A longtime politician from Vermont, where just about 1 per cent of the population is black, Sanders lacks Clinton’s deep and longstanding connections to the African-American community.
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Clinton was spending Sunday church-hopping across Memphis in an effort to mobilize African-American voters ahead of Tuesday’s primaries.
But the results also helped her extinguish any doubts about her ability to win big with Democrats and about her broad appeal among minority voters, who will be decisive in many delegate-rich primaries in March. They chose her over Mr Sanders by more than six to one, while white voters narrowly favoured her as well, according to exit polls.
“This campaign is just beginning”, he said.
Sanders picked up a high-profile endorsement on Sunday, when Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard said on “Meet the Press” that she “cannot remain neutral any longer” and would resign as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee to support Sanders.
In case you missed it over the weekend, Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton routed socialist Bernie Sanders in SC ahead of Super Tuesday tomorrow.
“She has been in battles, she is one woman that can lead this country”, Ms. Major told AFP.
Most notably, Sanders was absent from Clinton’s remarks on healthcare.
So as tempting as it might be for Sanders, and his supporters, to draw a line under the debacle and move on to greener pastures-as indeed the Senator himself began doing even before the voting began-that would be a potentially fatal mistake.
“He’s got to pull off a surprise against Clinton soon or he won’t have time to recover”, said Phil Noble, a longtime Democratic activist in SC. Among independents, a slim majority backed Sanders. The scope of Clinton’s victory appeared to raise questions for Sanders, who had catapulted into the serious national consideration after winning New Hampshire by 22 points. Seven in 10 voters also want to continue Obama’s policies, versus moving in a more liberal direction.
Clinton struck a populist tone as she spoke too, backed by younger voters behind her on stage – a demographic she’s struggled to capture over Sanders.
It is Mrs Clinton’s third victory in four contests, after wins in Iowa and Nevada. Former President Bill Clinton made statements during that campaign that were seen by some as questioning the legitimacy of the black presidential contender.
But Hillary and her supporters were elated, describing SC as a turning point in the campaign.
Still – Allikian emphasises a vote in the overseas primary is often a much more powerful than a vote in an expat’s home state. Sanders’ campaign has essentially been an extended argument that they didn’t.
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There are no indications Clinton will campaign in Minnesota before Tuesday’s caucuses but her daughter, Chelsea, had events planned in the state today and Monday.
