After all the rancour of the Democratic presidential race, front-runner Joe Biden has a chance in Sunday's debate to extend an olive branch to rival Bernie Sanders and his fervent liberal supporters in a bid for party unity before the general election fight.

Biden and Sanders will square off in what may be the final debate of the Democratic nominating contest. Biden leads Sanders in delegates after a string of primary victories, and next week's nominating contests could put the former vice president on a nearly unstoppable path to the nomination.

The centrist Biden may now be in a position to try to find common ground with Sanders, a democratic socialist, a move that could help mend the fissure in the party between moderates and progressives, Democratic Party veterans say.

“Sunday’s debate could be an important step to heal and strengthen the party," said Hari Sevugan, recently a top aide to former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. “A measured, respectful conversation could go a long way.”

The winner of the Democratic primary contest will face Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senator-bernie-sanders-announces-2020-presidential-bid-198358">At 77, US Senator Bernie Sanders announces 2020 presidential bid</a>

Biden is not prone to conflict with fellow Democrats. The question remains whether the pugnacious Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, would follow suit or keep trying to draw a clear contrast between the two candidates.

Some Democrats say lingering tensions between Sanders and rival Hillary Clinton in 2016 played a role in her upset loss to Trump.

After being routed by Biden in Michigan and other primaries on Tuesday, Sanders seemed to signal he was less interested in attacking Biden personally and more intent on pushing him to address issues such as universal healthcare coverage, college affordability, climate change and poverty.

The coronavirus pandemic will likely add a level of solemnity to the debate, which may also minimize conflict between the two, strategists said. The debate was moved to Washington from Arizona and will have no live audience due to concerns about the outbreak.

For Biden, the challenge may be figuring out how to thread the needle of expressing support for Sanders' efforts without aligning himself with his policies.

Biden can say that "while they share the same goals, they differ on the prescription," Sevugan said.

'AN OPEN HAND'

Biden’s team is under pressure from allies of Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren, another former presidential candidate, to adopt policies popular with progressives such as a wealth tax, a stepped-up estate tax and an equal-pay plan, according to several strategists familiar with the conversations.

A wealth tax "one, is supported by both Senators Sanders and Warren and two, speaks to the fundamentals of who the Democratic Party should be making clear they fight for,” said a Democratic strategist who was close to Warren's campaign.

A similar dynamic played out between Sanders and Clinton in the 2016 primary, when Sanders said he would not drop out even after it became clear she would be the nominee.

The progressive wing of the party then successfully pushed for the addition of policies, including a $15-an-hour minimum wage, to the party’s convention platform. Sanders ultimately endorsed her.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-seizes-momentum-in-us-presidential-race-with-strong-super-tuesday-284205">Joe Biden seizes momentum in US presidential race with strong Super Tuesday</a>

Brian Fallon, Clinton's spokesman in 2016, said that while Sanders’ supporters were unlikely to be “fully transferrable” to Biden, Biden’s team must work to earn the support of as many as possible to avoid the narrow loss Clinton suffered.

“It begins with rhetorically stretching out an open hand,” Fallon said.

Biden has been resistant to Sanders’ Medicare for All plan, which would replace private health insurance, arguing it is too costly and that many Americans prefer to keep their current insurance.

Wendell Potter, a former healthcare executive who now works as an advocate for a government-run plan, said Biden must at least concede “the problems of our healthcare system are more severe than he’s acknowledging.”

Exit polls of Democratic voters from recent primaries showed strong support for Medicare for All.

Earlier this week, Biden praised the passion of Sanders and his supporters and promised to deliver a “bold, progressive vision to the American people.”

But his campaign has yet to indicate it would be inclined to embrace any of Sanders’ signature proposals. Biden's agenda in its current form would already make him the most progressive Democrat in history if elected, a campaign aide said.

Matt Bennett, a vice president for Third Way, a Democratic think tank that advocates for centrist policies, said Biden could not afford to break leftward after moderates in the party coalesced around him.

“The guy who comes in second doesn’t get concessions,” Bennett said. “The problem with Bernie is that his ideas are so huge, they are sinking his campaign. Biden can’t take those on.”

After all the rancour of the Democratic presidential race, front-runner Joe Biden has a chance in Sunday's debate to extend an olive branch to rival Bernie Sanders and his fervent liberal supporters in a bid for party unity before the general election fight.

After all the rancour of the Democratic presidential race, front-runner Joe Biden has a chance in Sunday's debate to extend an olive branch to rival Bernie Sanders and his fervent liberal supporters in a bid for party unity before the general election fight. Biden and Sanders will square off in what may be the final debate of the Democratic nominating contest. Biden leads Sanders in delegates after a string of primary victories, and next week's nominating contests could put the former vice president on a nearly unstoppable path to the nomination. The centrist Biden may now be in a position to try to find common ground with Sanders, a democratic socialist, a move that could help mend the fissure in the party between moderates and progressives, Democratic Party veterans say. “Sunday’s debate could be an important step to heal and strengthen the party," said Hari Sevugan, recently a top aide to former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. “A measured, respectful conversation could go a long way.” The winner of the Democratic primary contest will face Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election. Also Read: At 77, US Senator Bernie Sanders announces 2020 presidential bid Biden is not prone to conflict with fellow Democrats. The question remains whether the pugnacious Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, would follow suit or keep trying to draw a clear contrast between the two candidates. Some Democrats say lingering tensions between Sanders and rival Hillary Clinton in 2016 played a role in her upset loss to Trump. After being routed by Biden in Michigan and other primaries on Tuesday, Sanders seemed to signal he was less interested in attacking Biden personally and more intent on pushing him to address issues such as universal healthcare coverage, college affordability, climate change and poverty. The coronavirus pandemic will likely add a level of solemnity to the debate, which may also minimize conflict between the two, strategists said. The debate was moved to Washington from Arizona and will have no live audience due to concerns about the outbreak. For Biden, the challenge may be figuring out how to thread the needle of expressing support for Sanders' efforts without aligning himself with his policies. Biden can say that "while they share the same goals, they differ on the prescription," Sevugan said. 'AN OPEN HAND' Biden’s team is under pressure from allies of Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren, another former presidential candidate, to adopt policies popular with progressives such as a wealth tax, a stepped-up estate tax and an equal-pay plan, according to several strategists familiar with the conversations. A wealth tax "one, is supported by both Senators Sanders and Warren and two, speaks to the fundamentals of who the Democratic Party should be making clear they fight for,” said a Democratic strategist who was close to Warren's campaign. A similar dynamic played out between Sanders and Clinton in the 2016 primary, when Sanders said he would not drop out even after it became clear she would be the nominee. The progressive wing of the party then successfully pushed for the addition of policies, including a $15-an-hour minimum wage, to the party’s convention platform. Sanders ultimately endorsed her. Also Read: Joe Biden seizes momentum in US presidential race with strong Super Tuesday Brian Fallon, Clinton's spokesman in 2016, said that while Sanders’ supporters were unlikely to be “fully transferrable” to Biden, Biden’s team must work to earn the support of as many as possible to avoid the narrow loss Clinton suffered. “It begins with rhetorically stretching out an open hand,” Fallon said. Biden has been resistant to Sanders’ Medicare for All plan, which would replace private health insurance, arguing it is too costly and that many Americans prefer to keep their current insurance. Wendell Potter, a former healthcare executive who now works as an advocate for a government-run plan, said Biden must at least concede “the problems of our healthcare system are more severe than he’s acknowledging.” Exit polls of Democratic voters from recent primaries showed strong support for Medicare for All. Earlier this week, Biden praised the passion of Sanders and his supporters and promised to deliver a “bold, progressive vision to the American people.” But his campaign has yet to indicate it would be inclined to embrace any of Sanders’ signature proposals. Biden's agenda in its current form would already make him the most progressive Democrat in history if elected, a campaign aide said. Matt Bennett, a vice president for Third Way, a Democratic think tank that advocates for centrist policies, said Biden could not afford to break leftward after moderates in the party coalesced around him. “The guy who comes in second doesn’t get concessions,” Bennett said. “The problem with Bernie is that his ideas are so huge, they are sinking his campaign. Biden can’t take those on.”

Debate offers Biden, Sanders a chance to bridge Democratic Party's divide

Joe Biden is the front-runner in the Democratic Presidential race. The Former US Vice President could challenge Donald Trump in the upcoming Presidential Election. This report tells you more about the contender from the Democrats.

Gravitas: Meet the man who could challenge Donald Trump, US Elections 2020

Joe Biden moved a step closer on Tuesday to a November showdown with Donald Trump, notching up big primary wins over Bernie Sanders, his sole remaining challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Biden, 77, the centrist former vice president, cruised to victory in Missouri and Mississippi and scored a resounding win in Michigan, where Sanders, 78, the leftist senator from Vermont, had hoped to make a stand.

The race was too close to call in Washington, the other major prize at stake, while two more states were also still counting votes -- Idaho and North Dakota.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia as his victory took shape, Biden struck a presidential tone as he declared on national television that he would lead "a comeback for the soul of this nation."

"We're bringing this party together," he said. "Tonight we're a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honour to the White House."

Biden reached out to his sometimes bitter rival Sanders and his supporters, telling them "we share a common goal."

"Together we'll defeat Donald Trump," he said.

Biden's huge victory in Mississippi where he won around 80 per cent of the vote, reflected his popularity among strategically vital African-American voters. He defeated Sanders by 25 points in Missouri.

His win in Michigan, the Midwestern industrial state which could be a key battleground in November, was a major setback for Sanders, who narrowly beat Hillary Clinton there four years ago.

Barring surprises, Biden now has a clear path to becoming the Democratic standard bearer in a potentially bruising and deeply divisive matchup with the Republican incumbent Trump.

The main question remaining is whether Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, will fight to the bitter end as he did four years ago against Clinton or bow out early.

Many Democrats accuse the firebrand Sanders and his devoted supporters of damaging Clinton just as she was struggling -- ultimately unsuccessfully -- against the Trump insurgency.

'Tough night'

Sanders did not immediately address Tuesday's results.

But his press secretary indicated he had no intention of pulling out, touting Sunday's next debate as the chance for America to "see Biden defend his ideas or lack thereof."

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, the charismatic New York congresswoman who is one of Sanders' most high-profile supporters, said there was no "sugarcoating" the results, however.

"Tonight's a tough night for the movement," Ocasio-Cortez said. &nbsp;

Adding to nerves in a country on edge after three tumultuous years under Trump, fears of the coronavirus epidemic prompted both campaigns to cancel election-night rallies planned in Cleveland, Ohio.

Organizers of the upcoming television debate between Sanders and Biden likewise said they would take the extraordinary step of not allowing the usual live audience.

Their caution was at odds with Trump, who has vowed to keep holding his typically raucous rallies despite the concerns about large gatherings.

Trump's campaign manager dismissed Tuesday's results, saying "it has never mattered who the Democratic nominee turns out to be."

Both are "running on a big government socialist agenda" and Trump "is on an unstoppable drive toward re-election," campaign manager Brad Parscale said.

For Biden, Tuesday's six-state contest, coming a week after his strong Super Tuesday performance, demonstrated that his once shambolic campaign is gathering strength and is now ready to face Trump.

Michigan in particular, which Trump narrowly won in 2016, was targeted by Biden as a place to put down a marker ahead of the November election.

Sanders had accused Biden of selling out to corporate interests and ignoring a passionate leftist base.

But the former vice president has insisted on steering a centrist line that he says can bring the divided country back together -- and it appears to have paid off.

'Traditional Democratic coalition'

Banking on his credibility as Obama's vice president, he has managed to get out an enthusiastic black vote.

With stories of a hard-knock childhood frequently featuring in his speeches, Biden also wants to recapture the blue-collar white voters that Trump successfully poached from the Democrats in 2016.

"Biden is putting together the traditional Democratic coalition, and that's still a very powerful one," said Julian Zelizer, a professor of political history at Princeton University.

In another boost, Andrew Yang became the latest of a string of former rivals for the Democratic nomination to endorse Biden.

As the candidate, however, Biden will face an intensely polarized landscape, as illustrated during a campaign stop early Tuesday.

Biden was speaking at an under-construction automobile plant in Detroit, when he was confronted by a worker who accused him of planning to take away Americans' firearms.

In the startling exchange, Biden struck back, telling the worker he was "full of shit" and insisting that he supports the constitutional right to bear arms.&nbsp;

"I'm not taking your gun away," he said in the encounter, which Trump backers pointed to as evidence of Biden's inability to stand pressure -- but his own supporters saw as a show of mettle.

Joe Biden moved a step closer on Tuesday to a November showdown with Donald Trump, notching up big primary wins over Bernie Sanders, his sole remaining challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Joe Biden moved a step closer on Tuesday to a November showdown with Donald Trump, notching up big primary wins over Bernie Sanders, his sole remaining challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination. Biden, 77, the centrist former vice president, cruised to victory in Missouri and Mississippi and scored a resounding win in Michigan, where Sanders, 78, the leftist senator from Vermont, had hoped to make a stand. The race was too close to call in Washington, the other major prize at stake, while two more states were also still counting votes -- Idaho and North Dakota. Addressing supporters in Philadelphia as his victory took shape, Biden struck a presidential tone as he declared on national television that he would lead "a comeback for the soul of this nation." "We're bringing this party together," he said. "Tonight we're a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honour to the White House." Biden reached out to his sometimes bitter rival Sanders and his supporters, telling them "we share a common goal." "Together we'll defeat Donald Trump," he said. Biden's huge victory in Mississippi where he won around 80 per cent of the vote, reflected his popularity among strategically vital African-American voters. He defeated Sanders by 25 points in Missouri. His win in Michigan, the Midwestern industrial state which could be a key battleground in November, was a major setback for Sanders, who narrowly beat Hillary Clinton there four years ago. Barring surprises, Biden now has a clear path to becoming the Democratic standard bearer in a potentially bruising and deeply divisive matchup with the Republican incumbent Trump. The main question remaining is whether Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, will fight to the bitter end as he did four years ago against Clinton or bow out early. Many Democrats accuse the firebrand Sanders and his devoted supporters of damaging Clinton just as she was struggling -- ultimately unsuccessfully -- against the Trump insurgency. 'Tough night' Sanders did not immediately address Tuesday's results. But his press secretary indicated he had no intention of pulling out, touting Sunday's next debate as the chance for America to "see Biden defend his ideas or lack thereof." Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, the charismatic New York congresswoman who is one of Sanders' most high-profile supporters, said there was no "sugarcoating" the results, however. "Tonight's a tough night for the movement," Ocasio-Cortez said. Adding to nerves in a country on edge after three tumultuous years under Trump, fears of the coronavirus epidemic prompted both campaigns to cancel election-night rallies planned in Cleveland, Ohio. Organizers of the upcoming television debate between Sanders and Biden likewise said they would take the extraordinary step of not allowing the usual live audience. Their caution was at odds with Trump, who has vowed to keep holding his typically raucous rallies despite the concerns about large gatherings. Trump's campaign manager dismissed Tuesday's results, saying "it has never mattered who the Democratic nominee turns out to be." Both are "running on a big government socialist agenda" and Trump "is on an unstoppable drive toward re-election," campaign manager Brad Parscale said. For Biden, Tuesday's six-state contest, coming a week after his strong Super Tuesday performance, demonstrated that his once shambolic campaign is gathering strength and is now ready to face Trump. Michigan in particular, which Trump narrowly won in 2016, was targeted by Biden as a place to put down a marker ahead of the November election. Sanders had accused Biden of selling out to corporate interests and ignoring a passionate leftist base. But the former vice president has insisted on steering a centrist line that he says can bring the divided country back together -- and it appears to have paid off. 'Traditional Democratic coalition' Banking on his credibility as Obama's vice president, he has managed to get out an enthusiastic black vote. With stories of a hard-knock childhood frequently featuring in his speeches, Biden also wants to recapture the blue-collar white voters that Trump successfully poached from the Democrats in 2016. "Biden is putting together the traditional Democratic coalition, and that's still a very powerful one," said Julian Zelizer, a professor of political history at Princeton University. In another boost, Andrew Yang became the latest of a string of former rivals for the Democratic nomination to endorse Biden. As the candidate, however, Biden will face an intensely polarized landscape, as illustrated during a campaign stop early Tuesday. Biden was speaking at an under-construction automobile plant in Detroit, when he was confronted by a worker who accused him of planning to take away Americans' firearms. In the startling exchange, Biden struck back, telling the worker he was "full of shit" and insisting that he supports the constitutional right to bear arms. "I'm not taking your gun away," he said in the encounter, which Trump backers pointed to as evidence of Biden's inability to stand pressure -- but his own supporters saw as a show of mettle.

'Together we'll defeat Trump': US Presidential candidate Joe Biden after big primary wins

The fight in this week’s Democratic primaries may have been about who confronts Donald J Trump in November’s US presidential election, Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden. But irrespective of who wins the primaries and the election, one thing is certain: the next American leader will preside over fundamental changes in the US military commitment to the Gulf and what a new regional security architecture will look like.

No doubt, a President Sanders, based on his electoral campaign promises, would likely oversee the most fundamental shift in US policy towards the Gulf and the rest of the Middle East in decades.

Yet, even if Sanders fails to become the Democratic candidate in the November election, or loses to Trump, significant elements of his thinking are certain to be at the core of the next administration’s policy, reflecting a broader trend in US attitudes towards foreign engagements in general and the Middle East in particular.

It’s hard to think of anything that Sanders and Trump would agree on. And even if there is something, like a reduced commitment to Gulf security, they would do everything to deny that there is any common ground.

Yet, that is perhaps the only thing they agree on.

However, the difference between the two men is that Trump, who lacks a policy vision that goes beyond slogans like “Make America Great Again” and “Why should the United States shoulder the responsibility of others?”, has no issue with repeatedly reversing himself and sees Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel as his guardrails.

Irrespective of whether one agrees with Sanders or not, or how realistic one thinks his vision is, it is beyond doubt that he has thought through a concept of what American policy towards the Middle East should be.

As a result, a Sanders presidency, viewed with apprehension by countries like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, whom the Democrats’ most left-wing hopeful has targetted, could prove to be either the most constructive US government in changing the region’s political landscape or the most divisive and destructive.

The changing landscape is likely to be driven by the US desire to reduce its military commitment and nagging Gulf doubts about US reliability. Doubts that began with US President Barak Obama’s support for the 2011 popular Arab revolts and his nuclear deal with Iran and were later reinforced by Trump’s unpredictability and refusal to respond forcefully to multiple Iranian provocations, including last September’s attack on two key Saudi oil facilities.

The killing in January by US drones of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was seen by Gulf states as the welcome taking out of a feared and wily opponent but also as an operation that risked dragging the region into a full-fledged war.

Trump has further raised questions with his insistence that his withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions-driven maximum pressure campaign are producing results.

As a result, a move towards a multilateral security architecture looks increasingly attractive given the regional uncertainty about the outcome of the US election and the fact that neither China nor Russia is willing or capable on their own of replacing the US as the Gulf’s security guarantor.

While Biden has ruffled few Middle Eastern feathers even though he is expected to hue closer to&nbsp;Obama’s approach,&nbsp;Sanders has raised alarms in Riyadh and Jerusalem with his campaign promise to re-join the nuclear agreement on the first day of his presidency even though, in theory, a return could facilitate achieving some kind of regional non-aggression understanding.

Such an understanding is at the core of Russian and Iranian proposals for a multilateral arrangement that would embed the current unipolar US defence umbrella that was designed to protect the conservative Gulf states against Iran.

The degree to which Sanders’ intention to revive the agreement with Iran facilitates a broader agreement or complicates a transition to a multilateral arrangement is nonetheless likely to depend on whether and how Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE respond to&nbsp;Sanders’ policy.

The glass is half full or half empty on that count.

The Saudis, Emiratis, and Israelis were opposed to the original agreement.

A sense in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi that Saudi and UAE interests had been ignored during the negotiations with Iran and that the US could no longer be fully trusted prompted them to embark on a series of reckless policies. That perception of mistrust sparked the disastrous war in Yemen and persuaded them to forge close albeit informal ties with Israel, which views the regime in Tehran as an existential threat.

A Sanders administration that takes the Gulf states to task on human rights issues, and targets economic structures that enable the oil-rich states’ dollar diplomacy—even if it embraces Palestinian national rights—could convince them to do what it takes to counter the new president and thwart his initiatives.

By the same token, Trump’s perceived unreliability prompted the UAE and Saudi Arabia to reach out to Iran. The Emiratis appear to have made progress in lowering tensions while indirect Saudi-Iranian contacts broke down with the Soleimani killing.

A progressive US military disengagement from the Gulf and Iraq, as well as, a halt to support of the Saudi engagement in Yemen under Sanders could blow new life into regional efforts to create an environment conducive to a rejiggered security architecture.

(This was first published on <a href="https://insidearabia.com/biden-sanders-or-trump-us-policy-towards-the-gulf-will-change-regardless/">Inside Arabia</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The fight in this week’s Democratic primaries may have been about who confronts Donald J Trump in November’s US presidential election, Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden.

The fight in this week’s Democratic primaries may have been about who confronts Donald J Trump in November’s US presidential election, Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden. But irrespective of who wins the primaries and the election, one thing is certain: the next American leader will preside over fundamental changes in the US military commitment to the Gulf and what a new regional security architecture will look like. No doubt, a President Sanders, based on his electoral campaign promises, would likely oversee the most fundamental shift in US policy towards the Gulf and the rest of the Middle East in decades. Yet, even if Sanders fails to become the Democratic candidate in the November election, or loses to Trump, significant elements of his thinking are certain to be at the core of the next administration’s policy, reflecting a broader trend in US attitudes towards foreign engagements in general and the Middle East in particular. It’s hard to think of anything that Sanders and Trump would agree on. And even if there is something, like a reduced commitment to Gulf security, they would do everything to deny that there is any common ground. Yet, that is perhaps the only thing they agree on. However, the difference between the two men is that Trump, who lacks a policy vision that goes beyond slogans like “Make America Great Again” and “Why should the United States shoulder the responsibility of others?”, has no issue with repeatedly reversing himself and sees Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel as his guardrails. Irrespective of whether one agrees with Sanders or not, or how realistic one thinks his vision is, it is beyond doubt that he has thought through a concept of what American policy towards the Middle East should be. As a result, a Sanders presidency, viewed with apprehension by countries like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, whom the Democrats’ most left-wing hopeful has targetted, could prove to be either the most constructive US government in changing the region’s political landscape or the most divisive and destructive. The changing landscape is likely to be driven by the US desire to reduce its military commitment and nagging Gulf doubts about US reliability. Doubts that began with US President Barak Obama’s support for the 2011 popular Arab revolts and his nuclear deal with Iran and were later reinforced by Trump’s unpredictability and refusal to respond forcefully to multiple Iranian provocations, including last September’s attack on two key Saudi oil facilities. The killing in January by US drones of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was seen by Gulf states as the welcome taking out of a feared and wily opponent but also as an operation that risked dragging the region into a full-fledged war. Trump has further raised questions with his insistence that his withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions-driven maximum pressure campaign are producing results. As a result, a move towards a multilateral security architecture looks increasingly attractive given the regional uncertainty about the outcome of the US election and the fact that neither China nor Russia is willing or capable on their own of replacing the US as the Gulf’s security guarantor. While Biden has ruffled few Middle Eastern feathers even though he is expected to hue closer to Obama’s approach, Sanders has raised alarms in Riyadh and Jerusalem with his campaign promise to re-join the nuclear agreement on the first day of his presidency even though, in theory, a return could facilitate achieving some kind of regional non-aggression understanding. Such an understanding is at the core of Russian and Iranian proposals for a multilateral arrangement that would embed the current unipolar US defence umbrella that was designed to protect the conservative Gulf states against Iran. The degree to which Sanders’ intention to revive the agreement with Iran facilitates a broader agreement or complicates a transition to a multilateral arrangement is nonetheless likely to depend on whether and how Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE respond to Sanders’ policy. The glass is half full or half empty on that count. The Saudis, Emiratis, and Israelis were opposed to the original agreement. A sense in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi that Saudi and UAE interests had been ignored during the negotiations with Iran and that the US could no longer be fully trusted prompted them to embark on a series of reckless policies. That perception of mistrust sparked the disastrous war in Yemen and persuaded them to forge close albeit informal ties with Israel, which views the regime in Tehran as an existential threat. A Sanders administration that takes the Gulf states to task on human rights issues, and targets economic structures that enable the oil-rich states’ dollar diplomacy—even if it embraces Palestinian national rights—could convince them to do what it takes to counter the new president and thwart his initiatives. By the same token, Trump’s perceived unreliability prompted the UAE and Saudi Arabia to reach out to Iran. The Emiratis appear to have made progress in lowering tensions while indirect Saudi-Iranian contacts broke down with the Soleimani killing. A progressive US military disengagement from the Gulf and Iraq, as well as, a halt to support of the Saudi engagement in Yemen under Sanders could blow new life into regional efforts to create an environment conducive to a rejiggered security architecture. (This was first published on Inside Arabia) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump, US policy towards the Gulf will change regardless

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was confronted by an auto plant worker in Michigan who accused him of wanting to confiscate guns from Americans.

Joe Biden abuses worker during rally

The face-off between former US Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders begins on Tuesday for the Democratic candidate who would take on President Trump in the 2020 US elections.

The one-on-one showdown will be a test of&nbsp;abilities of the candidates to win in the crucial general election battleground state of Michigan where 125 delegates are on offer.

Watch: All you need to know about 'Super Tuesday', US Presidential Elections 2020

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/all-you-need-to-know-about-super-tuesday-us-presidential-elections-2020-284124/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The state, along with Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington, all vote on the second Super Tuesday of the primary.

Biden is expected to dominate in Mississippi, where African-American voters make up the majority of the Democratic electorate, and is looking to perform well in Missouri.&nbsp;

While Sanders&nbsp;is aiming to keep the delegate race close, though, with wins out West.

Watch: US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden celebrates a 'Super Tuesday' with big wins

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-presidential-elections-2020-joe-biden-celebrates-a-super-tuesday-with-big-wins-284111/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

If Biden wins, the race is scheduled to shift to a set of states that look even more favourable for him next Tuesday with Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio putting him in position to lock in a lead that would be extremely difficult for Sanders to overcome.&nbsp;

Whereas, if Sanders wins, it would slow Biden's momentum and reset the race's narrative, suggesting Democrats are in for another drawn-out slugfest where every delegate matters.

Following the disappointing results on previous Super Tuesday, which saw Biden prevail in 10 of the 14 states holding primary elections, Sanders gave the presidential campaign a “reset” before the next one.

The US Senator repurposed his insurgent pitch for the White House on several fronts. These include a renewed push for dominance in the midwest before a crucial primary in Michigan on Tuesday.&nbsp;

He also discarded&nbsp;his aversion to negative political campaigning and sharpening his attacks on Biden, running TV attack adds over the former vice-president’s record of supporting social security cuts and free trade agreements, which could be particularly damaging in the midwestern states.

On Friday, he contrasted their records on everything from trade policy to gay rights and abortion rights, emphasizing those differences enough to overshadow an underlying point that they would make Biden vulnerable to attacks from President Donald Trump.

The face-off between former US Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders begins on Tuesday for the Democratic candidate who would take on President Trump in the 2020 US elections.

The face-off between former US Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders begins on Tuesday for the Democratic candidate who would take on President Trump in the 2020 US elections. The one-on-one showdown will be a test of abilities of the candidates to win in the crucial general election battleground state of Michigan where 125 delegates are on offer. Watch: All you need to know about 'Super Tuesday', US Presidential Elections 2020 The state, along with Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington, all vote on the second Super Tuesday of the primary. Biden is expected to dominate in Mississippi, where African-American voters make up the majority of the Democratic electorate, and is looking to perform well in Missouri. While Sanders is aiming to keep the delegate race close, though, with wins out West. Watch: US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden celebrates a 'Super Tuesday' with big wins If Biden wins, the race is scheduled to shift to a set of states that look even more favourable for him next Tuesday with Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio putting him in position to lock in a lead that would be extremely difficult for Sanders to overcome. Whereas, if Sanders wins, it would slow Biden's momentum and reset the race's narrative, suggesting Democrats are in for another drawn-out slugfest where every delegate matters. Following the disappointing results on previous Super Tuesday, which saw Biden prevail in 10 of the 14 states holding primary elections, Sanders gave the presidential campaign a “reset” before the next one. The US Senator repurposed his insurgent pitch for the White House on several fronts. These include a renewed push for dominance in the midwest before a crucial primary in Michigan on Tuesday. He also discarded his aversion to negative political campaigning and sharpening his attacks on Biden, running TV attack adds over the former vice-president’s record of supporting social security cuts and free trade agreements, which could be particularly damaging in the midwestern states. On Friday, he contrasted their records on everything from trade policy to gay rights and abortion rights, emphasizing those differences enough to overshadow an underlying point that they would make Biden vulnerable to attacks from President Donald Trump.

Biden, Sanders eye showdown in six states on Super Tuesday

Joe Biden, the Democrat presidential candidate, received endorsements by former rival Democrat Kamala Harris on Sunday. The backing of the Indian-American US Senator, who clashed with Biden during the party's early presidential debates, could give Biden a boost as he campaigns before the next round of presidential nominating contests, including the big prize of Michigan.

Joe Biden, the Democrat presidential candidate, received endorsements by former rival Democrat Kamala Harris on Sunday. The backing of the Indian-American US Senator, who clashed with Biden during the party's early presidential debates, could give Biden a boost as he campaigns before the next round of presidential nominating contests, including the big prize of Michigan. Biden, 77, campaigned in Mississippi and his progressive opponent Bernie Sanders, 78, the senator from Vermont, was in Michigan as they battle for voters before six state contests on Tuesday. Also read | Michael Bloomberg drops out of US presidential race, endorses Joe Biden Harris, a former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, announced she was backing Biden's bid for the White House and would campaign with him on Monday in Detroit, which has a large African-American population, reported news agency Reuters. "There is no one better prepared than Joe to steer our nation through these turbulent times, and restore truth, honor, and decency to the Oval Office," Harris, a first-term senator from California and the state's former attorney general, said in a statement. One of the most talked-about moments of Harris' presidential campaign was her blistering attack on Biden during a June presidential debate. She called his remarks about working with segregationist senators hurtful and questioned Biden's 1970s opposition to school busing. (With inputs from Reuters)

Former rival Kamala Harris endorses Joe Biden ahead of key contests

Twitter Inc on Sunday used its new "manipulated media" label for the first time on a video clip of US&nbsp;Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden that was retweeted by President Donald Trump.

The video, which was posted on Saturday by White House social media director Dan Scavino, showed Biden stumbling on a speech in Kansas City, Missouri, in which he said the words "Excuse me. We can only re-elect Donald Trump."

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Sleepy Joe💤in St. Louis, Missouri today: 
 
“We can only re-elect <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>.”<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KAG2020LandslideVictory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KAG2020LandslideVictory</a>🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/FT4q2MWfcD">pic.twitter.com/FT4q2MWfcD</a>
— Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanScavino/status/1236461268594294785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/presidential-elections-will-determine-how-us-foreign-policy-is-redefined-283495">&nbsp;Presidential elections will determine how US foreign policy is redefined</a>

Biden's full sentence, which was cut off by the clip, was "Excuse me. We can only re-elect Donald Trump if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here. It's gotta be a positive campaign so join us."

Twitter implemented its new policy, which labels tweets with manipulated or synthetic media such as deepfakes or more manually edited videos, on March 5.

However, Twitter's new label was not showing for all users.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-campaign-bars-bloomberg-news-alleging-bias-265823">US elections 2020: Trump campaign bars Bloomberg News, alleging 'bias'</a>

The tag was applied on Sunday afternoon, but Twitter said it was not showing when people searched for the tweet or clicked into it, only when it was seen in timelines. A Twitter spokesman said the company was working on a fix.

"The video was NOT manipulated," said Scavino in a later tweet.

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The video was NOT manipulated. <a href="https://t.co/p9QrNPYOvf">https://t.co/p9QrNPYOvf</a>
— Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanScavino/status/1236877882573668359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Social media companies are under pressure to police misleading or false information on their platforms ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, in which Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders are vying to be the Democratic nominee to oust Republican President Trump.

The video, which had about 5.8 million views on Twitter at the time of writing, was also posted on Scavino's Facebook page, where it had about 1 million views.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-campaign-bars-bloomberg-news-alleging-bias-265823">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-campaign-bars-bloomberg-news-alleging-bias-265823">US elections 2020: Trump campaign bars Bloomberg News, alleging 'bias'</a>

The Biden campaign slammed Facebook Inc. for showing the video on its platforms without labels.

"Facebook won't say it, but it is apparent to all who have examined their conduct and policies: they care first and foremost about money and, to that end, are willing to serve as one of the world's most effective mediums for the spread of vile lies," said Greg Schultz, Biden's campaign manager.

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Twitter Inc on Sunday used its new "manipulated media" label for the first time on a video clip of US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden that was retweeted by President Donald Trump.

Twitter Inc on Sunday used its new "manipulated media" label for the first time on a video clip of US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden that was retweeted by President Donald Trump. The video, which was posted on Saturday by White House social media director Dan Scavino, showed Biden stumbling on a speech in Kansas City, Missouri, in which he said the words "Excuse me. We can only re-elect Donald Trump." Sleepy Joe💤in St. Louis, Missouri today: “We can only re-elect @realDonaldTrump.”#KAG2020LandslideVictory🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/FT4q2MWfcD — Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) March 8, 2020 × Also Read: Presidential elections will determine how US foreign policy is redefined Biden's full sentence, which was cut off by the clip, was "Excuse me. We can only re-elect Donald Trump if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here. It's gotta be a positive campaign so join us." Twitter implemented its new policy, which labels tweets with manipulated or synthetic media such as deepfakes or more manually edited videos, on March 5. However, Twitter's new label was not showing for all users. Also Read: US elections 2020: Trump campaign bars Bloomberg News, alleging 'bias' The tag was applied on Sunday afternoon, but Twitter said it was not showing when people searched for the tweet or clicked into it, only when it was seen in timelines. A Twitter spokesman said the company was working on a fix. "The video was NOT manipulated," said Scavino in a later tweet. The video was NOT manipulated. https://t.co/p9QrNPYOvf — Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) March 9, 2020 × Social media companies are under pressure to police misleading or false information on their platforms ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, in which Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders are vying to be the Democratic nominee to oust Republican President Trump. The video, which had about 5.8 million views on Twitter at the time of writing, was also posted on Scavino's Facebook page, where it had about 1 million views. Also Read: US elections 2020: Trump campaign bars Bloomberg News, alleging 'bias' The Biden campaign slammed Facebook Inc. for showing the video on its platforms without labels. "Facebook won't say it, but it is apparent to all who have examined their conduct and policies: they care first and foremost about money and, to that end, are willing to serve as one of the world's most effective mediums for the spread of vile lies," said Greg Schultz, Biden's campaign manager. Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Twitter claims the video being retweeted by Donald Trump as manipulated media

For Bernie Sanders to remain competitive with Joe Biden in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, he'll have to repeat what he did four years ago: Win the Michigan primary.

This time around, that probably will be harder.

<img alt="Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bd26ed8f-8fc5-4acb-911a-be036e2ab0a9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2877%29_5.jpg" />

Ahead of Tuesday's vote, Biden is showing strength with the same kinds of voters that Sanders, a U.S senator from Vermont, relied upon in his surprise defeat of front-runner Hillary Clinton in the state in 2016.

Sanders goes into Michigan badly in need of a win after former Vice President Biden seized control of the race on Super Tuesday this week, winning a bevvy of Southern states as well as Massachusetts, Minnesota and Texas and causing rivals Michael Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren to drop out.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-moves-ahead-in-us-presidential-race-scores-big-wins-on-super-tuesday-284077">Joe Biden moves ahead in US presidential race; scores big wins on Super Tuesday</a>

Michigan is the most competitive of the six states that hold nominating contests on Tuesday. It offers the largest number of the minimum 1,991 delegates a candidate needs to secure the nomination outright: 125. And it's a critical moment for Sanders to try to recapture momentum before the contest shifts to Florida and Illinois the following week.

In addition to Michigan, Washington state, Mississippi, Missouri and Idaho will be holding primary elections on Tuesday. North Dakota will hold caucuses.

A Sanders loss in Michigan could give Biden an insurmountable lead as the state-by-state nominating process moves into friendly territory for the man best remembered as No. 2 in President Barack Obama's historic administration.

The state also greatly matters for Nov. 3 general election. It flipped Republican in 2016, voting for now-President Donald Trump over Clinton by just over 10,000 votes.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-replaces-acting-chief-of-staff-mulvaney-with-north-carolina-lawmaker-284889">Trump replaces acting chief of staff Mulvaney with North Carolina lawmaker</a>

"Michigan is your got-to-win state," said Adam Hollier, an African-American state senator from Detroit who is backing Biden.

Biden parlayed his popularity with black voters into huge gains on Super Tuesday, winning 70% of African-American voters in Alabama and Virginia and 60% in North Carolina and Texas, according to exit polls from Edison Research.

They will be crucial in Michigan, where they comprise almost 14% of the population. Some areas of Detroit are 80% African-American.

"When you look at what he did all across the South, those same demographics are going to be at play in Detroit," Hollier said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melania-trump-tweets-about-white-house-tennis-pavilion-as-us-battles-coronavirus-284927">Melania Trump tweets about White House tennis pavilion as US battles coronavirus&nbsp;</a>

Sanders cancelled plans to campaign in Mississippi this weekend, focusing instead on Michigan.

UNION LABELS

Sanders may have better luck with union voters in manufacturing-heavy Michigan. He won the state's white working-class voters in 2016, and they remain a reliable part of his base.

Richard Cassel, 28, lost his job as an auto engineer in Detroit last month. That same week, he walked into a Sanders campaign office and volunteered to work the phones.

"For me, Biden is just more of the same. The middle class is working professionals, and everyone else is slowly drowning," Cassel said.

Watch:&nbsp;

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But Biden has long-standing ties to labour unions and routinely talks about how the middle-class and union members built the nation.

The powerful United Auto Workers Union has yet to endorse any candidate, but its spokesman, Brian Rothenberg, said it supports the idea of universal healthcare. Sanders has made a government-run healthcare system, Medicare for All, the heart of his campaign.

"The high cost of healthcare is one of the impacts when you're bargaining, so universal healthcare would actually give you a better ability to bargain at the table," Rothenberg said.

Not all of Sanders' positions play well with the state's unions, though. In particular, he has called for the closure of a 66-year-old crude oil pipeline that runs below portions of the Great Lakes, as part of his sweeping plan to swiftly end the U.S. fossil fuel economy to fight climate change.

"It's going to cost (Sanders) a lot of support in our union," said Terry Gilligan, business manager of Detroit Pipefitters Local 636.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-economy-could-take-hit-from-coronavirus-284605">Trump says US economy could take hit from coronavirus</a>

And two Michigan chapters of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union endorsed Biden on Friday.

Sanders is running ads in Michigan criticizing Biden over his past support for global trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Biden, in turn, argues that he was a key player in the 2009 auto industry bailout that rescued jobs in the state.

RURAL RUN

In 2016, Sanders performed surprisingly well in the wealthy suburbs outside Detroit and blew Clinton away in rural counties. But there is evidence he won’t do that again this time.

On Super Tuesday, Biden consistently beat Sanders in suburbs outside of cities including Charlotte, North Carolina, and Houston.

Also see:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-bloomberg-elizabeth-warren-ends-us-presidential-campaign-284596">&nbsp;After Bloomberg, Elizabeth Warren ends US presidential campaign</a>

And in rural regions of Minnesota, a Midwestern state like Michigan with a largely white population, Biden smashed Sanders, 43% to 19%, according to exit polls.

This weekend, Biden's campaign will deploy former presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota, to stump in Grand Rapids – and area that Sanders won in 2016.

Dawn Bryant, 40, a General Motors Co &lt;GM.N&gt; factory worker who was laid off earlier this year, said she was torn between Sanders and Biden.

"I'm divided. I'm not sure. I'm going to keep watching and weighing my options on both of the candidates," she said. "It's a tough, tough call."

For Bernie Sanders to remain competitive with Joe Biden in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, he'll have to repeat what he did four years ago: Win the Michigan primary.

For Bernie Sanders to remain competitive with Joe Biden in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, he'll have to repeat what he did four years ago: Win the Michigan primary. This time around, that probably will be harder. Ahead of Tuesday's vote, Biden is showing strength with the same kinds of voters that Sanders, a U.S senator from Vermont, relied upon in his surprise defeat of front-runner Hillary Clinton in the state in 2016. Sanders goes into Michigan badly in need of a win after former Vice President Biden seized control of the race on Super Tuesday this week, winning a bevvy of Southern states as well as Massachusetts, Minnesota and Texas and causing rivals Michael Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren to drop out. Also read: Joe Biden moves ahead in US presidential race; scores big wins on Super Tuesday Michigan is the most competitive of the six states that hold nominating contests on Tuesday. It offers the largest number of the minimum 1,991 delegates a candidate needs to secure the nomination outright: 125. And it's a critical moment for Sanders to try to recapture momentum before the contest shifts to Florida and Illinois the following week. In addition to Michigan, Washington state, Mississippi, Missouri and Idaho will be holding primary elections on Tuesday. North Dakota will hold caucuses. A Sanders loss in Michigan could give Biden an insurmountable lead as the state-by-state nominating process moves into friendly territory for the man best remembered as No. 2 in President Barack Obama's historic administration. The state also greatly matters for Nov. 3 general election. It flipped Republican in 2016, voting for now-President Donald Trump over Clinton by just over 10,000 votes. Also see: Trump replaces acting chief of staff Mulvaney with North Carolina lawmaker "Michigan is your got-to-win state," said Adam Hollier, an African-American state senator from Detroit who is backing Biden. Biden parlayed his popularity with black voters into huge gains on Super Tuesday, winning 70% of African-American voters in Alabama and Virginia and 60% in North Carolina and Texas, according to exit polls from Edison Research. They will be crucial in Michigan, where they comprise almost 14% of the population. Some areas of Detroit are 80% African-American. "When you look at what he did all across the South, those same demographics are going to be at play in Detroit," Hollier said. Also read: Melania Trump tweets about White House tennis pavilion as US battles coronavirus Sanders cancelled plans to campaign in Mississippi this weekend, focusing instead on Michigan. UNION LABELS Sanders may have better luck with union voters in manufacturing-heavy Michigan. He won the state's white working-class voters in 2016, and they remain a reliable part of his base. Richard Cassel, 28, lost his job as an auto engineer in Detroit last month. That same week, he walked into a Sanders campaign office and volunteered to work the phones. "For me, Biden is just more of the same. The middle class is working professionals, and everyone else is slowly drowning," Cassel said. Watch: × But Biden has long-standing ties to labour unions and routinely talks about how the middle-class and union members built the nation. The powerful United Auto Workers Union has yet to endorse any candidate, but its spokesman, Brian Rothenberg, said it supports the idea of universal healthcare. Sanders has made a government-run healthcare system, Medicare for All, the heart of his campaign. "The high cost of healthcare is one of the impacts when you're bargaining, so universal healthcare would actually give you a better ability to bargain at the table," Rothenberg said. Not all of Sanders' positions play well with the state's unions, though. In particular, he has called for the closure of a 66-year-old crude oil pipeline that runs below portions of the Great Lakes, as part of his sweeping plan to swiftly end the U.S. fossil fuel economy to fight climate change. "It's going to cost (Sanders) a lot of support in our union," said Terry Gilligan, business manager of Detroit Pipefitters Local 636. Also read: Trump says US economy could take hit from coronavirus And two Michigan chapters of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union endorsed Biden on Friday. Sanders is running ads in Michigan criticizing Biden over his past support for global trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Biden, in turn, argues that he was a key player in the 2009 auto industry bailout that rescued jobs in the state. RURAL RUN In 2016, Sanders performed surprisingly well in the wealthy suburbs outside Detroit and blew Clinton away in rural counties. But there is evidence he won’t do that again this time. On Super Tuesday, Biden consistently beat Sanders in suburbs outside of cities including Charlotte, North Carolina, and Houston. Also see: After Bloomberg, Elizabeth Warren ends US presidential campaign And in rural regions of Minnesota, a Midwestern state like Michigan with a largely white population, Biden smashed Sanders, 43% to 19%, according to exit polls. This weekend, Biden's campaign will deploy former presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota, to stump in Grand Rapids – and area that Sanders won in 2016. Dawn Bryant, 40, a General Motors Co <GM.N> factory worker who was laid off earlier this year, said she was torn between Sanders and Biden. "I'm divided. I'm not sure. I'm going to keep watching and weighing my options on both of the candidates," she said. "It's a tough, tough call."

Sanders needs Michigan win in U.S presidential race, but Biden looking strong with key voting blocs

Indian shares edged up on Thursday, supported by a rise in Asian and US&nbsp;markets, but worries over a spike in coronavirus cases in the country kept gains in check.

The NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.25% to 11,276.3 by 0401 GMT, while the benchmark S&amp;P BSE Sensex was up 0.26% at 38,505.2.

The markets closed lower on Wednesday as the total number of known coronavirus cases rose sharply, fuelling concerns that a rapid spread could further hit an already slowing economy.

"Markets will be volatile as virus fears persist, it is very difficult to say that the trend has changed right now," said Siddharth Khemka, head of retail research at Motilal Oswal Securities.

Wall Street surged on Wednesday after former Vice President Joe Biden, considered less likely to raise taxes and impose new regulations than rival Bernie Sanders, rolled to victories on the biggest day of voting in the Democratic nomination campaign.

The U.S. House of Representatives also approved an $8.3 billion funding bill to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

India is pushing state-run banks to approve new loans amounting to 500-600 billion rupees ($6.8-$8.2 billion) by the end of March, two government sources told Reuters, in efforts to shore up a stuttering economy as the virus spreads.

Consumer goods company Hindustan Unilever Ltd was the top boost to the indexes, rising as much as 3.6% to a one-week high.

IT stocks also contributed, with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd up 1.4% and HCL Technologies Ltd rising 3%.

Large cap banks and energy firms were among the top drags. ICICI Bank Ltd fell 1.5%, while Reliance Industries Ltd slipped 0.8%.

Indian shares edged up on Thursday, supported by a rise in Asian and US markets, but worries over a spike in coronavirus cases in the country kept gains in check.

Indian shares edged up on Thursday, supported by a rise in Asian and US markets, but worries over a spike in coronavirus cases in the country kept gains in check. The NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.25% to 11,276.3 by 0401 GMT, while the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.26% at 38,505.2. The markets closed lower on Wednesday as the total number of known coronavirus cases rose sharply, fuelling concerns that a rapid spread could further hit an already slowing economy. "Markets will be volatile as virus fears persist, it is very difficult to say that the trend has changed right now," said Siddharth Khemka, head of retail research at Motilal Oswal Securities. Wall Street surged on Wednesday after former Vice President Joe Biden, considered less likely to raise taxes and impose new regulations than rival Bernie Sanders, rolled to victories on the biggest day of voting in the Democratic nomination campaign. The U.S. House of Representatives also approved an $8.3 billion funding bill to combat the spread of the coronavirus. India is pushing state-run banks to approve new loans amounting to 500-600 billion rupees ($6.8-$8.2 billion) by the end of March, two government sources told Reuters, in efforts to shore up a stuttering economy as the virus spreads. Consumer goods company Hindustan Unilever Ltd was the top boost to the indexes, rising as much as 3.6% to a one-week high. IT stocks also contributed, with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd up 1.4% and HCL Technologies Ltd rising 3%. Large cap banks and energy firms were among the top drags. ICICI Bank Ltd fell 1.5%, while Reliance Industries Ltd slipped 0.8%.

Sensex, Nifty inch higher, virus fears limit gains

The race for the Democratic Presidential nomination has come down to two men. Who will take on Donald Trump in the 2020 US Election? Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders? This report has the details.

Gravitas: Race to the White House: Who will take on Donald Trump?

More US States went to polls on 'Super Tuesday' than any other day to pick a Presidential nominee. This report explains the most decisive day ahead of the 2020 Presidential elections.

All you need to know about 'Super Tuesday', US Presidential Elections 2020

US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden projected to win 7 states

Biggest day to the race to the White House 'Super Tuesday' is already here. Democrats in 14 states are choosing who will run against Donald Trump for the November's Presidential elections. In the latest coming in Bernie Sanders has projected to win California, one of the most important states of 'Super Tuesday'. Watch report:

US Presidential Elections 2020: Bernie Sanders wins California in 'Super Tuesday'

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will reassess the future of his Democratic presidential campaign after his disappointing showing on Super Tuesday, but a campaign official said that did not mean his candidacy would end on Wednesday.

"As our campaign manager said before the polls closed tonight, any campaign would reassess after tonight, after next week, after any time there was a vote," said Bloomberg national press secretary Julie Wood.

Results in the 14 Super Tuesday nominating contests showed the billionaire businessman gaining little traction with voters.

Watch: US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden celebrates a 'Super Tuesday' with big wins

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Bloomberg adopted a novel strategy for his White House bid, opting out of the first four nominating contests and hoping a $500 million-plus ad blitz would generate a momentum-building series of wins on Super Tuesday.

Another campaign official told Reuters it was inaccurate to suggest Bloomberg’s presidential run could end on Wednesday.

Bloomberg was unlikely to win any states, although he will likely pick up some of the 1,357 pledged delegates available. He was projected to win in American Samoa, a US&nbsp;territory that awards a total of six delegates. He also picked up some delegates in Colorado and early results showed him No. 2 in delegate-rich California.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-moves-ahead-in-us-presidential-race-scores-big-wins-on-super-tuesday-284077">Joe Biden moves ahead in US presidential race; scores big wins on Super Tuesday</a>

"As the results come in, here’s what is clear: No matter how many delegates we win tonight, we have done something no one thought was possible," Bloomberg told supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday evening.

"In just three months, we’ve gone from 1 per cent&nbsp;in the polls to being a contender for the Democratic nomination for president."

After entering the race in November, more than six months after his main competitors, Bloomberg spent nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars on his campaign, much of it on ads arguing that he could defeat Republican President Donald Trump in the November election.

He hired thousands of staffers and mounted a vigorous national tour focused on Super Tuesday states, and began to rise in national opinion polls.

But Bloomberg was dogged by criticism of his past support as mayor of "stop and frisk," a policy that encouraged police to stop and search pedestrians and ensnared disproportionate numbers of blacks and Latinos. He was also slammed in two Democratic debates for past sexist remarks.

Joe Biden's decisive win in South Carolina on Saturday and the subsequent endorsements of former rivals Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar led to a surge in support for the former vice president, who was projected to win at least eight states on Tuesday.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will reassess the future of his Democratic presidential campaign after his disappointing showing on Super Tuesday, but a campaign official said that did not mean his candidacy would end on Wednesday.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will reassess the future of his Democratic presidential campaign after his disappointing showing on Super Tuesday, but a campaign official said that did not mean his candidacy would end on Wednesday. "As our campaign manager said before the polls closed tonight, any campaign would reassess after tonight, after next week, after any time there was a vote," said Bloomberg national press secretary Julie Wood. Results in the 14 Super Tuesday nominating contests showed the billionaire businessman gaining little traction with voters. Watch: US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden celebrates a 'Super Tuesday' with big wins Bloomberg adopted a novel strategy for his White House bid, opting out of the first four nominating contests and hoping a $500 million-plus ad blitz would generate a momentum-building series of wins on Super Tuesday. Another campaign official told Reuters it was inaccurate to suggest Bloomberg’s presidential run could end on Wednesday. Bloomberg was unlikely to win any states, although he will likely pick up some of the 1,357 pledged delegates available. He was projected to win in American Samoa, a US territory that awards a total of six delegates. He also picked up some delegates in Colorado and early results showed him No. 2 in delegate-rich California. Also read: Joe Biden moves ahead in US presidential race; scores big wins on Super Tuesday "As the results come in, here’s what is clear: No matter how many delegates we win tonight, we have done something no one thought was possible," Bloomberg told supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday evening. "In just three months, we’ve gone from 1 per cent in the polls to being a contender for the Democratic nomination for president." After entering the race in November, more than six months after his main competitors, Bloomberg spent nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars on his campaign, much of it on ads arguing that he could defeat Republican President Donald Trump in the November election. He hired thousands of staffers and mounted a vigorous national tour focused on Super Tuesday states, and began to rise in national opinion polls. But Bloomberg was dogged by criticism of his past support as mayor of "stop and frisk," a policy that encouraged police to stop and search pedestrians and ensnared disproportionate numbers of blacks and Latinos. He was also slammed in two Democratic debates for past sexist remarks. Joe Biden's decisive win in South Carolina on Saturday and the subsequent endorsements of former rivals Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar led to a surge in support for the former vice president, who was projected to win at least eight states on Tuesday.

Bloomberg to reassess campaign as ad blitz fails to win Super Tuesday voters

A resurgent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-revives-white-house-hopes-with-south-carolina-victory-283523">Joe Biden was projected to win seven large states</a> on Tuesday, and front-runner Bernie Sanders captured two states with several others too close to call on the biggest day of voting in the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating race.

Edison Research and the main television networks declared Biden the winner in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama based on exit polls on Super Tuesday, when Americans in 14 states voted for a Democratic challenger to Republican President Donald Trump in the November&nbsp;3 election.

Fox News projected Biden would also win Oklahoma. The Associated Press projected he would also win Arkansas and Minnesota.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/oysters-and-politics-on-the-menu-in-south-carolina-282932">Oysters and politics on the menu in South Carolina</a>

Sanders was projected to win in Colorado and his home state of Vermont expected outcomes for the self-described democratic socialist and independent senator who hopes to take a huge step toward winning the nomination on Tuesday.

More than one-third of the delegates who will pick the eventual nominee at a July convention is up for grabs in primary elections on Tuesday that could provide some clarity at last in a muddled race for the White House.

Early results showed Sanders holding a narrow lead over Biden in Texas, while Biden had a narrow lead in Massachusetts and Minnesota.

The rush of early results left Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York mayor who spent more than half a billion dollars on advertising, largely out of the running, with his only victory coming in the US&nbsp;territory of American Samoa.

Also read<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-the-trail-biden-aims-for-significant-south-carolina-win-trump-urges-supporters-to-intervene-283432">: On the trail - Biden aims for 'significant' South Carolina win, Trump urges supporters to intervene</a>

NBC News reported that Bloomberg would reassess whether to stay in the race on Wednesday, but a campaign official said it was inaccurate to suggest his White House bid could end on Wednesday. The official said the campaign reassesses every day.

Biden, former President Barack Obama's vice president, has enjoyed a burst of momentum since a blowout win in South Carolina on Saturday, which led to endorsements from a flood of prominent party officials and former rivals.

Broad Biden coalition

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He entered Super Tuesday hoping to muscle aside Bloomberg and consolidate support from moderates in Tuesday's voting, turning the race into a one-on-one contest against Sanders.

Biden's showing in the Super Tuesday states was fueled by strong support among a broad coalition of voters including women and men, white and black, those with or without college degrees, and those who considered themselves liberal or moderate.

With 100% of the precincts reporting in Virginia, Biden was winning more than half of the votes in that southern swing state, well ahead of Sanders. In Alabama, he was winning 69% of the vote, and in North Carolina, he was winning 34%.

Edison Research forecast a record turnout of 1.3 million voters in Virginia, well ahead of 986,203 in 2008 and 785,041 in 2016.

Early exit polls by Edison Research showed Biden was winning large majorities of African-American voters in the South, including 72% in Alabama, 71% in Virginia, 63% in North Carolina and 62% in Tennessee.

In Virginia, Biden won the votes of more than four of 10 white college-educated women, compared to about two in 10 each for Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the senator from Massachusetts.

Bloomberg was a wild card heading into the voting, as he joined the competition for the first time. In early results, he was winning more than 15% of the vote, enough to pick up some delegates, in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Colorado and Arkansas.

The moderate Bloomberg skipped the first four contests and bombarded Super Tuesday and later voting states with ads, but saw his poll numbers slip after coming under fire during Democratic debates over past comments criticized as sexist and a policing policy he employed as New York's mayor seen as racially discriminatory.

Biden is trying to build a bridge between progressive Democrats' desire for big structural change and more moderate Democrats yearning for a candidate who will be able to win over enough independents and Republicans to oust Trump.

Fresh momentum

That effort gained fresh momentum on the eve of Tuesday's voting as moderate presidential rivals Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota endorsed Biden after withdrawing from the race.

The pace of the Democratic race begins to accelerate after Super Tuesday, with 11 more states voting by the end of March. By then, nearly two-thirds of the delegates will have been allotted.

Sanders headed into Tuesday with 60 delegates to Biden's 54 in the state-by-state nominating fight. Sanders managed a virtual tie with Buttigieg in Iowa and wins in New Hampshire and Nevada.

Besides leading in polls in California, Sanders also is ahead of Biden by a smaller margin in polls in Texas. Sanders' strength with Hispanics should pay dividends in that state, where Latinos comprise one-third of the Democratic electorate.

Biden, whose South Carolina win affirmed his popularity with black voters, hoped to win five states where African Americans make up at least a quarter of the Democratic electorate: Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas.

Democrats living abroad began voting in a primary set to run until March 10. The last polls will close in California at 8 p.m. PST (0400 GMT on Wednesday).

The next contests, on March 10, will be in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington state.

A resurgent Joe Biden was projected to win seven large states on Tuesday, and front-runner Bernie Sanders captured two states with several others too close to call on the biggest day of voting in the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating race.

A resurgent Joe Biden was projected to win seven large states on Tuesday, and front-runner Bernie Sanders captured two states with several others too close to call on the biggest day of voting in the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating race. Edison Research and the main television networks declared Biden the winner in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama based on exit polls on Super Tuesday, when Americans in 14 states voted for a Democratic challenger to Republican President Donald Trump in the November 3 election. Fox News projected Biden would also win Oklahoma. The Associated Press projected he would also win Arkansas and Minnesota. Also see: Oysters and politics on the menu in South Carolina Sanders was projected to win in Colorado and his home state of Vermont expected outcomes for the self-described democratic socialist and independent senator who hopes to take a huge step toward winning the nomination on Tuesday. More than one-third of the delegates who will pick the eventual nominee at a July convention is up for grabs in primary elections on Tuesday that could provide some clarity at last in a muddled race for the White House. Early results showed Sanders holding a narrow lead over Biden in Texas, while Biden had a narrow lead in Massachusetts and Minnesota. The rush of early results left Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York mayor who spent more than half a billion dollars on advertising, largely out of the running, with his only victory coming in the US territory of American Samoa. Also read: On the trail - Biden aims for 'significant' South Carolina win, Trump urges supporters to intervene NBC News reported that Bloomberg would reassess whether to stay in the race on Wednesday, but a campaign official said it was inaccurate to suggest his White House bid could end on Wednesday. The official said the campaign reassesses every day. Biden, former President Barack Obama's vice president, has enjoyed a burst of momentum since a blowout win in South Carolina on Saturday, which led to endorsements from a flood of prominent party officials and former rivals. Broad Biden coalition × He entered Super Tuesday hoping to muscle aside Bloomberg and consolidate support from moderates in Tuesday's voting, turning the race into a one-on-one contest against Sanders. Biden's showing in the Super Tuesday states was fueled by strong support among a broad coalition of voters including women and men, white and black, those with or without college degrees, and those who considered themselves liberal or moderate. With 100% of the precincts reporting in Virginia, Biden was winning more than half of the votes in that southern swing state, well ahead of Sanders. In Alabama, he was winning 69% of the vote, and in North Carolina, he was winning 34%. Edison Research forecast a record turnout of 1.3 million voters in Virginia, well ahead of 986,203 in 2008 and 785,041 in 2016. Early exit polls by Edison Research showed Biden was winning large majorities of African-American voters in the South, including 72% in Alabama, 71% in Virginia, 63% in North Carolina and 62% in Tennessee. In Virginia, Biden won the votes of more than four of 10 white college-educated women, compared to about two in 10 each for Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the senator from Massachusetts. Bloomberg was a wild card heading into the voting, as he joined the competition for the first time. In early results, he was winning more than 15% of the vote, enough to pick up some delegates, in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Colorado and Arkansas. The moderate Bloomberg skipped the first four contests and bombarded Super Tuesday and later voting states with ads, but saw his poll numbers slip after coming under fire during Democratic debates over past comments criticized as sexist and a policing policy he employed as New York's mayor seen as racially discriminatory. Biden is trying to build a bridge between progressive Democrats' desire for big structural change and more moderate Democrats yearning for a candidate who will be able to win over enough independents and Republicans to oust Trump. Fresh momentum That effort gained fresh momentum on the eve of Tuesday's voting as moderate presidential rivals Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota endorsed Biden after withdrawing from the race. The pace of the Democratic race begins to accelerate after Super Tuesday, with 11 more states voting by the end of March. By then, nearly two-thirds of the delegates will have been allotted. Sanders headed into Tuesday with 60 delegates to Biden's 54 in the state-by-state nominating fight. Sanders managed a virtual tie with Buttigieg in Iowa and wins in New Hampshire and Nevada. Besides leading in polls in California, Sanders also is ahead of Biden by a smaller margin in polls in Texas. Sanders' strength with Hispanics should pay dividends in that state, where Latinos comprise one-third of the Democratic electorate. Biden, whose South Carolina win affirmed his popularity with black voters, hoped to win five states where African Americans make up at least a quarter of the Democratic electorate: Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas. Democrats living abroad began voting in a primary set to run until March 10. The last polls will close in California at 8 p.m. PST (0400 GMT on Wednesday). The next contests, on March 10, will be in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington state.

Joe Biden moves ahead in US presidential race; scores big wins on Super Tuesday

Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg dropped out of the US primaries ending his run for the 2020 US presidential race to challenge Donald Trump.

The high profile billionaire on his way out endorsed&nbsp;party frontrunner Joe Biden for the White House.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-seizes-momentum-in-us-presidential-race-with-strong-super-tuesday-284205">Also Read:&nbsp;Biden seizes momentum in US presidential race with strong Super Tuesday</a>

"Three months ago, I entered the race to defeat Donald Trump. Today, I'm leaving for the same reason," Bloomberg said in a statement, adding,"defeating Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. It's clear that is my friend and a great American,&nbsp;Joe Biden."

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Three months ago, I entered the race to defeat Donald Trump. Today, I'm leaving for the same reason. Defeating Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. It's clear that is my friend and a great American, <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a>. <a href="https://t.co/cNJDIQHS75">pic.twitter.com/cNJDIQHS75</a>
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeBloomberg/status/1235224092439187460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I'm immensely proud of the campaign we ran. I'm deeply grateful to all the Americans who voted for me, and to our dedicated staff and volunteers," he said.

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I'm immensely proud of the campaign we ran. I'm deeply grateful to all the Americans who voted for me, and to our dedicated staff and volunteers. I want you to stay engaged, active, and committed to our issues. I will be right there with you. And together, we will get it done.
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeBloomberg/status/1235224303060254720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I want you to stay engaged, active, and committed to our issues. I will be right there with you. And together, we will get it done," the US tycoon said.

Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg dropped out of the US primaries ending his run for the 2020 US presidential race to challenge Donald Trump. The high profile billionaire on his way out endorsed party frontrunner Joe Biden for the White House.

Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg dropped out of the US primaries ending his run for the 2020 US presidential race to challenge Donald Trump. The high profile billionaire on his way out endorsed party frontrunner Joe Biden for the White House. Also Read: Biden seizes momentum in US presidential race with strong Super Tuesday "Three months ago, I entered the race to defeat Donald Trump. Today, I'm leaving for the same reason," Bloomberg said in a statement, adding,"defeating Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. It's clear that is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden." Three months ago, I entered the race to defeat Donald Trump. Today, I'm leaving for the same reason. Defeating Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. It's clear that is my friend and a great American, @JoeBiden. pic.twitter.com/cNJDIQHS75 — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) March 4, 2020 × "I'm immensely proud of the campaign we ran. I'm deeply grateful to all the Americans who voted for me, and to our dedicated staff and volunteers," he said. I'm immensely proud of the campaign we ran. I'm deeply grateful to all the Americans who voted for me, and to our dedicated staff and volunteers. I want you to stay engaged, active, and committed to our issues. I will be right there with you. And together, we will get it done. — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) March 4, 2020 × "I want you to stay engaged, active, and committed to our issues. I will be right there with you. And together, we will get it done," the US tycoon said.

Michael Bloomberg drops out of US presidential race, endorses Joe Biden

Joe Biden seized the momentum in the race to become the Democratic challenger to President Donald Trump with a string of Super Tuesday victories against leftist rival Bernie Sanders after his candidacy had seemed close to collapse.

A self-described democratic socialist who wants to reshape America's economy, Sanders had been the clear leader and was looking for a knock-out blow on a day when nomination contests were held across 14 states.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/michael-bloomberg-and-donald-trump-two-men-to-watch-in-us-election-280746">Michael Bloomberg and Donald Trump: Two men to watch in US election</a>

Instead, the results signalled a remarkable comeback for Biden, a former vice president under Barack Obama, who will be vying once again for that frontrunner status.

"It's a good night and it seems to be getting even better! They don't call it Super Tuesday for nothing," Biden told cheering fans in Los Angeles.

Sanders, 78, was projected to win his home state of Vermont, Colorado, Utah -- with exit polls also pointing to a win in the biggest delegate-rich state of all, California.

Biden, whose centrist campaign had appeared to be floundering, was projected to win in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas and even Minnesota -- a state where Sanders had been expected to win handily.

In Texas, where Sanders had also been polling ahead, Biden appeared set for an even split -- or even a win.

A defiant, Sanders celebrated his wins by tearing into Trump, calling him "the most dangerous president in the history of this country." But he also attacked Biden, 77, for having voted in favour of the invasion of Iraq and painted him as tarnished by billionaire contributors.

"We're taking on the political establishment," he said. "You cannot beat Trump with the same-old, same-old kind of politics."

Biden saw the results as proof that his bid to bring American politics back to the centre, after four years of Trump's rightwing populism, is on a roll.

"We are very much alive," he told a crowd in Los Angeles. "Make no mistake about it, this campaign will send Donald Trump packing."

A key takeaway from Biden's lengthening list of wins was the strong support for the former vice president of Barack Obama from African Americans -- a vital piece in any Democratic presidential candidate's coalition.

However, he seemed to fare less well with the large Hispanic electorate, which in California reportedly went heavily for Sanders.

Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, 78, and Senator Elizabeth Warren were the other big names on the ballot.

Despite spending record amounts of his own money on advertising, it was an embarrassing debut for billionaire media entrepreneur Bloomberg who failed win any state -- though he did get a consolation win in tiny American Samoa in the Pacific.

Trump, who watched the results on television, tweeted his customary insults about the Democrats, deriding Warren for losing her home state of Massachusetts.

Biden answered on Twitter, saying,&nbsp;"Come November, we are going to beat you."

Stop the Sanders campaign&nbsp;

The 14 nominating contests across the country gave the dwindling field of Democratic hopefuls a giant potential haul of delegates.

Many in the Democratic Party are desperate to stop Sanders' strong push to win that delegate race, saying the senator will be destroyed in a general election where Trump has signalled he will brand him a socialist bent on ending the American way of life.

Biden was practically counted out after a stumbling early campaign but first began to rebound with a landslide win in South Carolina last Saturday.

That was followed by the coordinated decisions of two other moderate candidates Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar&nbsp;to withdraw and endorse their former rival.

Bloomberg now faces calls from within the Democratic Party also to get out of the race and not split the centrist vote.

Commenting on Bloomberg's feeble Virginia results, veteran political analyst Larry Sabato asked: "A hint to say bye-bye?"

Sanders fans convinced

Biden is making his third bid for the White House after failed runs in 1988 and 2008. He argues he can bring a return to "decency" after the tumultuous, scandal-plagued Trump era.

Sanders' fans are convinced only he can take on Trump, who also defied his party's establishment four years ago to claim a surprise victory against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Supporter Jamison Hanning, a 45-year-old plastics industry technician, said he was "pretty confident" despite the Biden pushback.

"I mean it is just people in the establishment being afraid," he said.

A total of 1,357 delegates were at stake on Tuesday -- a third of the nationwide total. A candidate needs 1,991 delegates to win the nomination outright at the party convention in Milwaukee in July.

Joe Biden seized the momentum in the race to become the Democratic challenger to President Donald Trump with a string of Super Tuesday victories against leftist rival Bernie Sanders after his candidacy had seemed close to collapse.

Joe Biden seized the momentum in the race to become the Democratic challenger to President Donald Trump with a string of Super Tuesday victories against leftist rival Bernie Sanders after his candidacy had seemed close to collapse. A self-described democratic socialist who wants to reshape America's economy, Sanders had been the clear leader and was looking for a knock-out blow on a day when nomination contests were held across 14 states. Also Read: Michael Bloomberg and Donald Trump: Two men to watch in US election Instead, the results signalled a remarkable comeback for Biden, a former vice president under Barack Obama, who will be vying once again for that frontrunner status. "It's a good night and it seems to be getting even better! They don't call it Super Tuesday for nothing," Biden told cheering fans in Los Angeles. Sanders, 78, was projected to win his home state of Vermont, Colorado, Utah -- with exit polls also pointing to a win in the biggest delegate-rich state of all, California. Biden, whose centrist campaign had appeared to be floundering, was projected to win in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas and even Minnesota -- a state where Sanders had been expected to win handily. In Texas, where Sanders had also been polling ahead, Biden appeared set for an even split -- or even a win. A defiant, Sanders celebrated his wins by tearing into Trump, calling him "the most dangerous president in the history of this country." But he also attacked Biden, 77, for having voted in favour of the invasion of Iraq and painted him as tarnished by billionaire contributors. "We're taking on the political establishment," he said. "You cannot beat Trump with the same-old, same-old kind of politics." Biden saw the results as proof that his bid to bring American politics back to the centre, after four years of Trump's rightwing populism, is on a roll. "We are very much alive," he told a crowd in Los Angeles. "Make no mistake about it, this campaign will send Donald Trump packing." A key takeaway from Biden's lengthening list of wins was the strong support for the former vice president of Barack Obama from African Americans -- a vital piece in any Democratic presidential candidate's coalition. However, he seemed to fare less well with the large Hispanic electorate, which in California reportedly went heavily for Sanders. Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, 78, and Senator Elizabeth Warren were the other big names on the ballot. Despite spending record amounts of his own money on advertising, it was an embarrassing debut for billionaire media entrepreneur Bloomberg who failed win any state -- though he did get a consolation win in tiny American Samoa in the Pacific. Trump, who watched the results on television, tweeted his customary insults about the Democrats, deriding Warren for losing her home state of Massachusetts. Biden answered on Twitter, saying, "Come November, we are going to beat you." Stop the Sanders campaign The 14 nominating contests across the country gave the dwindling field of Democratic hopefuls a giant potential haul of delegates. Many in the Democratic Party are desperate to stop Sanders' strong push to win that delegate race, saying the senator will be destroyed in a general election where Trump has signalled he will brand him a socialist bent on ending the American way of life. Biden was practically counted out after a stumbling early campaign but first began to rebound with a landslide win in South Carolina last Saturday. That was followed by the coordinated decisions of two other moderate candidates Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar to withdraw and endorse their former rival. Bloomberg now faces calls from within the Democratic Party also to get out of the race and not split the centrist vote. Commenting on Bloomberg's feeble Virginia results, veteran political analyst Larry Sabato asked: "A hint to say bye-bye?" Sanders fans convinced Biden is making his third bid for the White House after failed runs in 1988 and 2008. He argues he can bring a return to "decency" after the tumultuous, scandal-plagued Trump era. Sanders' fans are convinced only he can take on Trump, who also defied his party's establishment four years ago to claim a surprise victory against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Supporter Jamison Hanning, a 45-year-old plastics industry technician, said he was "pretty confident" despite the Biden pushback. "I mean it is just people in the establishment being afraid," he said. A total of 1,357 delegates were at stake on Tuesday -- a third of the nationwide total. A candidate needs 1,991 delegates to win the nomination outright at the party convention in Milwaukee in July.

Joe Biden seizes momentum in US presidential race with strong Super Tuesday

A jubilant Joe Biden scored key Super Tuesday victories in Minnesota and across the South, building on the momentum that has swiftly revived his Democratic presidential campaign in recent days. Biden also took Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma and the battleground states of North Carolina and Virginia, a strong start as 14 states went to the polls across the nation. Bernie Sanders countered with wins in his home state of Vermont and Colorado, as the race began to shift west, where some polls were starting to close.

US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden celebrates a 'Super Tuesday' with big wins

That’s the implication of Biden’s resounding victory in South Carolina. And Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar — to their credit — have both acknowledged this reality by dropping out of the race.

Today Tonight: Its Joe Biden Vs Bernie Sanders

Amy Klobuchar has abandoned her campaign to become the Democratic presidential nominee.&nbsp;She along with Pete Buttigieg will now be endorsing former vice-president and once rival Joe Biden.

<div>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-revives-white-house-hopes-with-south-carolina-victory-283523">Biden revives White House hopes with South Carolina victory</a></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Klobuchar survived the crowded democratic field, going all the way to the primaries.</div>

However, her performance had been on the decline after witnessing a surge in the New Hampshire primary.

<div>Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pete-buttigieg-drops-out-of-democratic-presidential-race-283617">Pete Buttigieg drops out of Democratic Presidential race</a></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>In fact, she was relegated to a distant sixth spot in the recent South Carolina primary.</div>

Klobuchar rose to national prominence after her tough questioning of Trump's supreme court pick Brett Kavanaugh during a 2018 Senate judiciary hearing.

With Klobuchar's withdrawal, the Democrats have been left with five candidates ahead of the Super Tuesday.

Amy Klobuchar has abandoned her campaign to become the Democratic presidential nominee. She along with Pete Buttigieg will now be endorsing former vice-president and once rival Joe Biden.

Amy Klobuchar has abandoned her campaign to become the Democratic presidential nominee. She along with Pete Buttigieg will now be endorsing former vice-president and once rival Joe Biden. Also read: Biden revives White House hopes with South Carolina victory Klobuchar survived the crowded democratic field, going all the way to the primaries. However, her performance had been on the decline after witnessing a surge in the New Hampshire primary. Also see: Pete Buttigieg drops out of Democratic Presidential race In fact, she was relegated to a distant sixth spot in the recent South Carolina primary. Klobuchar rose to national prominence after her tough questioning of Trump's supreme court pick Brett Kavanaugh during a 2018 Senate judiciary hearing. With Klobuchar's withdrawal, the Democrats have been left with five candidates ahead of the Super Tuesday.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar ends 2020 presidential bid

Presidential contender Joe Biden told South Carolina’s Democrats on Friday that they can take control of the White House if they pick “the right nominee” to face President Donald Trump.

“If you send me out of here with a victory that’s significant then I think I’m going to be the next nominee,” he said at Wofford College in Spartanburg. “We really can’t afford to let Donald Trump have four more years.”

It was a message of hope for Democrats who widely dislike the sitting president, but also for a campaign much in need of hope.

A win in South Carolina’s fourth in the nation nominating contest on Saturday would be a big boost to Biden’s chances of being the Democratic nominee to run against Trump on Nov. 3. Biden faces candidates including front-runner Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist.

At a rally in North Charleston, Trump urged his Republican supporters to vote in the Democratic primary to ensure he faces the weakest possible opponent, which is allowed in South Carolina.

“Who the hell is easier to beat?” Trump asked of the crowd. He ultimately said the answer was Sanders.

<div>Here’s what else happened on the campaign trail on Friday:</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rivals-question-front-runner-sanders-electability-at-rowdy-south-carolina-democratic-debate-282776">Rivals question front-runner Sanders' electability at rowdy South Carolina Democratic debate</a> 
&nbsp;</div>

<div>FIRST IN LINE</div>

<div>
Before Trump took the stage in North Charleston, his fiercest supporters had been waiting for hours - even days.

Packing blankets, chairs and coolers, thousands waited to enter the rally, some of them having camped out to attend.

Richard Snowden was in his usual place, first in line. Dressed in a crisp suit and tie, the 68-year-old retired restaurant and nightclub businessman from Florida said he arrived on Tuesday for what would be his 66th Trump rally.

“I’m competitive, obviously. And I like being number one,” he said.

Trump decided to hold a rally here even though the state’s Republican Party canceled its nominating contest to ensure the president faced no opposition as he seeks re-election.

The evening marked the third Trump event for Snowden’s girlfriend, Trish Asselta, who said she’s already hooked.

“The energy that everyone portrays is just a feeling that you just can’t explain. I mean, he energizes everyone,” she said.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/oysters-and-politics-on-the-menu-in-south-carolina-282932">Oysters and politics on the menu in South Carolina</a>

CORONAVIRUS CRITICISM

Earlier in the day, Biden, Sanders and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg joined the chorus of prominent Democrats criticizing the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, which expanded to six new countries and sent global stock markets tumbling again on Friday.

At a campaign event in Sumter, South Carolina, Biden accused Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who is overseeing the government response to the outbreak, of misleading the American public about the virus threat.

“Trump and Pence decided that the public health experts cannot inform the public on their own what’s going on,” Biden said. “Now the president won’t let other people tell the truth.”

Sanders slammed Trump for holding the North Charleston rally rather than remaining in Washington to address the situation.

“Why is he here? He’s here to try and disrupt the Democratic primary,” Sanders said in St. George. “How pathetic and how petty can you be?”

Bloomberg pointed to the sharp stock market drop as a sign of concern about Trump’s competence.

“The stock market has plunged partly out of fear (about the virus) but also because investors have no confidence that this president is capable of managing the crisis,” Bloomberg said in Memphis, Tennessee.

Bloomberg, a late entrant in the race for the White House, has not competed in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina, and is pinning his hopes on Super Tuesday nominating contests next week in Tennessee and 13 other states.

There are 62 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States, including people repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan, U.S. officials said.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-appoints-vice-president-mike-pence-man-in-charge-of-coronavirus-response-282971">Donald Trump appoints Vice-President Mike Pence man in charge of coronavirus response</a>

COUNTING ON SOUTH CAROLINA

Biden continued to show signs of growing strength ahead of Saturday.

His campaign celebrated a $1.2 million one-day online fundraising haul, the most contributed by small-dollar internet donors since his campaign launch last year, when similar contributions added up to more than $6 million.

A Monmouth University poll released on Thursday showed Biden with heavy support from black South Carolina voters, who make up about 60% of the state’s Democratic electorate.

He was buoyed as well by an endorsement from U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, who was the 2016 Democratic vice presidential nominee under Hillary Clinton. Virginia votes on Tuesday.

In Sumter, undecided voter Marybeth Berry, 44, told Biden that she sees a “fire” in some of his rivals and asked what drives him.

He responded “decency and honor” and added that he hates to see the “abuse of power” against vulnerable people.

Berry said she thought Biden’s answer was “very, very good” and “powerful,” and that she was leaning toward him after hearing him speak, but added she was also considering Sanders.

<div>Her husband, Christopher, an Army veteran who met Biden when he served in Iraq, was already convinced. He voted for Trump in 2016 but is supporting Biden this time.</div>

Biden had poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire and finished a distant second place in Nevada.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bernie-sanders-scores-decisive-win-in-nevada-biden-heading-to-second-place-282175">Bernie Sanders scores decisive win in Nevada, Biden heading to second place</a>
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Presidential contender Joe Biden told South Carolina’s Democrats on Friday that they can take control of the White House if they pick “the right nominee” to face President Donald Trump.

Presidential contender Joe Biden told South Carolina’s Democrats on Friday that they can take control of the White House if they pick “the right nominee” to face President Donald Trump. “If you send me out of here with a victory that’s significant then I think I’m going to be the next nominee,” he said at Wofford College in Spartanburg. “We really can’t afford to let Donald Trump have four more years.” It was a message of hope for Democrats who widely dislike the sitting president, but also for a campaign much in need of hope. A win in South Carolina’s fourth in the nation nominating contest on Saturday would be a big boost to Biden’s chances of being the Democratic nominee to run against Trump on Nov. 3. Biden faces candidates including front-runner Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist. At a rally in North Charleston, Trump urged his Republican supporters to vote in the Democratic primary to ensure he faces the weakest possible opponent, which is allowed in South Carolina. “Who the hell is easier to beat?” Trump asked of the crowd. He ultimately said the answer was Sanders. Here’s what else happened on the campaign trail on Friday: Also read: Rivals question front-runner Sanders' electability at rowdy South Carolina Democratic debate FIRST IN LINE Before Trump took the stage in North Charleston, his fiercest supporters had been waiting for hours - even days. Packing blankets, chairs and coolers, thousands waited to enter the rally, some of them having camped out to attend. Richard Snowden was in his usual place, first in line. Dressed in a crisp suit and tie, the 68-year-old retired restaurant and nightclub businessman from Florida said he arrived on Tuesday for what would be his 66th Trump rally. “I’m competitive, obviously. And I like being number one,” he said. Trump decided to hold a rally here even though the state’s Republican Party canceled its nominating contest to ensure the president faced no opposition as he seeks re-election. The evening marked the third Trump event for Snowden’s girlfriend, Trish Asselta, who said she’s already hooked. “The energy that everyone portrays is just a feeling that you just can’t explain. I mean, he energizes everyone,” she said. Also see: Oysters and politics on the menu in South Carolina CORONAVIRUS CRITICISM Earlier in the day, Biden, Sanders and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg joined the chorus of prominent Democrats criticizing the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, which expanded to six new countries and sent global stock markets tumbling again on Friday. At a campaign event in Sumter, South Carolina, Biden accused Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who is overseeing the government response to the outbreak, of misleading the American public about the virus threat. “Trump and Pence decided that the public health experts cannot inform the public on their own what’s going on,” Biden said. “Now the president won’t let other people tell the truth.” Sanders slammed Trump for holding the North Charleston rally rather than remaining in Washington to address the situation. “Why is he here? He’s here to try and disrupt the Democratic primary,” Sanders said in St. George. “How pathetic and how petty can you be?” Bloomberg pointed to the sharp stock market drop as a sign of concern about Trump’s competence. “The stock market has plunged partly out of fear (about the virus) but also because investors have no confidence that this president is capable of managing the crisis,” Bloomberg said in Memphis, Tennessee. Bloomberg, a late entrant in the race for the White House, has not competed in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina, and is pinning his hopes on Super Tuesday nominating contests next week in Tennessee and 13 other states. There are 62 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States, including people repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan, U.S. officials said. Also read: Donald Trump appoints Vice-President Mike Pence man in charge of coronavirus response COUNTING ON SOUTH CAROLINA Biden continued to show signs of growing strength ahead of Saturday. His campaign celebrated a $1.2 million one-day online fundraising haul, the most contributed by small-dollar internet donors since his campaign launch last year, when similar contributions added up to more than $6 million. A Monmouth University poll released on Thursday showed Biden with heavy support from black South Carolina voters, who make up about 60% of the state’s Democratic electorate. He was buoyed as well by an endorsement from U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, who was the 2016 Democratic vice presidential nominee under Hillary Clinton. Virginia votes on Tuesday. In Sumter, undecided voter Marybeth Berry, 44, told Biden that she sees a “fire” in some of his rivals and asked what drives him. He responded “decency and honor” and added that he hates to see the “abuse of power” against vulnerable people. Berry said she thought Biden’s answer was “very, very good” and “powerful,” and that she was leaning toward him after hearing him speak, but added she was also considering Sanders. Her husband, Christopher, an Army veteran who met Biden when he served in Iraq, was already convinced. He voted for Trump in 2016 but is supporting Biden this time. Biden had poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire and finished a distant second place in Nevada. Also see: Bernie Sanders scores decisive win in Nevada, Biden heading to second place

On the trail: Biden aims for 'significant' South Carolina win, Trump urges supporters to intervene

Bernie Sanders scored a decisive victory in the Democratic presidential caucuses in Nevada on Saturday and gained a fresh burst of momentum, while Joe Biden appeared headed to a second-place finish that will give his struggling campaign new hope.

Bernie Sanders scored a decisive victory in the Democratic presidential caucuses in Nevada on Saturday and gained a fresh burst of momentum, while Joe Biden appeared headed to a second-place finish that will give his struggling campaign new hope. Sanders, a senator from Vermont, had 45% of the county convention delegates in Nevada with about 4% of the precincts reported, and television networks predicted he would cruise to an easy win. But there were long delays getting more results reported, more than five hours after the caucuses started. We just won the Nevada caucus. This grassroots movement is unstoppable. Together, let's win the Democratic nomination, defeat Trump and transform the country! Join us live in San Antonio: https://t.co/XB1Ua14x8m — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 23, 2020 × Biden, the former vice president, appeared headed to a badly needed strong showing after poor finishes in the first two contests in Iowa and New Hampshire for the party's nomination to face Republican President Donald Trump in the November election. He was a distant second to Sanders with 19% of the vote, but ahead of former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, in third with 16%. "The press is ready to declare people dead quickly, but we’re alive and we’re coming back and we’re gonna win," Biden told supporters in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Senator Elizabeth Warren was trailing in a disappointing fourth with 11% in Nevada, where voters poured into more than 250 sites around the state. Sanders showed signs of expanding his support beyond his core supporters, riding a wave of backing from most age groups, Latinos and union members to victory in Nevada. Entrance polls also showed heavy backing for his government-run Medicare for All healthcare plan. "We have put together a multi-generational, multiracial coalition that is going to not only win in Nevada, it's going to sweep the country," Sanders told cheering supporters in San Antonio, Texas. Buttigieg, however, told his supporters in Las Vegas that Democrats should stop and reconsider nominating Sanders, a self-identified democratic socialist that he portrayed as an ideologue. "We can prioritize either ideological purity or inclusive victory. We can either call people names online or we can call them into our movement. We can either tighten a narrow and hardcore base or open the tent to a new, broad, big-hearted American coalition," Buttigieg said. After a technical meltdown delayed results during the Iowa caucuses, Nevada Democratic Party officials promised that a revised reporting system using a telephone hotline and photos of caucus reporting sheets would ensure a smoother process. But precinct chairs at some caucuses reported long waits on the phone lines. Larry Van, a retired pharmacist who was the volunteer secretary at a precinct that went to Biden, said he called the phone number to report results eight times before he eventually got through. In the final result of a caucus at the famed Bellagio hotel on the Las Vegas strip, Sanders finished with 76 votes, Biden had 45 and no other candidate ended with a vote. Workers at the hotel, who are members of the Culinary Workers Union, streamed out of the caucus after backing Sanders despite their leadership expressing reservations about his healthcare plan. "I went for Bernie. I'm not big into politics, but I like the things he's going for: student loan debt, schools, free healthcare," said Aleiza Smith, 22, a housekeeper at the Bellagio. Four days of early voting in Nevada this week drew more than 75,000 Democrats, more than half first-time voters, putting the party in position to surpass the turnout record of 118,000 in 2008, when Barack Obama's candidacy electrified the party. But those early votes had to be counted along with those cast on Saturday, complicating the process. An entrance poll by the Edison Research agency showed six in 10 Nevada voters at the caucuses backed the Medicare for All proposal, a version of which is also supported by Warren. Six out of 10 caucus-goers wanted someone who can beat Trump more than someone who agrees with them on major issues, according to the poll. Surging Sanders The entrance poll showed that Sanders led in Nevada across all age groups except for those older than 65. Around 54% of Latino voters said they backed him, while 24% of college-educated white women and 34% of those who have a union member in their families supported him. The Nevada caucuses came a day after news broke that Sanders had been briefed by U.S. officials that Russia was trying to help his campaign as part of an effort to interfere with the 2020 presidential election. While Sanders' rivals tried to blunt his momentum in the caucuses, they each faced significant challenges of their own. Biden and Warren were looking to jump-start struggling campaigns after poor finishes in the first two states, while Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar are hoping to prove they can appeal to Nevada's more diverse electorate. Trump, who lost Nevada to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, tweeted on Saturday that he expected to win in Nevada in the general election in November and alluded to the reports that a Russian disinformation effort was supporting Sanders. At a Democratic debate in Nevada on Wednesday, candidates launched scathing attacks on Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City, who has been rising in the polls on the back of a self-funded advertising blitz but is not competing in Nevada. The next primary will be on Feb. 29 in South Carolina, followed by the Super Tuesday contests in 14 states on March 3 that pick more than one-third of the pledged delegates who will help select a Democratic nominee. Nevada is the first nominating state with a diverse population after contests in predominantly white Iowa and New Hampshire.

Bernie Sanders scores decisive win in Nevada, Biden heading to second place

Former US Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday criticized the conduct of online supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders, saying his rival for the Democratic nomination for president has "some accountability.

Former US Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday criticized the conduct of online supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders, saying his rival for the Democratic nomination for president has "some accountability." Biden, in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," waded into a spat between Sanders supporters and leaders of The Culinary Union, a powerful labour group in Nevada that has been critical of the senator's healthcare proposals. Nevada holds the next nominating contest in the Democratic presidential primary. "He may not be responsible for it but he has some accountability," Biden said in the interview that will air on Sunday morning. Also Read: Trump mocks 'communist' Bernie and 'Sleepy Joe' before Iowa "If any of my supporters did that, I'd disown them. Flat disown them. The stuff that was said online, the way they threatened these two women who are leaders in that Culinary Union. It is outrageous." Biden has watched his standing in opinion polls slide as Sanders has risen to secure front-runner status. The Culinary Workers Union said supporters of Sanders "viciously" attacked the organization via Twitter, text, voicemail and direct messaging after the union criticized the senator's universal healthcare plan on Tuesday. [ Democratic 2020 US presidential candidate and former US vice president Joe Biden at a campaign event (Courtesy: Reuters ] Sanders, in turn, called for an end to all online harassment but stopped short of acknowledging that the attacks were coming from his supporters. Instead, Sanders suggested in an interview on "PBS NewsHour" on Thursday that the attacks might be coming from people posing as his supporters. "And I'm not so sure, to be honest with you, that they are necessarily part of our movement," Sanders said.

'Disown them:' Biden criticizes Sanders for supporters' online attacks

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders took an early lead in New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday.

Sanders was closely followed by Pete Buttigieg and US Senator Amy Klobuchar.

With 25 per cent of precincts reporting, Sanders led with 26.1 per cent and Pete Buttigieg, the moderate former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, had 24.3 per cent. Senator Amy Klobuchar, looking for a breakthrough after a strong debate performance on Friday, was in third with 19.8&nbsp;per cent.

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Former vice president and initial front-runner Joe Biden trailed badly in distant fifth place in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-presidential-candidates-fight-for-survival-in-new-hampshire-debate-279433">second contest </a>to find a nominee to face President Donald Trump on November 3, 2020.

Results began rolling in quickly after polls closed, and Democrats in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-donald-trump-us-elections-democrats-turn-focus-on-new-hampshire-after-iowa-fiasco-278593"> New Hampshire</a> were confident they would have smoother sailing than in Iowa, where embarrassing technical problems and inconsistencies delayed vote-counting and the release of results for days.

Buttigieg narrowly beat Sanders in Iowa, but both campaigns have asked for a partial recanvass of the results.

Democratic voters in New Hampshire chose a candidate from a ballot with 33 names, including candidates who dropped out weeks ago. But it did not include former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire who is not competing in any states before the 14 Super Tuesday primaries on March 3, reported news agency Reuters.

Sanders had taken a lead in recent opinion polls in New Hampshire despite a barrage of criticism from rivals who warned his far-left views would lead the party to defeat against Trump. 
&nbsp;

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders took an early lead in New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday. Sanders was closely followed by Pete Buttigieg and US Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders took an early lead in New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday. Sanders was closely followed by Pete Buttigieg and US Senator Amy Klobuchar. With 25 per cent of precincts reporting, Sanders led with 26.1 per cent and Pete Buttigieg, the moderate former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, had 24.3 per cent. Senator Amy Klobuchar, looking for a breakthrough after a strong debate performance on Friday, was in third with 19.8 per cent. × Former vice president and initial front-runner Joe Biden trailed badly in distant fifth place in the second contest to find a nominee to face President Donald Trump on November 3, 2020. Results began rolling in quickly after polls closed, and Democrats in New Hampshire were confident they would have smoother sailing than in Iowa, where embarrassing technical problems and inconsistencies delayed vote-counting and the release of results for days. Buttigieg narrowly beat Sanders in Iowa, but both campaigns have asked for a partial recanvass of the results. Democratic voters in New Hampshire chose a candidate from a ballot with 33 names, including candidates who dropped out weeks ago. But it did not include former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire who is not competing in any states before the 14 Super Tuesday primaries on March 3, reported news agency Reuters. Sanders had taken a lead in recent opinion polls in New Hampshire despite a barrage of criticism from rivals who warned his far-left views would lead the party to defeat against Trump.

Bernie Sanders takes early lead in New Hampshire primary as Biden lags behind   

With Democratic presidential candidates fighting for their political lives ahead of New Hampshire's primary to choose who will face Republican Donald Trump in November, rivals debating on Friday took shots at one another and tried to separate themselves from the pack.

Here’s how each of the seven contenders on stage fared:

JOE BIDEN 
The former vice president, looking to rebound from a faceplant in Iowa's caucuses this week, obviously wanted to come out on the offensive. Unfortunately, he started the night telling the nation that he probably was going to lose New Hampshire as well.

But Biden grew more assured, tearing into US Senator Bernie Sanders over the cost of his Medicare for All plan and his record on guns while questioning Pete Buttigieg’s lack of experience. Biden seemed to relish in his long record of public service, repeatedly listing his accomplishments as a senator and vice president for Barack Obama. “The politics of the past, I think, were not all that bad,” Biden said.

The risk for Biden is such talk only reinforces the view of some Democrats that his moment has passed and why they’re looking to fresh faces such as Buttigieg. But Biden has little choice but lean even harder into his argument that he is best prepared to take over for President Donald Trump.

<img alt="Biden" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="351e7d0b-29e1-4073-b4d4-3cf068c648ab" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2897%29_0.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;Democratic Presidential Candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

PETE BUTTIGIEG 
As expected, everyone came gunning for the 38-year-old boyish former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Biden and US Senator Amy Klobuchar questioned his thin track record. Klobuchar also suggested Buttigieg had flipped positions on Medicare for All.&nbsp;

Sanders took a shot at his fundraising. And US Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered a brutal critique of Buttigieg’s defence of his record as mayor concerning African Americans and criminal justice.

All of it was designed to make Buttigieg appear unready for the job – and at times he wobbled. At other points, he turned aggressive, labelling Sanders as an extreme candidate who would drive away moderates. Buttigieg did not back down from making his generational argument that it was time to pass the torch.&nbsp;

<img alt="Pete Buttigieg" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e86f3f22-1b4b-44fd-b429-e090dd49df1d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2898%29_0.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;Pete Buttigieg, Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Indiana mayor (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

He told Biden his achievements “were phenomenally important because they met the moment. But now we have to meet at this moment, and this moment is different.” He also continued his outreach to independents and even Republicans, who could be critical in New Hampshire, which allows non-Democrats to vote.

AMY KLOBUCHAR 
If this is the end of the line for the senator from Minnesota, she will go out turning in probably her best debate performance to date. She showed quick thinking on stage. She was the first candidate to raise her hand when they were asked if they were concerned about having a democratic socialist like Sanders at the top of the ticket.&nbsp;

Not long after, she was the first candidate to bring up Trump’s impeachment and his acquittal by the Senate, a trenchant reminder of the stakes of the election.

It was clear from the outset that Klobuchar looked to dent Buttigieg’s momentum, challenging him and even mocking him while framing herself as a better “unity” candidate. Referring to Trump, she said, “We have a newcomer in the White House, and look what that got us.”

<img alt="Klobuchar" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b57fa770-ed76-4a86-9943-68061bf949ff" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-02-08T131153.994.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;Democratic US Presidential Candidate Amy Klobuchar (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

After a disappointing finish in Iowa - she came in fifth - Klobuchar heads into the New Hampshire primary a distinct underdog. One good debate is not likely to change that.

BERNIE SANDERS 
Coming off a strong performance in Iowa that put him almost in a dead heat with Buttigieg, Sanders was on the defensive early, as rivals like Biden questioned whether a democratic socialist could marshal broad enough support in November to defeat Trump.

As usual, Sanders showed little interest in moderating his message. His remarkable consistency – most of his quotes on Friday could have come from any of the other seven debates of this campaign, or his first presidential run in 2016 – is part of what endears him to his supporters.

It also brings questions about whether he can broaden his appeal to win a majority of American voters. Sanders’ answer on Friday was that his agenda of Medicare for All and higher taxes on the wealthy would inspire more voters to participate in the election. “I believe the way we beat Trump is by having the largest voter turnout in the history of this country,” he said.

<img alt="Sanders" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="789faacc-f28e-4c7b-a456-c1dd6cd0129e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2899%29_1.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;Democratic US&nbsp;Presidential Candidate and US Senator Bernie Sanders (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

TOM STEYER 
The California billionaire was probably the most pugnacious candidate on stage, fashioning himself as a truth-teller trying to elevate the discussion beyond squabbles over healthcare plans and abortion rights toward something more basic: How to beat Trump.

Steyer argued Democrats must find some way to challenge Trump on the economy or risk failure. “We have to go win a huge victory this year, and we're in trouble,” he said. He also seemed to suggest that his rivals had very little idea how to bring the party together and ensure that African Americans and other voters of colour go to the polls in November.&nbsp;

With polls showing Steyer rising as a challenger to Biden in South Carolina, the outsider candidate is likely to keep spending freely, act like he has nothing to lose and perhaps stay on the debate stage.

ELIZABETH WARREN 
Warren continued pressing the closing argument she made in Iowa, arguing that she is uniquely positioned to unify the various factions within the Democratic Party. As a result, she appeared somewhat unwilling to engage in attacks on her rivals.

But as the debate proceeded, Warren fired a few shots at the other candidates. After moderators pressed Buttigieg on his mayoral record on race and policing, Warren was asked whether his answer had been satisfactory.

“No,” she said bluntly, before ticking off several areas – housing, education, employment – in which she has released plans that specifically target racial gaps.

<img alt="Warren" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b97a700e-ca37-4b1c-a3b8-cfe14d84b149" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%28100%29_1.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;Democratic 2020 US&nbsp;Presidential Candidate and US&nbsp;Senator Elizabeth Warren (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

Later, she jumped at the chance to criticize billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who is skipping the early voting states and blanketing later states with a barrage of advertising, for trying to “buy” the nomination. She followed that with a thinly veiled shot at Sanders for getting help from an outside political group even though he has sworn off super PACs.

With less speaking time than Buttigieg, Biden, Sanders and Klobuchar, it was not clear whether she made enough of an impact after a week in which she was mostly an afterthought following a third-place finish in Iowa.

ANDREW YANG 
For months, Andrew Yang has pointed to New Hampshire as the early state where he expected to have the most appeal, thanks to the independent voters who make up a large portion of the electorate and might be drawn to his esoteric campaign platform.

But after a poor showing in Iowa, where he finished far behind the top candidates, Yang needed a breakout performance to have any hope of outperforming on Tuesday.

He didn’t get many opportunities. The moderators directed only a handful of questions at him, leaving him with by far the least amount of speaking time. As he has throughout the campaign, he declined to engage in any back-and-forth attacks with other candidates, which meant he spent long stretches in silence as rivals took turns swinging at one another.

<img alt="Yang" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3388b91a-447e-451c-8cde-d3e3aaf03944" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-02-08T131645.502.jpg" /> 
[ Businessman and 2020 US Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang (Courtesy: Twitter Handle @AndrewYang) ]

Yang's campaign, which has far outstripped any reasonable expectations, may be drawing to a close.

With Democratic presidential candidates fighting for their political lives ahead of New Hampshire's primary to choose who will face Republican Donald Trump in November, rivals debating on Friday took shots at one another and tried to separate themselves from the pack.

With Democratic presidential candidates fighting for their political lives ahead of New Hampshire's primary to choose who will face Republican Donald Trump in November, rivals debating on Friday took shots at one another and tried to separate themselves from the pack. Here’s how each of the seven contenders on stage fared: JOE BIDEN The former vice president, looking to rebound from a faceplant in Iowa's caucuses this week, obviously wanted to come out on the offensive. Unfortunately, he started the night telling the nation that he probably was going to lose New Hampshire as well. But Biden grew more assured, tearing into US Senator Bernie Sanders over the cost of his Medicare for All plan and his record on guns while questioning Pete Buttigieg’s lack of experience. Biden seemed to relish in his long record of public service, repeatedly listing his accomplishments as a senator and vice president for Barack Obama. “The politics of the past, I think, were not all that bad,” Biden said. The risk for Biden is such talk only reinforces the view of some Democrats that his moment has passed and why they’re looking to fresh faces such as Buttigieg. But Biden has little choice but lean even harder into his argument that he is best prepared to take over for President Donald Trump. [ Democratic Presidential Candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden (Courtesy: Reuters) ] PETE BUTTIGIEG As expected, everyone came gunning for the 38-year-old boyish former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Biden and US Senator Amy Klobuchar questioned his thin track record. Klobuchar also suggested Buttigieg had flipped positions on Medicare for All. Sanders took a shot at his fundraising. And US Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered a brutal critique of Buttigieg’s defence of his record as mayor concerning African Americans and criminal justice. All of it was designed to make Buttigieg appear unready for the job – and at times he wobbled. At other points, he turned aggressive, labelling Sanders as an extreme candidate who would drive away moderates. Buttigieg did not back down from making his generational argument that it was time to pass the torch. [ Pete Buttigieg, Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Indiana mayor (Courtesy: Reuters) ] He told Biden his achievements “were phenomenally important because they met the moment. But now we have to meet at this moment, and this moment is different.” He also continued his outreach to independents and even Republicans, who could be critical in New Hampshire, which allows non-Democrats to vote. AMY KLOBUCHAR If this is the end of the line for the senator from Minnesota, she will go out turning in probably her best debate performance to date. She showed quick thinking on stage. She was the first candidate to raise her hand when they were asked if they were concerned about having a democratic socialist like Sanders at the top of the ticket. Not long after, she was the first candidate to bring up Trump’s impeachment and his acquittal by the Senate, a trenchant reminder of the stakes of the election. It was clear from the outset that Klobuchar looked to dent Buttigieg’s momentum, challenging him and even mocking him while framing herself as a better “unity” candidate. Referring to Trump, she said, “We have a newcomer in the White House, and look what that got us.” [ Democratic US Presidential Candidate Amy Klobuchar (Courtesy: Reuters) ] After a disappointing finish in Iowa - she came in fifth - Klobuchar heads into the New Hampshire primary a distinct underdog. One good debate is not likely to change that. BERNIE SANDERS Coming off a strong performance in Iowa that put him almost in a dead heat with Buttigieg, Sanders was on the defensive early, as rivals like Biden questioned whether a democratic socialist could marshal broad enough support in November to defeat Trump. As usual, Sanders showed little interest in moderating his message. His remarkable consistency – most of his quotes on Friday could have come from any of the other seven debates of this campaign, or his first presidential run in 2016 – is part of what endears him to his supporters. It also brings questions about whether he can broaden his appeal to win a majority of American voters. Sanders’ answer on Friday was that his agenda of Medicare for All and higher taxes on the wealthy would inspire more voters to participate in the election. “I believe the way we beat Trump is by having the largest voter turnout in the history of this country,” he said. [ Democratic US Presidential Candidate and US Senator Bernie Sanders (Courtesy: Reuters) ] TOM STEYER The California billionaire was probably the most pugnacious candidate on stage, fashioning himself as a truth-teller trying to elevate the discussion beyond squabbles over healthcare plans and abortion rights toward something more basic: How to beat Trump. Steyer argued Democrats must find some way to challenge Trump on the economy or risk failure. “We have to go win a huge victory this year, and we're in trouble,” he said. He also seemed to suggest that his rivals had very little idea how to bring the party together and ensure that African Americans and other voters of colour go to the polls in November. With polls showing Steyer rising as a challenger to Biden in South Carolina, the outsider candidate is likely to keep spending freely, act like he has nothing to lose and perhaps stay on the debate stage. ELIZABETH WARREN Warren continued pressing the closing argument she made in Iowa, arguing that she is uniquely positioned to unify the various factions within the Democratic Party. As a result, she appeared somewhat unwilling to engage in attacks on her rivals. But as the debate proceeded, Warren fired a few shots at the other candidates. After moderators pressed Buttigieg on his mayoral record on race and policing, Warren was asked whether his answer had been satisfactory. “No,” she said bluntly, before ticking off several areas – housing, education, employment – in which she has released plans that specifically target racial gaps. [ Democratic 2020 US Presidential Candidate and US Senator Elizabeth Warren (Courtesy: Reuters) ] Later, she jumped at the chance to criticize billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who is skipping the early voting states and blanketing later states with a barrage of advertising, for trying to “buy” the nomination. She followed that with a thinly veiled shot at Sanders for getting help from an outside political group even though he has sworn off super PACs. With less speaking time than Buttigieg, Biden, Sanders and Klobuchar, it was not clear whether she made enough of an impact after a week in which she was mostly an afterthought following a third-place finish in Iowa. ANDREW YANG For months, Andrew Yang has pointed to New Hampshire as the early state where he expected to have the most appeal, thanks to the independent voters who make up a large portion of the electorate and might be drawn to his esoteric campaign platform. But after a poor showing in Iowa, where he finished far behind the top candidates, Yang needed a breakout performance to have any hope of outperforming on Tuesday. He didn’t get many opportunities. The moderators directed only a handful of questions at him, leaving him with by far the least amount of speaking time. As he has throughout the campaign, he declined to engage in any back-and-forth attacks with other candidates, which meant he spent long stretches in silence as rivals took turns swinging at one another. [ Businessman and 2020 US Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang (Courtesy: Twitter Handle @AndrewYang) ] Yang's campaign, which has far outstripped any reasonable expectations, may be drawing to a close.

Presidential Candidates fight for survival in New Hampshire debate

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world-latest-breaking-news-Iowa-caucus-kicks-off-as-Democrats-seek-Trump%27s-2020-election-challenger">Iowa </a>Democratic Party declared the final results after a long delay due to technical glitches.

It was a neck-and-neck between Buttigieg and sanders, in the first contest to pick a Democratic nominee to challenge Republican President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world-latest-breaking-news-Iowa-caucus-kicks-off-as-Democrats-seek-Trump%27s-2020-election-challenger">Donald Trump</a> in the November polls.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-breaking-news-update-meet-Pete-Buttigieg-the-man-who-shocked-Sanders-Biden-in-Iowa-caucus">Also read:&nbsp;Meet Pete Buttigieg, the man who shocked Sanders, Biden in Iowa caucus</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world-latest-breaking-news-Iowa-caucus-kicks-off-as-Democrats-seek-Trump%27s-2020-election-challenger">Buttigieg</a> edged out <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world-latest-breaking-news-Iowa-caucus-kicks-off-as-Democrats-seek-Trump%27s-2020-election-challenger">Sanders </a>with 26.2 per cent of state-delegate equivalents.

Sanders who was among the leading democratic candidates in 2016 finish an at narrow second with 26-point-1 per cent equivalents.

The third spot was clinched by Sanders' fellow progressive <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world-latest-breaking-news-Iowa-caucus-kicks-off-as-Democrats-seek-Trump%27s-2020-election-challenger">Elizabeth Warren</a>, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world-latest-breaking-news-Iowa-caucus-kicks-off-as-Democrats-seek-Trump%27s-2020-election-challenger">Joe Biden</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world-latest-breaking-news-Iowa-caucus-kicks-off-as-Democrats-seek-Trump%27s-2020-election-challenger">Amy Klobuchar</a> being relegated to fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

Former US Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world-latest-breaking-news-Iowa-caucus-kicks-off-as-Democrats-seek-Trump%27s-2020-election-challenger">Joe Biden</a>'s disappointing performance was as surprising as the 38-year old Buttigieg's victory.

Biden has been relegated to the 4th place which is 15.9 state delegates equivalents.

In many counties, he has failed to attain the 15 per cent votes needed to be considered a viable candidate.

Biden who served as the Vice President under <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world-latest-breaking-news-Iowa-caucus-kicks-off-as-Democrats-seek-Trump%27s-2020-election-challenger">Obama</a> was once considered the democratic front-runner.

The results of the Iowa caucus are as follows:

Pete Buttigieg: 26.2 per cent 
Bernie Sanders: 26.1 per cent 
Elizabeth Warren: 18&nbsp;per cent 
Joe Biden: 15.8&nbsp;per cent 
Amy Klobuchar: 12.3 per cent

The Iowa Democratic Party declared the final results after a long delay due to technical glitches. It was a neck-and-neck between Buttigieg and sanders, in the first contest to pick a Democratic nominee to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the November polls.

The Iowa Democratic Party declared the final results after a long delay due to technical glitches. It was a neck-and-neck between Buttigieg and sanders, in the first contest to pick a Democratic nominee to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the November polls. Also read: Meet Pete Buttigieg, the man who shocked Sanders, Biden in Iowa caucus Buttigieg edged out Sanders with 26.2 per cent of state-delegate equivalents. Sanders who was among the leading democratic candidates in 2016 finish an at narrow second with 26-point-1 per cent equivalents. The third spot was clinched by Sanders' fellow progressive Elizabeth Warren, with Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar being relegated to fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Former US Vice President Joe Biden's disappointing performance was as surprising as the 38-year old Buttigieg's victory. Biden has been relegated to the 4th place which is 15.9 state delegates equivalents. In many counties, he has failed to attain the 15 per cent votes needed to be considered a viable candidate. Biden who served as the Vice President under Obama was once considered the democratic front-runner. The results of the Iowa caucus are as follows: Pete Buttigieg: 26.2 per cent Bernie Sanders: 26.1 per cent Elizabeth Warren: 18 per cent Joe Biden: 15.8 per cent Amy Klobuchar: 12.3 per cent

Pete Buttigieg defeats Bernie Sanders in Iowa caucus

Democratic candidates were anxiously awaiting results from the Iowa caucuses on Tuesday after technical glitches plunged the kickoff vote of the US presidential nominating contest into chaos, drawing the mockery of President Donald Trump.

Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, claimed victory although the Iowa Democratic Party had not yet released any official results, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders also declared that he had done "very, very well."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-calls-unmitigated-disaster-as-sanders-buttigieg-claim-victory-278558">Donald Trump calls Democrats Iowa 'unmitigated disaster' as Sanders, Buttigieg claim victory</a>

Former vice president Joe Biden's campaign for its part said that although it had "zero official data" so far it believed it had won its "fair share" of the vote and it was a "tight race with bunched up candidates."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-news-iowa-caucus-results-delayed-due-to-inconsistencies-278461">Iowa caucus results delayed due to 'inconsistencies'</a>

But Joe Rospars, chief strategist for Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, chided the other candidates, tweeting that "any campaign saying they won or putting out incomplete numbers is contributing to the chaos and misinformation."

<img alt="Iowa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f9c5b1b8-542c-457b-ba0e-be3edcf448a8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ohdSMXgN_0.jpg" />

(A supporter of Democratic 2020 US presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) listens as she speaks at her Iowa Caucus rally in Des Moines, Iowa, US, Feb 3, 2020)

The Iowa Democratic Party said precinct results were still coming in and blamed the delay on an app that was reporting only partial data.

"While our plan is to release results as soon as possible today, our ultimate goal is to ensure that the integrity and accuracy of the process continues to be upheld," it said in a statement.

"We have every indication that our systems were secure and there was not a cybersecurity intrusion," it added.

'Winning organization'&nbsp;

Buttigieg, who is battling Biden for the moderate wing of the party, said that based on an internal tally it was a "clear victory for this campaign."

"We were able to demonstrate both the winning message and the winning organization," Buttigieg said in an interview with MSNBC.

"This is really the first proof point for how we're building the campaign that is ultimately going to go on to defeat Trump" in November's presidential election, he added.

Sanders, 78, said he had "a good feeling we're going to be doing very, very well here in Iowa."

"Tonight in this enormously consequential 2020 election, the first state in the country has voted, and today marks the beginning of the end for Donald Trump," said the self-described democratic socialist.

Another Democratic candidate, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, called for patience.

"I think they'll be able to count them by hand, just like they used to," Klobuchar told CNN. "I'm sure they're working hard."

'Unmitigated disaster'&nbsp;

With Iowa still mired in confusion, Democratic candidates were already turning their sights on the next nominating contest, which takes place in New Hampshire on February 11.

According to a Boston Globe/WBZ-TV/Suffolk University poll released Monday, Sanders is leading in New Hampshire with 24 per cent support followed by Biden with 18 per cent, Warren with 13 per cent and Buttigieg with 11 per cent.&nbsp;

Republicans led by Trump gloated over the Democratic setback, a closely-watched test in the months-long process to determine who will be the party nominee in November.

"The Democrat caucus is an unmitigated disaster," Trump tweeted. "Nothing works, just like they ran the country."

Alluding to his own victory in Republican caucuses in Iowa, Trump said "the only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is 'Trump.'"

"When will the Democrats start blaming RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, instead of their own incompetence for the voting disaster that just happened in the Great State of Iowa?" Trump said.

Trump is to deliver his nationally televised "State of the Union" address later Tuesday to a joint session of Congress under the cloud of impeachment but all but certain acquittal in the Senate on Wednesday.

According to Buttigieg's website, citing results from 1,200 of the 1,700 precincts in Iowa, he earned the support of 24.7 per cent of the 152,000 voters who took part in Monday's caucuses.

Results released by the Sanders campaign from nearly 40 per cent of the Iowa precincts showed him with 28.62 per cent of the state delegate equivalent, the figure used to determine who wins the Iowa caucuses.

Buttigieg was credited with 25.71 per cent, followed by Warren with 18.42 per cent and Biden with 15.08 per cent which, if confirmed, would be a disappointing showing for the candidate who has consistently claimed he is the person best positioned to take on and defeat Trump. 
&nbsp;

Democratic candidates were anxiously awaiting results from the Iowa caucuses on Tuesday after technical glitches plunged the kickoff vote of the US presidential nominating contest into chaos, drawing the mockery of President Donald Trump.

Democratic candidates were anxiously awaiting results from the Iowa caucuses on Tuesday after technical glitches plunged the kickoff vote of the US presidential nominating contest into chaos, drawing the mockery of President Donald Trump. Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, claimed victory although the Iowa Democratic Party had not yet released any official results, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders also declared that he had done "very, very well." Also read: Donald Trump calls Democrats Iowa 'unmitigated disaster' as Sanders, Buttigieg claim victory Former vice president Joe Biden's campaign for its part said that although it had "zero official data" so far it believed it had won its "fair share" of the vote and it was a "tight race with bunched up candidates." Also read: Iowa caucus results delayed due to 'inconsistencies' But Joe Rospars, chief strategist for Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, chided the other candidates, tweeting that "any campaign saying they won or putting out incomplete numbers is contributing to the chaos and misinformation." (A supporter of Democratic 2020 US presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) listens as she speaks at her Iowa Caucus rally in Des Moines, Iowa, US, Feb 3, 2020) The Iowa Democratic Party said precinct results were still coming in and blamed the delay on an app that was reporting only partial data. "While our plan is to release results as soon as possible today, our ultimate goal is to ensure that the integrity and accuracy of the process continues to be upheld," it said in a statement. "We have every indication that our systems were secure and there was not a cybersecurity intrusion," it added. 'Winning organization' Buttigieg, who is battling Biden for the moderate wing of the party, said that based on an internal tally it was a "clear victory for this campaign." "We were able to demonstrate both the winning message and the winning organization," Buttigieg said in an interview with MSNBC. "This is really the first proof point for how we're building the campaign that is ultimately going to go on to defeat Trump" in November's presidential election, he added. Sanders, 78, said he had "a good feeling we're going to be doing very, very well here in Iowa." "Tonight in this enormously consequential 2020 election, the first state in the country has voted, and today marks the beginning of the end for Donald Trump," said the self-described democratic socialist. Another Democratic candidate, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, called for patience. "I think they'll be able to count them by hand, just like they used to," Klobuchar told CNN. "I'm sure they're working hard." 'Unmitigated disaster' With Iowa still mired in confusion, Democratic candidates were already turning their sights on the next nominating contest, which takes place in New Hampshire on February 11. According to a Boston Globe/WBZ-TV/Suffolk University poll released Monday, Sanders is leading in New Hampshire with 24 per cent support followed by Biden with 18 per cent, Warren with 13 per cent and Buttigieg with 11 per cent. Republicans led by Trump gloated over the Democratic setback, a closely-watched test in the months-long process to determine who will be the party nominee in November. "The Democrat caucus is an unmitigated disaster," Trump tweeted. "Nothing works, just like they ran the country." Alluding to his own victory in Republican caucuses in Iowa, Trump said "the only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is 'Trump.'" "When will the Democrats start blaming RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, instead of their own incompetence for the voting disaster that just happened in the Great State of Iowa?" Trump said. Trump is to deliver his nationally televised "State of the Union" address later Tuesday to a joint session of Congress under the cloud of impeachment but all but certain acquittal in the Senate on Wednesday. According to Buttigieg's website, citing results from 1,200 of the 1,700 precincts in Iowa, he earned the support of 24.7 per cent of the 152,000 voters who took part in Monday's caucuses. Results released by the Sanders campaign from nearly 40 per cent of the Iowa precincts showed him with 28.62 per cent of the state delegate equivalent, the figure used to determine who wins the Iowa caucuses. Buttigieg was credited with 25.71 per cent, followed by Warren with 18.42 per cent and Biden with 15.08 per cent which, if confirmed, would be a disappointing showing for the candidate who has consistently claimed he is the person best positioned to take on and defeat Trump.

Democrats turn attention to New Hampshire after Iowa fiasco

President Donald Trump branded the Democratic Party's chaotic effort in Iowa to begin choosing an election challenger as an "unmitigated disaster" on Tuesday after results in the state caucus were delayed indefinitely.

Hours after voters made their choices at 1,600 schools and other public locations, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price told reporters to expect results sometime on Tuesday in the state, the first to hold a nominating contest.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-news-iowa-caucus-results-delayed-due-to-inconsistencies-278461">Iowa caucus results delayed due to 'inconsistencies'</a>

The party said it had to make "quality checks" after finding "inconsistencies" in the reporting of the data from caucus sites, sparking frustration among Democrats and criticism from Republicans.

<img alt="Iowa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f64a6563-8bb2-491e-b7f0-eacf978b1759" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/MdIo1ZN5.jpg" />

(Chasten and Pete Buttigieg pose for a selfie with supporters at an election night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, US, February 3 | Photo Credit: Reuters)

It was unclear when any results would be released.

<img alt="Iowa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="10757c8f-edfc-496a-bc24-ad5a016b0294" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ohdSMXgN.jpg" />

(A supporter of Democratic 2020 US&nbsp;presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) listens as she speaks at her Iowa Caucus rally in Des Moines, Iowa, US, Feb 3, 2020)

Iowa voters met to render judgment on a field of 11 Democratic contenders led by front-runner Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and his rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Party officials voiced confidence in their ability to ensure accurate results, citing a paper trail to validate the votes.

Trump called the Democratic caucus an "unmitigated disaster" in a tweet. "Nothing works, just like they ran the Country."

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The Democrat Caucus is an unmitigated disaster. Nothing works, just like they ran the Country. Remember the 5 Billion Dollar Obamacare Website, that should have cost 2% of that. The only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is “Trump”.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1224657196392370177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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But Republicans in Iowa have their own history of chaos. On the night of the party's 2012 caucuses, Mitt Romney was declared to have won by eight votes. But the party said two weeks later that Rick Santorum had won by a 34-vote margin. Romney went on to be the nominee.

Dismay in the ranks

Long lines and big crowds were reported in some locations on Monday, but more than ten hours after the doors closed there was no word on the outcome.

"Every second that passes undermines the process a little bit," said Warren's campaign manager Roger Lau.

A source in Buttigieg's campaign said the delay would "delegitimize" the win and dampen the immediate benefits of a strong night. Biden's general counsel, Dana Remus, told state party officials in a letter there were widespread failures in the party's system of reporting results.

Mostly white, rural Iowa is the first test in the state-by-state battle to pick a Democratic nominee to face Trump in the Nov. 3 election. After more than a year of campaigning and more than $800 million in spending, the results in Iowa were expected to begin to provide answers for a party desperately trying to figure out how to beat the businessman-turned-president.

Voters are pondering whether to back someone with an appeal to independents and disaffected Republicans, like moderates Biden, Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar of neighbouring Minnesota, or someone who energizes the party's liberal base and brings out new voters, like progressives Sanders and Warren.

Declaring victory

With no results to celebrate or mourn, the candidates spun their own upbeat view of the outcome. The Sanders campaign released what it said were its internal numbers collected at 40% of precincts, showing him in first, ahead of Buttigieg, Warren and Biden in fourth place.

"I have a strong feeling that at some point the results will be announced, and when those results are announced I have a good feeling we’re going to be doing very, very well here in Iowa," Sanders told cheering supporters.

Buttigieg told his supporters in Iowa that "we don't know the results" but was looking ahead to the next contest on Feb. 11 in New Hampshire.

"By all indications, we are going to New Hampshire victorious," he said.

Several of the candidates, including Biden, Klobuchar and Warren, headed to New Hampshire immediately after the caucuses. Sanders planned to fly there on Tuesday morning.

"Of course we don't know the results yet - minor problem - but we know we did incredibly well," Klobuchar told supporters at the Manchester, New Hampshire, airport.

At the caucus sites in Iowa, voters had gathered in groups by candidate preference in a public display of support. If a candidate did not attract 15% of voters, the total needed to be considered viable, that candidates' supporters were released to back another contender, leading to a further round of persuasion.

Even if one candidate eventually wins by a commanding margin in Iowa, Democrats may still lack clear answers as the race moves on to the other three early voting states of New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina later in February.

Whoever remains in the race by Super Tuesday on March 3, when 15 states and territories vote, will also confront billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is skipping the early states in favour of focusing on states rich in delegates to the Democratic National Convention in July.

Sanders has surged in many Iowa polls to move just ahead of Biden.

Beating Trump was the prime consideration for voters as they entered the caucus, according to a poll of 1,512 Iowa Democrats conducted by the National Election Pool, with 62% saying they want someone who can beat Trump and 36% wanting a nominee who agrees with them on major issues.

Republicans also held Iowa caucuses on Monday, with Trump, who has around 90 per cent support in his party, declared the projected winner by media outlets. 
&nbsp;

President Donald Trump branded the Democratic Party's chaotic effort in Iowa to begin choosing an election challenger as an "unmitigated disaster" on Tuesday after results in the state caucus were delayed indefinitely.

President Donald Trump branded the Democratic Party's chaotic effort in Iowa to begin choosing an election challenger as an "unmitigated disaster" on Tuesday after results in the state caucus were delayed indefinitely. Hours after voters made their choices at 1,600 schools and other public locations, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price told reporters to expect results sometime on Tuesday in the state, the first to hold a nominating contest. Also read: Iowa caucus results delayed due to 'inconsistencies' The party said it had to make "quality checks" after finding "inconsistencies" in the reporting of the data from caucus sites, sparking frustration among Democrats and criticism from Republicans. (Chasten and Pete Buttigieg pose for a selfie with supporters at an election night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, US, February 3 | Photo Credit: Reuters) It was unclear when any results would be released. (A supporter of Democratic 2020 US presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) listens as she speaks at her Iowa Caucus rally in Des Moines, Iowa, US, Feb 3, 2020) Iowa voters met to render judgment on a field of 11 Democratic contenders led by front-runner Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and his rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Party officials voiced confidence in their ability to ensure accurate results, citing a paper trail to validate the votes. Trump called the Democratic caucus an "unmitigated disaster" in a tweet. "Nothing works, just like they ran the Country." The Democrat Caucus is an unmitigated disaster. Nothing works, just like they ran the Country. Remember the 5 Billion Dollar Obamacare Website, that should have cost 2% of that. The only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is “Trump”. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2020 × But Republicans in Iowa have their own history of chaos. On the night of the party's 2012 caucuses, Mitt Romney was declared to have won by eight votes. But the party said two weeks later that Rick Santorum had won by a 34-vote margin. Romney went on to be the nominee. Dismay in the ranks Long lines and big crowds were reported in some locations on Monday, but more than ten hours after the doors closed there was no word on the outcome. "Every second that passes undermines the process a little bit," said Warren's campaign manager Roger Lau. A source in Buttigieg's campaign said the delay would "delegitimize" the win and dampen the immediate benefits of a strong night. Biden's general counsel, Dana Remus, told state party officials in a letter there were widespread failures in the party's system of reporting results. Mostly white, rural Iowa is the first test in the state-by-state battle to pick a Democratic nominee to face Trump in the Nov. 3 election. After more than a year of campaigning and more than $800 million in spending, the results in Iowa were expected to begin to provide answers for a party desperately trying to figure out how to beat the businessman-turned-president. Voters are pondering whether to back someone with an appeal to independents and disaffected Republicans, like moderates Biden, Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar of neighbouring Minnesota, or someone who energizes the party's liberal base and brings out new voters, like progressives Sanders and Warren. Declaring victory With no results to celebrate or mourn, the candidates spun their own upbeat view of the outcome. The Sanders campaign released what it said were its internal numbers collected at 40% of precincts, showing him in first, ahead of Buttigieg, Warren and Biden in fourth place. "I have a strong feeling that at some point the results will be announced, and when those results are announced I have a good feeling we’re going to be doing very, very well here in Iowa," Sanders told cheering supporters. Buttigieg told his supporters in Iowa that "we don't know the results" but was looking ahead to the next contest on Feb. 11 in New Hampshire. "By all indications, we are going to New Hampshire victorious," he said. Several of the candidates, including Biden, Klobuchar and Warren, headed to New Hampshire immediately after the caucuses. Sanders planned to fly there on Tuesday morning. "Of course we don't know the results yet - minor problem - but we know we did incredibly well," Klobuchar told supporters at the Manchester, New Hampshire, airport. At the caucus sites in Iowa, voters had gathered in groups by candidate preference in a public display of support. If a candidate did not attract 15% of voters, the total needed to be considered viable, that candidates' supporters were released to back another contender, leading to a further round of persuasion. Even if one candidate eventually wins by a commanding margin in Iowa, Democrats may still lack clear answers as the race moves on to the other three early voting states of New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina later in February. Whoever remains in the race by Super Tuesday on March 3, when 15 states and territories vote, will also confront billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is skipping the early states in favour of focusing on states rich in delegates to the Democratic National Convention in July. Sanders has surged in many Iowa polls to move just ahead of Biden. Beating Trump was the prime consideration for voters as they entered the caucus, according to a poll of 1,512 Iowa Democrats conducted by the National Election Pool, with 62% saying they want someone who can beat Trump and 36% wanting a nominee who agrees with them on major issues. Republicans also held Iowa caucuses on Monday, with Trump, who has around 90 per cent support in his party, declared the projected winner by media outlets.

Donald Trump calls Democrats Iowa 'unmitigated disaster' as Sanders, Buttigieg claim victory

Donald Trump is known for mocking his political rivals, and the eve of the Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses gave him fresh ammunition.

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-on-the-campaign-trail-democrats-deliver-closing-arguments-with-dogs-comedians-and-planes-278114">On the campaign trail: Democrats deliver closing arguments with dogs, comedians and planes</a>

"I have little nicknames for all of them," the US president told pro-Trump Fox News host Sean Hannity, the night before Democrats vote for their nominee in the Midwestern state, to officially start the presidential election season.

Senator <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../us-presidential-elections-2020-which- democratic-contender-stands-where-277723">Bernie Sanders</a> holds a narrow lead among the Democratic contenders.

"I think he's a communist," said Trump, for whom name-calling and character smearing are an integral part of his campaign for re-election in November this year.

Trump added: "I think of Bernie sort of as a socialist but far beyond a socialist."

Sanders describes himself as a democratic socialist.

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"At least he's true to what he believes," Trump said, in contrast to Senator Elizabeth Warren, Sanders' fellow progressive in the race.

She is "not true to it," Trump said, before returning to "crazy Bernie" -- a moniker Trump has regularly used for Sanders.

The Democrats are "now sort of rigging the election against him," the president said.

Joe Biden, over whom Sanders holds a narrow lead, makes Trump "think of sleepy."

"I just watch him. He's sleepy. Sleepy Joe," said Trump, repeating a sobriquet he has previously used for Barack Obama's former vice president.

As for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, he is "very little."

"You know, now he wants a box for the debates to stand on," Trump said of his fellow New York billionaire.

"There's nothing wrong. You can be short... He wants a box for the debates. Why should he be entitled to that?"

Bloomberg's team fired back at Trump's comments.

"The president is lying," said campaign spokeswoman Julie Wood in a statement. "He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan."

Donald Trump is known for mocking his political rivals, and the eve of the Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses gave him fresh ammunition. Also read- On the campaign trail: Democrats deliver closing arguments with dogs, comedians and planes "I have little nicknames for all of them," the US president told pro-Trump Fox News host Sean Hannity, the night before Democrats vote for their nominee in the Midwestern state, to officially start the presidential election season.

Donald Trump is known for mocking his political rivals, and the eve of the Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses gave him fresh ammunition. Also read- On the campaign trail: Democrats deliver closing arguments with dogs, comedians and planes "I have little nicknames for all of them," the US president told pro-Trump Fox News host Sean Hannity, the night before Democrats vote for their nominee in the Midwestern state, to officially start the presidential election season. Senator Bernie Sanders holds a narrow lead among the Democratic contenders. "I think he's a communist," said Trump, for whom name-calling and character smearing are an integral part of his campaign for re-election in November this year. Trump added: "I think of Bernie sort of as a socialist but far beyond a socialist." Sanders describes himself as a democratic socialist. × "At least he's true to what he believes," Trump said, in contrast to Senator Elizabeth Warren, Sanders' fellow progressive in the race. She is "not true to it," Trump said, before returning to "crazy Bernie" -- a moniker Trump has regularly used for Sanders. The Democrats are "now sort of rigging the election against him," the president said. Joe Biden, over whom Sanders holds a narrow lead, makes Trump "think of sleepy." "I just watch him. He's sleepy. Sleepy Joe," said Trump, repeating a sobriquet he has previously used for Barack Obama's former vice president. As for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, he is "very little." "You know, now he wants a box for the debates to stand on," Trump said of his fellow New York billionaire. "There's nothing wrong. You can be short... He wants a box for the debates. Why should he be entitled to that?" Bloomberg's team fired back at Trump's comments. "The president is lying," said campaign spokeswoman Julie Wood in a statement. "He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan."

Trump mocks 'communist' Bernie and 'Sleepy Joe' before Iowa

Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s campaign has quietly rolled back hundreds of thousands of dollars of television ad reservations in New Hampshire and South Carolina in recent weeks and redirected the funds to buy more ads in Iowa instead.

Joe Biden campaigns against Trump in Iowa

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