Biden Says He Raised $15 Million in March: Campaign Update
Biden said he’s had a burst in fundraising since he won South Carolina on Saturday.
(Bloomberg) -- Joe Biden said he’s raised more than $15 million in the first few days of March.
Talking with reporters at the Michoacana Pedir de Boca ice cream shop in East Los Angeles, the former vice president said he’s had a burst in fundraising since he won South Carolina on Saturday and received the endorsements of several high-profile Democrats in recent days.
By comparison, his campaign raised $8.9 million in all of January.
Eating a cup of chocolate chip ice cream, Biden slipped on a pair of sunglassses and said he was “feeling really good” about the primary. He said former rivals who endorsed him like Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and Beto O’Rourke were now friends.
“You make friends when you run -- not a joke -- who become friends your entire life,” he said.
Nashville Voting Hours Extended After Tornado (6:20 p.m.)
Polling places in some parts of Nashville will remain open until 10 p.m. Central Time in response to delays earlier in the day due to a tornado that killed at least 22 people and caused widespread damage.
The Tennessee Democratic Party announced Monday afternoon that it had succeeded in persuading a judge to extend voting by three hours.
The party had filed a lawsuit seeking a legal injunction so that the Davidson County Election Commission and Tennessee’s Secretary of State could keep the polls open.
The party called the decision “a victory for voters” in a tweet announcing it.
The judge said all polling sites in Nashville would remain open until 8 p.m., and five “super sites” would remain open until 10 p.m.
Los Angeles’s New Voting System Causes Delays (4:07 p.m.)
In case you were worried that the Democratic primary might go smoothly, Los Angeles has got you covered.
The county’s new, $300 million voting system contributed to delays in the most populous area of the state on Super Tuesday.
About 20% of the county’s new voting machines were down as of 11:45 a.m. Pacific time, said Michael Sanchez, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Clerk.
The system faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks from election integrity advocates, who claimed that the machines failed to meet the state’s intense security standards.
Officials are still troubleshooting the problem and replacing voting machines where necessary, Sanchez said, adding that high voter turnout was also causing longer-than-normal lines. -- Kartikay Mehrotra
Biden Thinks He’ll Win Delegates in California (2:37 p.m.)
Joe Biden thinks he will meet the 15% threshold needed to win delegates in the California primary, an outcome that had been in doubt as recently as last weekend.
Talking with voters at an event in Oakland, California, the former vice president was optimistic.
“My hopes are high,” he said. “I think we’re gonna do well on Super Tuesday. I think we’ll qualify here and we’ll meet the threshold. And I think we’re gonna win a number of states as well.”
Biden was polling in California below the 15% threshold needed to win delegates through the end of February. But polls taken in the days just before and after his commanding win in the South Carolina primary Saturday put him above that level.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is still favored to win the largest chunk of the 415 delegates up for grabs in California, the biggest prize on Super Tuesday. -- Jennifer Epstein
Democrats Explore Convention Options for Virus (2:01 p.m.)
Democrats are exploring contingency plans for the national convention if the coronavirus remains a concern in mid-July.
Joe Solmonese, chief executive officer of the convention committee, said that planners want to make sure they ensure the safety of attendees as well as residents of Milwaukee.
“As we prepare to welcome Americans to Milwaukee this summer, the convention team will remain in constant communication with the local, state, and federal authorities responsible for protecting public health and security,” he said in a statement.
He said the committee would follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and state and local health officials on convention planning.
Neither President Donald Trump nor any of the Democratic candidates have yet made any changes to rallies due to outbreaks of the virus in the U.S.
Comey Endorses Biden in Virginia Primary (1:43)
James Comey has earned the ire of yet another 2016 presidential candidate.
The former FBI director angered supporters of Hillary Clinton with his handling of her email controversy and was later fired by President Donald Trump amid the Russia investigation.
And now, in a tweet Tuesday, he said he was voting in the Virginia primary against Bernie Sanders.
A longtime Republican, Comey said it was the first time he has voted in a Democratic primary. He said he wanted to support the party “dedicated to restoring values” in the White House and was backing Joe Biden.
“I agree with @amyklobuchar: We need candidate who cares about all Americans and will restore decency, dignity to the office. There is a reason Trump fears @joebiden and roots for Bernie,” he tweeted.
As it turns out, the Biden campaign wasn’t too keen for the endorsement. “Yes, customer service?” tweeted Biden’s rapid-response director, Andrew Bates. “I just received a package that I very much did not order. How can I return it, free of charge?”
Biden, Bloomberg Advise Tornado-Hit Voters (12:14 p.m.)
Two of the Democratic presidential candidates are advising Nashville residents how to vote in light of the deadly tornado that hit the area overnight.
Former Vice President Joe Biden told voters to follow the Tennessee Democratic Party’s Twitter account to find out about changes to voting.
“Jill and I send our thoughts and prayers for the safety of Tennesseans affected by the tornado,” he tweeted. “Stay safe out there — and if you’re voting today, be sure to follow @tdnp for updates.”
The campaign of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, meantime, advised residents check with the county website.
“If you were affected by the tornado in Middle Tennessee today please check the Davidson County election commission website,” the campaign tweeted. “If you are experiencing any other voting issues call our campaign.”
(Bloomberg is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.)
Sanders, Warren Vote for Themselves (10:41)
Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren voted in their home states of Vermont and Massachusetts early on Super Tuesday. Sanders, at least, confirmed he was voting for himself.
Sanders and his wife, Jane, arrived at the Robert Miller Community and Recreation Center in Burlington in a blue Subaru with a “Bernie” sticker on it.
“I want to make sure we get at least two votes in Vermont,” he joked.
Warren walked past a throng of supporters who lined the path from her home to a polling place in Cambridge, some of whom led a chant about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Minnesota is also holding a primary, but Amy Klobuchar dropped out Monday and endorsed Joe Biden. -- Tyler Pager
Coming Up
Six states hold primaries March 10.
Democratic candidates debate again in Phoenix on March 15.
(Disclaimer: Michael Bloomberg is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. He is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.)
--With assistance from Tyler Pager and Kartikay Mehrotra.
To contact the reporters on this story: Ryan Teague Beckwith in Washington, D.C. at rbeckwith3@bloomberg.net;Jennifer Epstein in Charleston, South Carolina at jepstein32@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Wendy Benjaminson at wbenjaminson@bloomberg.net, Magan Crane, Gregory Mott
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