Days in advance of the notoriously unpredictable contest Saturday afternoon, the former secretary of state’s team had tried to downplay the significance of the Nevada results amid concerns that Sanders would pull off a win.
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The Vermont Senator became the first Jew to win a U.S. presidential primary when he triumphed in New Hampshire last week, but lost by 5.5 per cent to Mrs Clinton in Nevada on Saturday night. That repeats a pattern seen in Iowa and New Hampshire, a sign that something about the race is failing to ignite party members.
Clinton won Saturday’s caucus vote by almost five percentage points, but because of technical issues, a lone delegate was not awarded that day. And he’s likely to lose next week in SC, where he’s down by a wide margin of 24 points, according to RealClearPolitics’ poll average. In a continuing sign of her vulnerability, Sanders did best with voters looking for a candidate who is caring and honest. Big wins in those states for either candidate would put the nomination within sight.
Clinton, for example, beat Sanders among voters who focused on qualities like “experience” and “electability”, according to the entrance polls.
Sanders blamed his Nevada loss on a lack of turnout.
Mrs Clinton had been far ahead in the polls until recently, when Mr Sanders became better known here and struck fear into the Clinton campaign that he might prevail in Nevada and deal her a serious setback. Sanders gained the support of 7 in 10 caucus attendees under 45 and Clinton of two-thirds of those age 45 and over.
Harrison says both Clinton and Sanders have to focus on the African American vote for his primary. “So I thought I’d come out here and show her that I’m fighting for her too.” said one supporter as she held up boxing gloves.
“I think we’ve got some states coming down the pipe we are going to do very well in”, Sanders continued.
“I think the more the African-American community hears our message on a broken criminal justice system – which has more people in jail today than any country on earth, largely African-American and Latino – when they hear our message of an economy that represents all of us, not just the 1%”.
Clinton got a little star power in her bid for support with a new ad out, narrated by actor Morgan Freeman.
Clinton also was spending time in Super Tuesday states.
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“I am also proud of the fact that we have brought many working people and young people into the political process and believe that we have the wind at our back as we head toward Super Tuesday”, he said.
