Update on the 2020 Presidential Elections and Super Tuesday

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Vice President Joe Biden have now emerged from Super Tuesday’s primaries as the two frontrunners. The two candidates sit on the polar opposite side of the political ideology spectrum showing a divided party vying for the White House. Bernie Sanders has run the most progressive platform of all the candidates while delivering consistent “anti-establishment” messaging differentiating himself from moderate Democratic candidates. Sanders is counting on his young, devoted, and independent base’s enthusiasm to expand his movement.

For moderates self-identifying as Democrats, electability is their primary concern. Sanders’ democratic socialist ideology has stirred a fear that he is too far left to capture the centrist votes needed to beat President Trump. Democrats are concerned about Sanders’ effect on down-ballot congressional races in vulnerable states and districts.

So what exactly happened since last week? 

• Just days ahead of the South Carolina primary, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) endorsed Biden.
• Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and billionaire Tom Steyer suspended their races prior to Super Tuesday.
• Buttigieg and Klobuchar endorsed Biden, quick generating an extraordinarily quick and unusual consolidation of the Democratic Party’s mainstream behind a candidate they felt was best to run against President Donald Trump’s campaign.
• Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s debut on the ticket fell flat in his Super Tuesday bid, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) also found no successful way forward after disappointing results, including a loss in her home state. Both suspended their campaigns with Bloomberg endorsing Biden and Warren declining to endorse either of the primary candidates.

Joe Biden’s decisive comeback in South Carolina and the Super Tuesday primaries has proved how vital endorsements and late deciders can matter in races.

Sanders and Biden will have similar but different challenges moving forward. Biden will need to maintain his momentum into the next round of critical primary states. He will also need to find a way to unite his supporters while winning over those supporting Sanders.  Sanders will have to find a way to expand his base of younger, independent voters to find a path for success in must-win states like Michigan.  Regardless of who becomes the nominee, they will need to be prepared for a well-funded and sophisticated Trump re-election campaign that has spent four years organizing and preparing their messaging for this fall.

To find out where candidates stand on the vinyl industry’s key issues, click here.