L-R Sen. Cory Booker, former Vice President Joe Biden (via Instagram) New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has officially endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president adding to the growing support of Democratic lawmakers for Biden. From the New York Times:
Mr. Booker’s endorsement comes one day after Senator Kamala Harris of California endorsed Mr. Biden, and the two senators will appear with him at a rally in Detroit on Monday night. Mr. Booker will also campaign alongside Mr. Biden in Flint, Mich., earlier in the day and attend a fund-raiser with him.
Mr. Booker and Ms. Harris were two of the most prominent black candidates to run for president, and their endorsements come as Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont scrambles to make up ground among black voters in Michigan, where they make up a sizable part of the electorate.
“African-American voters in the South, African-American voters here in Detroit, they have played a pivotal role in my entire lifetime in choosing the Democratic nominee,” Mr. Booker said. He pointed to Mr. Biden’s deep connections with black voters and what Mr. Booker saw as “understanding the issues of race and frankly racial reconciliation and racial justice, and even saying things now about choosing a black woman on the Supreme Court.”
The answer to hatred & division is to reignite our spirit of common purpose.@JoeBiden won’t only win – he’ll show there's more that unites us than divides us.
He’ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.
In the final statewide poll before Michigan voters head to the Democratic primary polls tomorrow, Joe Biden holds a lead over Bernie Sanders in the crucial primary contest according to the Monmouth University Poll.
Among Michigan voters who are likely to participate in the Democratic primary tomorrow, support currently stands at 51% for Biden and 36% for Sanders.
Another 1% back Tulsi Gabbard, 6% say they will vote for a slate of uncommitted delegates, and 2% are undecided.
Biden leads Sanders among both white voters (50% to 36%) and voters of other races (53% to 36%). Biden is winning voters age 50 and over (62% to 24% for Sanders) by a larger margin than Sanders is winning those under 50 years old (49% to 38% for Biden). Women prefer Biden to Sanders (53% to 33%), while men prefer Sanders (49% to 39% for Biden).
There are 147 delegates up for grabs in Tuesday’s Michigan primary. The survey also shows both Democratic White House hopefuls would best Trump today in head-to-head hypothetical match-ups. Biden has a 48% to 41% lead over Trump, while Sanders has a slightly smaller 46% to 41% margin. It’s worth remembering that Trump won Michigan by a scant 10,704 votes four years ago.
L-R Joe Biden, Kamala Harris Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president. Via press release, the California senator issued this statement:
“When I started my run for president, I said America needs a president who reflects the decency and dignity of the American people; a president who speaks the truth; and a president who fights for those whose voices are too often overlooked or ignored. I still believe that to this day. That is why I am proud to announce I am endorsing my friend, Vice President Joe Biden, for President of the United States.”
Harris also tweeted out a video clip from Alabama where she is preparing to take part in the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. In the video message she says, “I wanted you to know that, with great enthusiasm, I am going to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States.” She continued: “I believe in Joe. I really believe in him and I have known him for a long time. One of the things that we need right now is we need who really does care about the people and who can, therefore, unify the people. And I believe Joe can do that.” “I am supporting Joe because I believe that he is a man who has lived his life with great dignity. He is a public servant who has always worked for the best of who we are as a nation, and we need that right now.” Biden thanked Harris three minutes later retweeting her endorsement. I’ll go ahead and say this: I think Kamala Harris should be Biden’s running mate, and I think Biden should announce that soon. I believe that is the strongest ticket for Democrats to rally around and support.
Kamala — You’ve spent your whole career fighting for folks who’ve been written off and left behind — and no small part of that alongside Beau. From our family: thank you.https://t.co/ePtRKVjzXB
— Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 8, 2020
In this week’s podcast: • The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals issues important decision for those with HIV • Disgraced former Rep. Aaron Schock comes out as gay • Former Vice President Joe Biden’s plans to advance LGBTQ equality Link to The Biden Plan To Advance LGBTQ Equality in America Link to Bernie Sanders LGBTQ Plan • Pro golfer loses sponsors after sharing a homophobic meme on social media • ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ cancels Sherry Pie after admitting to cat-fishing young actors nude photos and videos • RuPaul’s scripted Netflix series ‘AJ and the Queen’ canceled after one season • Mayor Pete Buttigieg ended his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report
L-R Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders The Associated Press has calculated the allocation of more than 92 percent of the 1,344 Super Tuesday delegates, and according to the math, former Vice President Joe Biden has built such a commanding lead Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will not be able to catch up from the remaining 8 percent left from those contests. Through huge wins in southern states, plus surprise victories in Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Texas, Biden won 10 states and Sanders won four. Biden will take away a minimum of 610 delegates from the Super Tuesday’s contests, while Sanders scores at least 513. Note – 102 delegates remain to be allocated. Vote counting continues in California (thanks to mail-in ballots) as it’s unclear whether former Mayor Mike Bloomberg will garner enough votes to clear the 15 percent level to become viable and win a percentage of the statewide delegates. At this writing, Biden has won 664 delegates to Sanders’ 573. Next on the calendar, Democratic voters go to the polls on March 10 in six states: Idaho – 20 delegates Michigan – 125 delegates Mississippi – 36 delegates Missouri – 68 delegates North Dakota – 14 delegates Washington – 89 delegates
Former Vice President Joe Biden (image viaInstagram) Former Vice President Joe Biden has released a lengthy, comprehensive plan to advance LGBTQ equality if elected president. “Joe Biden believes that every human being should be treated with respect and dignity and be able to live without fear no matter who they are or who they love,” begins the detailed, 17-page plan. That’s followed by a long list of policies and executive actions Biden promises to advance from the Oval Office. Biden pledges to make passage of The Equality Act during his first 100 days as President a top priority. He’ll also take action using his executive authority to reverse the discriminatory actions of the Trump-Pence administration.
For all the hard-won progress we’ve made in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, we’re not done — not nearly. That’s why I just released my plan to advance LGBTQ+ equality in America and around the world: https://t.co/RSlFCrVlrZpic.twitter.com/8GJxnx5h8f
— Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 6, 2020
As in the Obama administration, he will reaffirm that the Civil Rights Act’s Title VII prohibition against employment discrimination based on sex applies to discrimination based on gender identity. Biden’s plan includes reversing the transgender military ban, ending the Trump administration’s policy of discharging military service members with HIV, and work to support the unique needs of LGBTQ veterans. Biden will repeal the Trump/Pence policy that allows adoption and foster care agencies receiving federal funds to discriminate against LGBTQ families and work to ensure those child welfare agencies put the interests of children first, including those who are LGBTQ. In addition, Biden will work with the U.S. Department of State and other federal agencies to ensure the equal treatment of same-sex couples and their children in the application of all federal programs, services, and benefits—especially with respect to citizenship eligibility requirements and immigration and naturalization proceedings. Noting that there are approximately 3 million LGBTQ people in the United States older than age 50, Biden promises to champion passage of the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act to ensure non-discriminatory treatment of LGBTQ older Americans. Transgender and non-binary people often experience violence and harassment without identification documents that accurately reflect their gender identity. Biden will support state and federal efforts to provide every transgender or non-binary person the option of changing their gender marker to “M,” “F,” or “X” on government identifications, passports, and other documentation.
We must end this epidemic of violence against the transgender community — especially trans women of color. It’s up to all of us to stand up and give hate no safe harbor.
Biden promises to work with the Food and Drug Administration to ensure regulations on blood donations by LGBTQ people are “based on science, not fiction or stigma.” In regard to LGBTQ youth, Biden will reinstate Obama-era guidance to allow transgender students access to bathrooms and locker rooms in accordance with their gender identity, work to enact the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act and the Safe Schools Act. He will also seek to end suicide among LGBTQ youth and address homelessness among those young people. Also part of the plan are proposals for combating violence against trans women of color, strengthening the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, supporting LGBTQ survivors of violence, guaranteeing the Affordable Care Act’s nondiscrimination protections, ensuring fair treatment of LGBTQ people in the criminal justice system, and more. The document also includes a list of Biden’s record on LGBTQ rights over the years. From supporting the right to marry in a historic “Meet the Press” interview in 2012; leading the fight to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; participating in the “It Gets Better” campaign in 2010 to support LGBTQ youth; and being an original co-sponsor for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to prohibit bias based on sexual orientation in employment. There are many more details and policies listed in the Biden plan. Read the full document by clicking over to his official campaign site here. Sen. Bernie Sanders has also put forth his own list of policies regarding LGBTQ rights and protections, although not as lengthy or detailed. You can find Sanders’s plan on his website here.
It looks like ‘Joe-Mentum’ is real as former Vice President Joe Biden has surged to a 16-point lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) according to the latest Morning Consult poll. Among those polled, 54 percent indicated support for Biden and 38 percent said they’d vote for Sanders. Breaking the numbers down by age, 70 percent of voters ages 45 and older are supporting Biden while 57 percent of voters under 45 support Sanders. Additionally, 51 percent say the former vice president has the best chance to beat Donald Trump in the general election. The survey of 1,390 Democratic primary voters was conducted after Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) exited the race on Thursday. The poll has a 3-point margin of error. (graphic via Morning Consult)
The latest survey by St. Pete Polls of Democratic voters in Florida shows former Vice President Joe Biden with a commanding lead in the upcoming Sunshine State primary. Democratic voters in Florida support Biden by 61 percent while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders garnered 12 percent support. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren only received 5 percent support. Mike Bloomberg was still in the field of active candidates when the poll was conducted and he received 14 percent support from likely voters. Florida’s Democratic primary will be held in less than 2 weeks on March 17. There will be 248 delegates up for grabs.
L-R Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders It was quite the night for former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign roared through Super Tuesday. Biden handily won throughout the South (Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia), scored a big come-from-behind win in Texas, and scored surprise victories in Minnesota and Massachusetts. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) claimed victory in his home state of Vermont, as well as Utah, Colorado and, most probably the delegate-rich state of California. At this time, Maine and California haven’t been officially called yet although the NY Times estimates Biden to pick up Maine and Sanders to come out on top in California. As I reported earlier, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg spent nearly half a billion dollars in ads across the Super Tuesday primaries and only won in American Samoa. He dropped out of the race this morning and endorsed Biden. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), briefly the front-runner last fall, didn’t win a single state. (graphic via NY Times) According to an NBC News exit poll, LGBTQ voters “made up a disproportionately high 9 percent of the electorate in the Super Tuesday contests.” The survey also showed that 42 percent of those LGBTQ voters cast their ballot for Sanders, and 22 percent supported Warren. Biden garnered 19 percent of the LGBTQ vote, and Bloomberg picked up 6 percent. Even though former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the race on Sunday night, he still received 6 percent of the queer vote due to early voting in several states. Scrolling through Twitter last night, the Sanders supporters were clearly angry at the results characterizing the night as being ‘taken away’ from their guy. Axios‘ Alexi McCammond reported hearing “sneers and anger about ‘the establishment'” at the Sanders rally in Vermont. Next up are the contests in Michigan, Washington State, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, and North Dakota on March 10. This is the current delegate count as of this morning according to the New York Times. This will change over the next few days as several states don’t have all their ballots in. For instance, in California mail-in ballots only had to be postmarked by March 3. So, they won’t be counted for a couple of days. (via NY Times)
Michael Bloomberg, who spent hundreds of millions of dollars to self-fund his 2020 presidential run, announced Wednesday that he is suspending his campaign after a poor performance on Super Tuesday and will endorse Joe Biden.
What he’s saying: “I’ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. After yesterday’s vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden,” Bloomberg said in a statement.
“I’ve known Joe for a very long time. I know his decency, his honesty, and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country – including gun safety, health care, climate change, and good jobs.”
American Samoa was Bloomberg’s only win of the night.
