always looked like being the day that the Democratic nomination field narrowed - but we expected it to be after the results, not in the two days beforehand. The withdrawal of first Pete Buttigieg and then Amy Klobuchar from the race leaves today’s election tantalisingly poised. | Super Tuesday always looked like being the day that the Democratic nomination field narrowed - but we expected it to be after the results, not in the two days beforehand. The withdrawal of first Pete Buttigieg and then Amy Klobuchar from the race leaves today’s election tantalisingly poised. |
| For Bernie Sanders, it is about showing that he can keep on picking up those pledged delegates and keep his nose ahead in the race. For Joe Biden, with key moderates now out of the running and backing him, it is a huge opportunity to make himself the clear single leading opponent to Sanders. | For Bernie Sanders, it is about showing that he can keep on picking up those pledged delegates and keep his nose ahead in the race. For Joe Biden, with key moderates now out of the running and backing him, it is a huge opportunity to make himself the clear single leading opponent to Sanders. |
| Elizabeth Warren needs to do well enough that it seems worthwhile her continuing, although her strategy appears to be just hanging on all the way to the convention, and see what shakes out there. | Elizabeth Warren needs to do well enough that it seems worthwhile her continuing, although her strategy appears to be just hanging on all the way to the convention, and see what shakes out there. |
| And Mike Bloomberg needs to see if he can turn his massive ad spend into votes. It is the first time he has been on the ballot paper. | And Mike Bloomberg needs to see if he can turn his massive ad spend into votes. It is the first time he has been on the ballot paper. |
| 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, allocating around a third of the delegates candidates need to get the nod to run against Trump. | 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, allocating around a third of the delegates candidates need to get the nod to run against Trump. |
| Here’s our guide to the night: | Here’s our guide to the night: |
| Away from the Democratic race, it will be another important day for the Trump administration in its attempts to cope with the coronavirus outbreak, which has now claimed six lives in Washington state. | Away from the Democratic race, it will be another important day for the Trump administration in its attempts to cope with the coronavirus outbreak, which has now claimed six lives in Washington state. |
| Donald Trump is visiting a viral pathogenesis laboratory at the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He will be taking part in a roundtable briefing. There is also expected to be a press briefing by members of the Coronavirus Task Force later this afternoon. | Donald Trump is visiting a viral pathogenesis laboratory at the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He will be taking part in a roundtable briefing. There is also expected to be a press briefing by members of the Coronavirus Task Force later this afternoon. |