Bernie Win Upends Race
Bernie puts together Rust Belt coalition. Time: "Sanders had a strong showing with white, working-class voters, many of whom were likely swayed to support his strong opposition to trade agreements ... many attributing the losses to trade deals like NAFTA, passed under President Bill Clinton’s tenure. Perhaps more importantly, Sanders closed some of the gap among black voters, winning 30% among that demographic..."
Clinton's auto bailout attack backfired. The Atlantic's David Graham: "One potential culprit is Clinton’s late attack on Sanders, in which she alleged that he had opposed the rescue of the car industry, because he had voted against bank-bailout bills that included funds for automakers. The attack seemed implausible on its face..."
Loss exposes a Clinton weakness. NYT: "The results were also a reminder of her weakness among two key voting blocs: working-class white men and independent voters. The setback will almost certainly lead her to sharpen or even rethink her economic message, which does not seem to be reaching voters who feel betrayed by the Democratic Party’s embrace of free trade and left behind by the forces of globalization and deregulation."
But Clinton still won more pledged delegates last night. Politico: "...she actually gained delegates on Tuesday despite the shock-horror headlines: Sanders netted a modest nine pledged delegates in Michigan for his 1.7 percentage point win, but she destroyed him in Mississippi and out-delegated Sanders by a whopping 29 to 4 ... she added about 16 delegates to her commanding 745-to-540 lead over Sanders in pledged delegates..."
Sanders sues to let 17-year olds vote in OH. W. Post: "The senator from Vermont argued that should be permitted under a plain reading of Ohio's election law, and he is taking issue with an interpretation to the contrary by its Republican secretary of state, Jon Husted."
Trump Train Rolls On
Trump sweeps Deep South. W. Post: "Trump's easy win in Mississippi on Tuesday completes the sweep of the five states that have traditionally comprised the definition of the Deep South ... Now we see how much his appeal translates to other parts of the country, like the Rust Belt and the West. Easily winning Michigan on Tuesday would suggest that he remains on the right track."
Cruz emerging as Trump alternative. Politico: "...some top Republican power brokers are turning to Cruz, putting aside their policy and personal misgivings to back the candidate they now openly label as their best hope to stop Trump’s GOP takeover."
Rubio on the ropes. Politico: "...Rubio sunk to single digits in Mississippi and Michigan, finishing last and losing so badly that he won no delegates in those two states. He was a distant third in Idaho at risk of getting no delegates there. After he came in third in Hawaii with 12 percent..."
