Clinton, Sanders make closing arguments ahead of final primaries
On Tuesday, six states — California, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Montana — vote in Democratic primaries or caucuses, the last big hurrah of the presidential nominating fight (Washington, D.C., votes next week). The Associated Press declared Hillary Clinton the presumptive nominee late Monday, finding she has enough pledged delegates and committed superdelegates to clinch the nomination, but Clinton downplayed the AP report and the Bernie Sanders campaign said the projections were false, noting that superdelegates don't vote until July 25. At a Sanders rally in San Francisco on Monday night, supporters were livid at AP and other news organizations, The Washington Post reports.
In his 50-minute closing speech, Sanders didn't directly mention the AP projection, instead focusing on what he said would be his win in the "most important primary in the whole Democratic nominating process," California. With the largest number of delegates up for grabs, California is a big prize, though the most likely outcome is that Clinton and Sanders split the delegates fairly evenly. "This campaign has been to me an extraordinary experience," Sanders said at his San Francisco rally. "It gives me enormous optimism about our future."
Dave Matthews played an acoustic set during Sanders' rally, but Clinton closed out her California swing at a theater in Los Angeles Monday night with performances by Stevie Wonder and John Legend ("Blowin' in the Wind," "Superstition"), Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, and other artists, plus speeches by Cher, Jamie Foxx, Magic Johnson, Shonda Rhimes, and other celebrities. Clinton spoke only for about six minutes, saying "we're going to come out of the primary even stronger to take on Donald Trump"; the other speakers had more pointed remarks about Trump. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti mentioned the AP news, drawing cheers from the audience, but he quickly warned that the race isn't over yet. Clinton will likely be more celebratory on Tuesday night, when she holds a rally at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Eight years ago exactly, Clinton noted pointedly on Monday, she won the California primary then immediately dropped out of the race and endorsed her Democratic challenger, Barack Obama. Sanders says he will campaign until the Democratic National Convention in July.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
North Korea tests ICBM, readies troops in Ukraine
Speed Read Thousands of North Korean troops are likely to join Russian action against Ukraine
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Women take center stage in campaign finale
Speed Read Harris and Trump are trading gender attacks in the final days before the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Supreme Court allows purge of Virginia voter rolls
Speed Read Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is purging some 1,600 people from state voter rolls days before the election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Empowered' Steve Bannon released from prison
Speed Read Bannon was set free a week before Election Day and quickly returned to his right-wing podcast to promote Trump
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada accuses top Modi ally of directing Sikh attacks
Speed Read Indian Home Minister Amit Shah was allegedly behind a campaign of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh separatists
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris makes closing case in huge rally at DC's Ellipse
Speed Read The Democratic nominee asked voters to "turn the page" on Trump's "division" and "chaos"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'I am not a Nazi,' Trump says amid MSG rally fallout
Speed Read Trump and his campaign are attempting to stem the fallout from comments made by speakers at Sunday's rally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published