The Democratic primary enters a diverse phase this week as Senator Bernie Sanders consolidates his national lead to 31% among party voters and billionaire Michael Bloomberg qualifies to appear in Nevada debate.
Bloomberg’s entry – in the midst of ongoing more than $300 million ads campaign – challenges other contenders in the race, particularly former vice president Joseph Biden.
Biden’s standing has nosedived 9 points since December after dismal performances in Iowa and New Hampshire contests. He now has 15% support among Democrats nationally.
A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Tuesday finds Sanders jumping by 9% support since December 2019 while former New York mayor Bloomberg has already has stacked up 19% support nationally.
The Nevada debate on Wednesday will be the first opportunity for Bloomberg to spell out his agenda priorities to Americans, though he is not on the ballot in the state, which is far more diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire.
The diverse state will also test Pete Buttigieg, who fared on the top in the Whitest states of Iowa and New Hampshire but trails behind almost every other candidate as far support among African American voters.
Senator Elizabeth Warner also risks losing supporters to Sanders, who has been rising consistently across communities of color including American Muslims and African Americans.
We need to make the financial system work for every American.
Donald Trump has rolled back critical protections designed to prevent another collapse like we saw in 2008.
I won’t let him get away with it. https://t.co/8ij3gxOG7U
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 18, 2020
Sanders, meanwhile, has also amplified his support among black voters and closing in on Biden, who traditionally has garnered greater support of African American community.
The Vermont lawmaker says his campaign has the energy to take on President Donald Trump in Nov 3 election.
Bloomberg, on the other hand, will have to clarify his past position on stop-and-frisk policy, which critics says unfairly discriminated against African American and Latino young people.
