The former vice president is now the Democratic Party’s likely presidential nominee, after defeating Senator Bernie Sanders in at least four of the six states that voted on Tuesday, including the big prize of Michigan. Biden also had massive wins in Idaho, Mississippi and Missouri. Biden was in a tight race with Sanders in Washington, another state Sanders needed to win. Biden won the Missouri primary with 60% of votes, Sanders finished with 35%.
Tuesday marked a turning point in the Democratic race as Biden continues to build a powerful coalition. Sanders is entering a critical point, with upcoming competitions in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio, all states he lost in 2016.
Biden has shown vulnerabilities, mostly his lack of support from young voters. He is outperforming Clinton’s results from her primary race with suburban and white working-class voters which could give Democrats a potential path to victory in November. In states where voters went to the polls Tuesday, 81 percent of Sanders voters said they would back the eventual nominee regardless of who won the primary, according to NBC exit polls.
Days before the Missouri primary, former Vice President Joe Biden rallied 2,500 Kansas Citians to get out and vote during an appearance outside the National World War 1 Museum and Memorial. The local IBEW organizations helped sponsor the event and also volunteered where they could be seen wearing dark blue T-shirts that said IBEW for JOE on the front.
Former Gov. Bob Holden, spoke during Saturday’s event, encouraging supporters to get their friends to go to the polls. He was followed by Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver II, who introduced Biden.
“We’re ready to unite the country,” Biden said during his appearance. “It’s time to get up and take back this country.”
On Monday, March 9th, Dr. Jill Biden traveled to Missouri and toured the Veterans Community Project with Jason Kander followed by a Get Out the Vote event sponsored by IBEW and held at the IBEW 124 hall. Dr. Jill Biden later made stops in Columbia and wrapped up her long day at an event in St. Louis.
Dozens of Missouri Democrats endorsed Biden in the days before the election, including former Missouri governor Jay Nixon, Jackson County Executive Frank
White Jr., former Kansas City Mayor Sly James, as well as City Council members and state representatives.
Sen. Bernie Sanders cancelled his planned event for the Metro citing scheduling constraints. The progressive candidate’s campaign recently opened four offices in Missouri’s largest and more urban cities: Columbia, Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Louis.
This story was originally published on the previous website for The Labor Beacon. The content of each story from the orginal website has been preserved, but the formatting has not.
