As early voting in the Nevada caucuses began this week and a new poll showed a comfortable lead for Bernie Sanders, Democrat powers in the state began a major push to keep Joe Biden's candidacy alive.
Privately, Biden supporters agree that if their man fails to reach second-place in the Nevada caucuses, he may not be able to continue to his long-presumed firewall—South Carolina, which holds its primary Feb. 29.
Last week, Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall weighed in strongly for Biden. Her endorsement came on the heels of similar blessings for the former vice president from Reps. Dina Titus and Steve Horsford (the Silver State’s only black Member of Congress).
In a state once considered solid Biden Country, these high-powered endorsements and accompanying campaign assistance come at a time when a new Las Vegas Review-Journal poll shows the onetime front-runner trailing Bernie Sanders by seven percentage points statewide.
According to the poll, Sanders has 25 percent to Biden’s 18 percent, followed by 13 percent for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and 11 percent for multimillionaire Tom Steyer.
Coming out of the New Hampshire primary with considerable firepower, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobachur trailed the pack with 10 percent and 8 percent, respectively, of the likely caucusgoers.
Curiously absent from the list of Democrat establishment figures for Biden was his longtime friend, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
In voting early on Monday, Reid, 80, told reporters he had voted for “uncommitted.” He also restated his hope that Nevada would have a primary in 2024 rather than a caucus to choose national convention delegates.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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