Primary race: Biden, Sanders race to Super Tuesday collision.
Voters in 14 states will show true state of the campaign
WASHINGTON – Fresh off a blowout victory in South Carolina, former Vice President Joe Biden has the momentum of a primary victory.
But with Super Tuesday at hand, Sen. Bernie Sanders is looking to extend his lead in national pledged delegates while political watchers wonder: Does Biden have the fuel to catch up?
Biden’s victory Saturday shook up what had already been a roller coaster of a February, with at times two leaders in national delegates, six candidates who have earned a top -three finish in at least one state, and an unprecedented recount in the Iowa caucuses. And there’s still one more X-factor.
Voters on Super Tuesday will find former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg on ballots for the first time. The results could reveal whether his nine-figure spending binge won him enough delegates to jockey for the nomination – or made him the single-biggest sponsor of political ads in history.
The candidates combined to spend $247 million on advertising in Super Tuesday states through Thursday, compared to $30 million in 2016, according to tracking firm Advertising Analytics.
The day is the biggest on the primary calendar: 14 states, American Samoa and Americans living abroad will determine one-third of the pledged delegates – 1,357, with 1,991 needed for nomination – to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. The first four conta tests determined only 155 delegates.
A dominant performance by Sanders could make it nearly impossible for rivals to eclipse his delegate count. But a strong second-place showing by Biden could position him as the moderate alternative who might better challenge President Donald Trump in the fall, according to political experts.
Likewise, they say Bloomberg will look for a solid showing to compete with Biden as the best moderate challenger to Sanders.
Other candidates, such as Pete Buttigieg, need to build their delegate counts to remain in the hunt for fundraising and news coverage.
Three states voting Tuesday could give boosts to home-state candidates: Vermont for Sanders, Massachusetts for Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Minnesota for Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
“What I’ve saying for the last few weeks is: Guys, calm down. This isn’t done,” said Renee Cross, a political science lecturer at the University of Houston and senior director at the Hobby School of Public Affairs. “Obviously candidates get momentum from how they do in those early states. But it’s just not over yet.”
Another billionaire, Tom Steyer, contributed $260 million to his campaign through the end of January, according to his Federal Election Commission report.
He spent $186 million through Thursday on advertising, according to Advertising Analytics. But he failed to win enough votes for any delegates in the first four states and dropped out of the race Saturday.