Stakes in Nevada Rise for Hillary Clinton as Caucuses Near

Feb 11, 2016 · 483 comments
morGan (NYC)
Sen Sanders should ask HRC the following Qs tonight:
1) How many homes your own and where?
2) When was last time you shop in super market? Do you know how much a dozen eggs, or a gallon of milk cost?
3) Can you name ONE foreign policy achievement you have in 4 years as SoS?
4) Can you explain to voters your alliance with the neo-cons, and why did you hire them @ DoS?
5) Can you name ONE law you sponser in the Senate to benefist working families?
6) Can you explain to voters why did you vote with McCain, Lieberman, and Graham 100% of the time?
!
Then let voters decide:
a)How out of touch the millionaires Clintons are?
b) What a war monger madam neo-con is ?
petey tonei (Massachusetts)
Harry Belafonte endorses Bernie http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/harry-belafonte-endorses-bernie-sa...
"Belafonte said Sanders represents “a moral imperative” and a “certain kind of truth that’s not often evidenced in the course of politics.”
For the young people who don't know who is Belafonte, Caribbean American
"Belafonte was an early supporter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and '60s, and one of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s confidants. Throughout his career he has been an advocate for political and humanitarian causes, such as the anti-apartheid movement and USA for Africa. Since 1987 he has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. In recent years he has been a vocal critic of the policies of both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama presidential administrations. Harry Belafonte now acts as the American Civil Liberties Union celebrity ambassador for juvenile justice issues."
Paul S (New York)
Sanders endorsed ethanol. He's not any different than the rest. You're lying to yourself if you believe his nonsense.
Dennis (New York)
Many supporters of Senator Sanders seem under the impression that the Senator doesn't take money from "those" people, you know, billionaires and bankers, and the dreaded denizens of Wall Street, which, despite being the bane of many Occupy Wall St. socialists existence, is nonetheless the financial dynamo of this nation and the world. And although there is no doubt Wall St. is prolific with unscrupulous types, the worst of the worse, it has made the US wealthy, and provided many of its citizens with one of the highest standards of living in the world.

And yes, these captains of capitalism have contributed HUGE amounts to the Sanders campaign, have no doubt about that. Does anyone with an ounce of common sense and basic math think that one day after the NH primary Senator Sanders raised 5 million dollars from just plain old average folks contributing 25 dollar a shot?

The very rich have the luxury of hedging (no pun intended) their bets. They contribute to both parties almost equally perhaps giving a slight advantage to Republicans. Since the Supreme Court terrible decision Citizens United, candidates for president have no choice but to be mendicants.

Yes, even a rousing revolutionary democratic socialist has to go a-begging. not that there's anything wrong with that.

DD
Manhattan
Andy W (Chicago, Il)
Hillary is about Jobs, Justice,Equality and Empowerment. Bernie is about trying to pass free college, redoing healthcare from scratch and risking instead of fixing social security. Even if he worked a miracle and passed any of it, how do his priorities solve the underlying problems of America? Yes they take money from the rich and give it to the poor. Hillary will tax the rich and use it to build a future for us all to thrive in. Investing in jobs, equality and justice, that's the thinking that solves problems. Bernie has some nice thoughts, but they aren't focused on the solutions that truly move us forward. With Hillary, it's not about using every last tax dollar to make college totally free. It's about investing to insure there's a great paying job waiting for you after graduation. A job that will give you thirty years of prosperity. A job with equal pay. Leading and fighting, instead of merely promising.
William Case (Texas)
Illegal immigration and immigration reform will be the top topic in the Nevada debate. According to the Pew Research Center, Nevada has the highest proportion of illegal immigrants of any U.S. state at 7.6 percent. About 210,000 of Nevada residents are undocumented. About 19 percent of Nevada’s population are immigrants, and about 43 percent of them are naturalized U.S. citizens. Bernei Sanders has posted his stance on dealing with illegal immigration https://berniesanders.com/issues/a-fair-and-humane-immigration-policy/
C.C. Kegel,Ph.D. (Planet Earth)
Bill plays golf there, so Hillary will win?

What has politics come to?
Michael Boyajian (Fishkill)
Not since the French fleet sailed into Yorktown has there been a more welcome sight than the CBC endorsement of Hillary Clinton.
Historic Home Plans (Oregon)
Clinton supporters seem to be coalescing around the following arguments against Sanders.
1. He is "un-electable" because he is too far left.
2. If he is elected he won't be able to accomplish any of his goals because he is too far left.
By implication, Clinton is far enough right that she could be elected and could accomplish some of her goals, even in the face of a GOP dominated House.
Following that logic, the goals she could accomplish are those that the right would agree to ... invade Iraq, bomb Libya, coddle Wall Street, etc.
So it seems it's more important to "accomplish" something, anything, even a right wing agenda, if it that's the only way to get a DEM into the White House.
Is that really a strategy for building a better future?
Paul S (New York)
Yes, it is. It's the only that works in a Republic.
Deus02 (Toronto)
Bernie Sanders has become a force to reckon with just because of these failed approaches to the economy and foreign policy. As you said, strategy fro building a better future? Hardly, just the same old, same old stuff and people will complain later how essentially the status quo has remained.
Sandra Delehanty (Reno, NV)
Nevada is more than Las Vegas. Northern Nevada, also hard hit by the recession, is home to a large number of 60+ voters like myself who do not want their Social Security tampered with, who think of themselves as "old hippies" with values like Bernie's, and who haven't been excited by an election since the 1970s. Don't underestimate how Mr. Sanders will do here come February 20 -- some of us still know how to mobilize behind a cause.
JIm (Jersey City, NJ)
The article makes frequent mention of the double-digit defeat of Hillary Clinton by Bernie Sanders but makes ZERO mention of the fact that Sanders and Clinton BOTH received 15 delegates from New Hampshire. Yes, even though Sanders won, the super delegates, the people who have already sworn allegiance to Clinton no matter who wins the state voted for her. Clinton has over 300 of the 700 super delegates yet there is zero mention of the 15 delegates each received from NH.
Dean (West)
Are Democrats more cowardly than Republicans? It seems so. Republicans do not seem to care whether their vote for Trump implodes the GOP or whether Trump's multiple marriages, his casino ownership, his bankruptcies, his eminent domain bullying, his racism, his fascism, his sexism will make him unelectable.

Democrats on the other hand seem to be giving up in expectation of being pummeled by the GOP crazies. This is akin to Obama giving up single payer or even a buy-into-Medicare individual option for the ACA. Do we remember that he was accused of 'negotiating against himself'?

Backbone anyone? Take a risk anyone? Did we miss the TPP or the Supremes saying they look forward to a 5 degrees Celsius warmed world? What are people waiting for? The left of center in this country are so beaten up by 4 decades of right wing bullying and threatening that no one wants to take a risk.

Clinton will not change the status quo but, as her husband did, actually make things worse for 99% of Americans. Do people really think we can stand for another year of the status quo much less 4 or 8 or more? We cannot. Let us open our eyes and see what is happening. This is not the world as we know it. Our response cannot be as we have known it.
Matt (NYC)
I second the argument that fear of the Republican party shouldn't cause someone who might otherwise vote for Sanders to vote for Clinton instead. Bernie is electable... if we elect him! And our Congress will do as we say if we make it clear that their political career depends upon it. Corporations may be "people," but they can't vote and that fact should be firmly in the mind of and every candidate weighing the pros and cons of embracing a Super PAC. Each member of Congress should be biting their nails wondering, "What good is a campaign war chest if I'm a pariah because of where I got the money?" As it is, they have no such concerns. That confidence needs to be shaken.
Hugo (Wilbraham, MA)
I still think that Hillary is the best bet for Democrats to win the general election. No doubt that so far Sanders is making a strong impact, but the electability factor is a big question. There are some strange contrasts in this contest. Bernie Sanders is a dinosaur whose support is resting mostly on the shoulders of the very young. Hillary Clinton who is well past middle age, is resorting to the support of other dinosaurs like Madeline Albright and Gloria Steinem. And although Bill Clinton is only one year younger than Hillary, he is beginning to show dinosaur features.
When I look at both campaigns and then register my thoughts, the picture of a Hillary Clinton candidacy makes me uncomfortable. The sounds of a Bernie Sanders one makes me uneasy.
angbob (Hollis, NH)
Re: "Bernie Sanders is a dinosaur whose support is resting mostly on the shoulders of the very young."
Psalm 8.2 offers "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger."
And be mindful that the people of Iowa and New Hampshire have reflected on how Bernie would fare against the Republicans, and they have spoken their views on electability.
MadlyMad (Los Angeles)
Bernie is a fairy dust candidate with a message that is childlike in its lack of reality. He is certainly serving a purpose as a Messenger of what could be, but like wishes, we'd have to rely on the Republicans wish to implement them. Bernie will neither get anything done on the first day nor his last as the Republican led Congress will wither him on his first attempt. Perhaps we'll regain the Senate but not by much and with that comes "yuge" barriers for Bernie. Idealism is good, but not at the risk of Liberal values being buried by fantasy.
Historic Home Plans (Oregon)
Neither DEM candidate will be able to push through an agenda unless the GOP's control of the House is reduced. The real change will only come about if the center and left get excited and go to the polls.
I don't see Clinton generating a lot of excitement among potential voters. Her message and the message of her supporters is fundamentally negative. "Don't support Sanders because he'll never get his agenda accomplished and may not even be electable." This negativity does not encourage large voter turnout.
Sanders is generating excitement because he is galvanizing people towards positive change. His message is not fear based. For this reason, I believe he is more electable than Clinton. More importantly, if he can bring out more voters, those voters may also weaken the GOP's control of the House.
Bill Strzempek (New York City)
MadlyMad -- We Bernie supporters don't believe Bernie is burying liberal values with a fantasy. We believe Bernie is digging out the liberal values from the hole where they have been too long buried by the Clinton and Obama administration's penchant for selling out liberal values.
Deus02 (Toronto)
It is quite ironic how much of the rest of the industrialized democracies have enacted much of what Bernie talks about, yet, according to you, America is not capable of accomplishing these, as you describe them, same fantasies? Every President has faced barriers, and Hillary Clinton would find it no easier and perhaps because of her baggage, it could be even more difficult.

Clearly, according to you, the safe and the mediocre should continue. Too bad.
petey tonei (Massachusetts)
Regarding South Carolina, the black congressional caucus endorsed Hillary, they are all in love with her. "Rep. John Lewis, a prominent civil rights leader, unloaded on the Vermont senator, saying that he "never saw" or "never met" Sanders while actively participating in the Civil Rights Movement. He did, however, meet the Clinton's.

"I was chair of the student non-violent coordinating committee for 3 years, from 1963 to1966. Was involved in the sit-ins, the freedom ride, the march on Washington, the march from Selma to Montgomery," he said. "[Sanders] directed that board of education project for 6 years. But I met Hillary Clinton. I met President Clinton."

Wow. Clintons have them in their pockets. John Lewis is going to personally go to SC and Knock on doors for Hillary, talk to church leaders.

Is this even legal? Is he doing it in our taxpayer money?
petey tonei (Massachusetts)
Rep Barbara Lee clarified that the Black Caucus group is a PAC for Hillary. "Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) is the only CBC member who has so far endorsed Sanders."
"Clinton's first ad in South Carolina featured Eric Holder, President Barack Obama's former attorney general who was the first African-American person to hold that position."
Obama alums are coming out of woodwork to endorse Hillary, they want everything to remain status quo.
petey tonei (Massachusetts)
My highly educated college prof uncle attended Trump's rally in Las Vegas and was blown away by the electric and charged audience. He voted for Obama but is leaning towards trump, wants to switch sides.
Bill Strzempek (New York City)
In the two Times stories about Clinton & Sanders today (the other being "Bernie Sanders Intrigues...") it is all too clear who the Times is promoting. Just take a look at the photos chosen to accompany the articles. There is uneven coverage with a majority of the pics being of Clinton supporters and these images contain positive, colorful tones, whereas the few of Sanders' campaign show his signs in the dirt, or the images are dark of poorly lit scenes, or the images of Sanders fall in the lower segment of the composition, forcing the viewer to "look down" on the image. Your subliminal efforts are showing, and readers deserve better.
Gus (Hell's Kitchen)
(Donning my barb-proof vest).

I am suspicious of the fervent "Feel the Bern" peal and would not be surprised to discover its genesis in the Playbook of Lee Atwater. The Republicans are no doubt enjoying this version of Tar Baby and Br'er Rabbit at play within the Democratic party. The younger generations may be more susceptible to this subterfuge, but most older Black citizens are all too familiar with the political chicanery that always ends with our being buried on the bottom of the heap no matter our class or achievements.

The onslaught of angry comments responding to articles/opinions on race have been so virulent over the past year that one can't help but equate that anger with what during this campaign season comes across as being not only Clinton-bashing, but by extension Obama-bashing. Regardless, we hesitate at taking the high stake risk of backing Sanders who seems to view us only through the lens of poverty and law and order. And endorsements from the likes of the Michael Steele and Cornell West, the former who boldly hurled insults at President Obama at every opportunity, hold no sway with the Black Boomers.

Perhaps we Democrats need a pledge from the Sandernistas vowing their support of Secretary Clinton should she prevail and become the nominee and not stay home licking their wounds on election day.

So much is on the line, foremost being the future face of the Supreme Court. Think before Berning, we can't afford to turn this country over to Trump or Bush.
georgez (California)
I think the choice is simple.
A public-servant, or a self-servant.
As far as getting things done, we have to do it.
Throw the paid political bumbs out of the White House and Congress.
Of the people, by the people, and for the people!
farhorizons (philadelphia)
Hilary seems to have appropriated Sanders' message, his priorities, his personal, all in the last few days. I read that her staff things she has been out of touch and needs to change her message. Unfortunately, she can't change what her interests and priorities have been for thirty years, and in any way sound credible. She has not put economic justice, the need for major political change and distance from the establishment as her goals for all this time, and for her to try to do so now, to try to channel Bernie, is ludicrous, it's hypocritical, it's blatant pandering, and it won't work. Let Hilary keep to her message and let Bernie keep to his, and see how things play out.
Bruce (Minnesota)
Bernie - and Hillary - are both correct in saying the "system is rigged." And Bernie has a marvelous vision of a brighter future for all of us - higher wages, free public education, banks broken into manageable pieces. If he only had a magic wand to make all of these wishes come true...but unless his "revolution" empowers voters in every state to elect liberal Democrats to the House and Senate, that magic wand won't wave.

And once you get beyond the domestic issues, Hillary's breadth of knowledge and experience gives her the ability to "hit the ground running" in all facets of the Presidency, including the important area of foreign policy - an area of weakness in Sanders' background. She has admittedly made mistakes - Iraq being the most obvious one - but sometimes mistakes give us better judgment down the line.

Bernie may defeat Hillary for the nomination. His message is compelling. He may even be able to defeat the GOP's choice, but then what? The odds of achieving his dreams are slim. And if he does not defeat the GOP candidate, we lose the Supreme Court for another generation. We lose the opportunity to hold the earth to less than a 2 degree warming.

Dreams are marvelous things...but accomplishments matter.
John MD (NJ)
Wonder how the Clinton team will frame the poor outcome if Sanders beats her or even does better than expected. I don't see the "whites only for Bernie" or the "location is the explanation" working in Nevada. You know the "Bernie won because N.H is close to Vermont." Seems like Clinton is channeling Palin. Remember: "I got foreign policy credentials because Russia is right next-door to Alaska."
Hillary is a good candidate and I'll support her with enthusiasm if Bernie doesn't make it, but she has to jettison the out-of touch (Albright and Steinem), the chameleons (David Brock) and the snakes (Bill) and run as herself. Otherwise she's dead in the water.
mlehman (Arlington, TX)
Ms. Clinton is a part of that Washington/Wall Street coalition that has systemically destroyed the American middle class. Clinton loses Nevada.
Camus (Orlando)
I think one of the most interesting results of this particular primary will be the discrepancy between (what is now considerably aging) polling and final results.

After the Iowa caucus polling models were hardly mentioned, and it seemed general media was quick to conceded a 'Bernie Surge'. Even the RCP average was slow to detect a tie. The pre-polling averages better predicted NH but still fell short in the magnitude of Bernie's popular-vote win. Even more shocking was the disparity between pre-poll surveying and exit-poll qualitative data: there is a stark contrast between what is purported to be such strong footing for HRC.

Perhaps more questioning of polling models & methods need to be brought up in analysis, truly this election seems to be usurping increasingly spotty modes of prediction. Or not. We'll see.
Dan88 (Long Island, NY)
At age 55, I have shared the values of the Democratic Party my entire life. The first time I voted was in 1980, for Jimmy Carter, in his loss to Reagan. That ushered in decades of acceptance of the “trickle-down theory,” for example, which still largely controls the national economic discussion today.

So, for those who see Sanders as political savior, delivering a much-needed political “revolution,” beware the law of foreseeable consequences: If Sanders’ nomination over Clinton results in the Republicans winning the Presidency while they simultaneously control Congress, you may have to live with the aftermath of the Republican Party’s current agenda for most of your adult life.

Clinton is an uninspiring and flawed candidate imo. But an elected Clinton with a veto pen is far better than the bittersweet memory of how you supported the “Sanders revolution” way back in 2016, when he was defeated in the general election in a “Republican revolution.”
Clark M. Shanahan (Oak Park, Illinois)
Dan,
Flawed candidate?
I'm 60, lifelong democrat..
I cannot accept someone who admits she's a friend of Kissinger.
I knew too many refugees from Operation Condor.
Her vote for the Iraq War Powers Resolution is obscene.
Her Wall Street ties reek.
I'll vote for her to block the special folks on the other side..
but, it would be a very sad day.
GSB (SE PA)
Mrs. Clinton, do you still struggle to understand why you can't connect with younger people? The Clinton/Gore '96 campaign banner in the background in the Clinton Nevada office sums it all up rather succinctly doesn't it? Rarely has anyone captured a picture is worth more than a thousand words -- and probably completely by accident here -- better than this case.
Erna A (Jersey City)
Bernie's campaign said they were going to "beef up a 90-person operation" in Nevada. Clinton's campaign "declined to disclose the size of their paid staff here." If they behave like they have something to hide on something this mundane, you gotta wonder....
Jesus Calderon (NJ)
US Congressman and Hedge Fund Manager at the SAME TIME.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/12/us/politics/alan-graysons-double-life-...

Feel the Bern!
Paul (Bellerose Terrace)
"In Nevada, the one big guy in the room is Bill Clinton,” Mr. Reid said. “He comes all the time. He has very good friends there. He plays golf. So Bernie has a real problem there.”

Extra, extra, read all about it. Clinton preferred over Sanders by the Country Club set! Who could have seen that one coming? Harry Reid, not for the first time, lets his Freudian slip show.
petey tonei (Massachusetts)
Its all "establishment", Clintons are omniscient. Good for them.
Mor (California)
America does not just vote for its head of state. It votes for the leader of the free world. No matter how much we might want to shirk this responsibility, the US still has a moral authority that it can use for good or ill. Obama was a good US president; he was less than effective on the international scene, though he was not the disaster that Bush had been. Obama's idealism has contributed to the destabilization of the Middle East and the dismemberment of Ukraine. But at least he has projected level-headedness and middle-of-the-road sensibility. Sanders' foreign policy would be an unmitigated disaster. Do people know how toxic the word "socialism" is in most of the world? Scandinavian left-center political parties call themselves "Social Democrats" for a reason. And can you imagine Sanders fighting Da'esh, negotiating with Putin (who learned the "soak-the-rich" rhetoric in high school), or revoking the trade deals with China that holds the lion's share of the US debt? We had an internationally clueless president in Bush; do you want another one?
Dean (West)
I am sure there are still people who think that POTUS has to have military experience in order to be CIC. People forget that POTUS has staff and the country has bureaucrats and lifelong government people.

The US has become weaker as the 'leader of the free world' over the last 40 years thanks to right wing policies which hollowed out our middle class, our manufacturing (TPP!) and our moral position. Do you really think centi-millionaire Clinton or billionaire Trump or Bloomberg is going to change the direction of anything?

Remember that Bush had plenty of not-clueless but did-not-care advisors. His international bench was deep with highly experienced shady characters. See where all that experience led?

There is no job in the world that prepares anyone to be POTUS so stop looking for the perfect resume.
Toutes (Toutesville)
Le Sigh. Times on the wrong side of history no matter the outcome. Worst than ugly will be when Times is part of the blame for engineering for us to continue on the trail of tears and broken American lives, ending up on the wrong side of history.
mannyv (portland, or)
Elect grandma Clinton, because if anyone knows how to run the USA it's your grandma.
Ned Netterville (Lone Oak, Tennessee)
Bernie Sanders is a democratic socialist. Hugo Chavez of Venezuela was a democratic socialist. Chavez was hugely popular among ordinary citizens and was re-elected in 2006 with 60% of the vote. Here is some of what Wikipedia says about him.

"Chávez focused on enacting social reforms as part.of his socialist revolution. Using record-high oil revenues of the 2000s, his government nationalized key industries, created participatory democratic Communal Councils, and implemented social programs known as the Bolivarian Missions to expand access to food, housing, healthcare, and education. With Venezuela receiving high oil profits in the mid-2000s, improvements in areas such as poverty, literacy, income equality, and quality of life occurred primarily between 2003 and 2007. At the end of Chávez's presidency in the early 2010s, economic actions performed by his government during the preceding decade such as overspending and price controls proved to be unsustainable, with Venezuela's economy faltering while poverty, inflation and shortages increased. His presidency also saw significant increases in the murder rate and corruption within the police force and government. .

This scenario has been repeated time and again in countries that embraced socialism. It would pay anyone to read the series of recent NYT articles by Nicolas Casey who lives there. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/reporters-notebook/moving...
Dean (West)
Do you remember the financial meltdown in this country? I would not be crowing about how the right wing Wall Street circus caused the greatest financial disaster since the Great Depression. There was no democratic socialist in the White House, there was a right wing Republican Harvard MBA there.

Try again.
John (USA)
Chavez is not a democratic socialist.
Gary (Austin, TX)
The NYTimes' constant cheerleading for HRC is getting worse than annoying. It is getting boring.
Andrew (NY)
Sanders must do 3 things:

A) add "Recuse" and "Conflict Of Interest" to his debate vocab: "if a judge received $675,000 from a party, he loses his credibility/credible impartiality and must RECUSE himself from ANY PROCEEDING involving that part because of his/her CLOSE FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP. Plus: received $675,000 after being Secretary of State; how much are they implicitly promising her after being president? Will she vow now not to take any money after president? Will bill vow not only to take no more money? Will they both vow to return all funds so she can do the job impartially?

Can she credibly attack Cruz for his Goldman Sachs connection and his inability to act impartially with a wife working there, when Hilary has been paid comparable money by GS, in likely case he is the nominee?

B) brush up on foreign policy, especially reining in Putin/ Russia.

C) show that he is will be able to draw the Tea a Party disenfranchised contingency who overlook that Bernie Sanders is their natural candidate. Only Bernie Sanders can INSPIRE reconsideration and realignment of the political identifications and attachments that set in years ago and no longer apply, new coalitions for the new era.
Indrid Cold (USA)
When I lost my NV home to foreclosure, I was angry enough to kill a banker. I fully expected perp walks, and prison for the people responsible. Instead, I watch them collect huge bonuses paid for with bail-out money. President Obama really let me down on this. I don't feel that Hillary, with her "that's what they offered" speaking fees.

I want a president who will put the fear of God into Wall Street. I want much, MUCH higher taxes on the 3%. I want to see that money used to help the poor and middle class. I want a government run "Medicare for all" health plan for the nation. I want REAL CHANGE to this nation's direction. Only Bernie Sanders offers me a realistic chance at this. I'll be caucusing for Mr. Sanders. COUNT ON IT!
Southern Voter (Atlanta)
I wish people would stop saying that Bernie has to do really well with only minorities if he is going to win. Yes, he has to have a great amount of support from minorities to help propel him but lets talk about how he is beating Hillary with white people. Nobody is really talking about that. He is also beating Hillary with the youth vote, 30-45 year olds, men and women. Hillary can pander to all the black people she wants but SHE WILL NOT have the same turn out like Obama had with the black vote.
clayton (1021 Picklesnort Lane)
Obama was supposed to be the odd man out in 2008 against this woman of vast experience and connections. All the pundits favored the … het hem… "shoe in". The winner will win, regardless of someone's spin.
Andrew Garrard (Austin Texas)
"...Mr. Sanders will have an opportunity to answer the central question for many Democrats trying to judge whether he is more than a particularly strong early-contest protest candidate"

I think Mr. Nagourney is missing the the very crux of the Sanders campaign. Sanders supporters protest the established policies and practices that have governed our country for the past ten, twenty-odd years (nothing new in public rhetoric - people will always rally against some federal practice/institution). That's why his rallies draw massive crowds and are (reportedly) extremely invigorating. The act of mobilizing disillusioned groups to give voice to the harms that haven't been rectified by our current, established system of governance via our elected officials and legal, economic policies IS an act of protest, but one that has learned from the mistakes of the Occupy movement. The Occupy movement lacked an official spokesperson with any sort of political influence, thus they (we) lacked any authority to institute substantial change. Mr. Sanders, on the other hand, has long been the token leftist in the political sphere, with political authority to influence change. Will this authority translate into the Republican-controlled Senate and House? Only if the PEOPLE demand it.

#feelthebern
Pecan (Grove)
When is old Bernie going to list his accomplishments and provide specifics about how he plans to turn his promises into reality?
Tefera Worku (Addis Ababa)
First looking from outside what is the fair comparison of Bernie S. and HRC? metaphorically put it can be described as follows : A bunch of heavily armed ISIS fighters run into Mr. Sanders and their reaction was " he is to proffesorial and Einstein like to waste or kidnap and ask a ransom on " and they went passed him: Then the same gang of fanaticos run into Hillary and their reaction was "Wow!! Xena the warrior princess let get the hell out of here" and they did.Also, the baby faced borderline obese N.Korea's dictator once not too long ago pretty much said " Sen.Hillary remind him of a strict English teacher ( he did a schooling stint in Switzerland ) which makes him sweat the night before the essay is due by just thinking about appearing in her class next day.It is this kind of ability, confidence and formidability HRC invites in the minds of US's and the civilized World's adversaries that set BS and HRC apart.Also the social programs the 2 proposed are not Mathematically disjoint sets but she is more practical and effective in dealing with the legislature and deliver to the US's public.BS is a behind the screen top adviser on Social affairs type material and may be not a more preferable captain to steer the Ship,i.e the World in the increasingly highly highly troubled water,i.e the time we are traversing.TMD,Doctoral student and Academic at Rutg + SUNYa(85-06) and Ind. Math( with Adv.Industrial Application ) Researcher now.
Maro (Massachusetts)
Pragmatism versus optimism.

That seems to me to be how both the candidates and their supporters are aligning themselves.

I recently returned from a three week holiday in South Africa. It was my first time back since the closing days of the apartheid era and I was anxious to see the country again, almost a quarter century on.

A highlight of my visit was a trip to the District Six museum in Cape Town. (District Six, for those who don’t know the history, was a multi-racial community that was forcibly and brutally cleared of its non-white residents in 1966 under the authority of the despised Group Areas Act.)

In the museum, the words of the American poet Langston Hughes’ famous poem were prominently displayed:

Hold fast to dreams
for if dreams die
life is a broken-winged bird
that can not fly.

Those simple words made me shudder: with pride, with love, with thanks and with respect.

I am old enough to remember how many establishment figures in the Western world told us— again and again— that South Africa could never survive the end of apartheid or white majority rule. And yet that is exactly what has happened.

Powerful things dreams are.
KJ (Portland)
"The Democratic presidential caucuses in Nevada were supposed to be an afterthought..."

Afterthought? To whom? I assume you mean to the Democratic Party and their anointed candidate?

Funny how the coronation narrative is still alive.

Sorry, the peasants aren't buying it anymore. We have run out of cake.
Larry (New York, NY)
HRC is, no doubt, a flawed candidate. But I think her flaws have been exaggerated and that emotion - an us against them mentality - has taken hold. Sanders excites the left the way Trump excites the right. If the nominating process continues down this path, I hope Michael Bloomberg decides to run.
Oldngrumpy (US)
The assumption that racial diversity favors one candidate over another in a primary/caucus does a disservice to minorities. Minorities will gain or lose by policy, not celebrity, and the assumption they might vote by their color for celebrity, especially if that assumption is articulated by the candidate, is a big mistake. This election will be much more about class distinctions than racial divides, and Hillary and Bernie have clear differences that will likely become front of mind for voters in a state where the top and bottom of income strata rub elbows regularly.
Ed (Old Field, NY)
It’s a hard thing not to endorse someone in her election run who has endorsed you in yours—and campaigned and raised money for you—over and over again. Therefore, the endorsements that have the most impact are the ones that come as a surprise, because people expect backscratching, as much as they’re tired of it. There’s also the matter of paying obeisance to a constituency or its leaders really. Whether or not you can point to anything concrete you’ve achieved for it, years of flattery will get you everywhere—or that’s been true enough for years in American politics.
SCA (<br/>)
Stop waving the not-so-scary spectres of E. McCarthy and H. Humphrey and G. McGovern at us. In those days voters were dependent for their information--or mis-information--on a very few media outlets, and it was easy to drown out facts with un-corrected fallacies

Now information gets out in a flash, and can*t be stifled by our Alien Overlords. Young people can accurately measure the extent of their power.

I*ve got MSNBC on as I type this. A table of older SC women was just surveyed by a reporter, and three of four are planning to vote for Hillary. The fourth likes Rubio *because he*s cute.*

I*m an older woman too, and an ex-Noo Yawkuh now officially a New Hampshirite, and I proudly voted for Bernie.

There are more of us than you think--women who know who is really on our side. And none of that--yes--shouting--can fool us.
chrismosca (Atlanta, GA)
Any information on how the Democratic superdelegates want this to go? Just trying to save the people of Nevada some time.
Gary (Austin, TX)
About 60% of them have announced for HRC. Last I looked, only 13 for Bernie.
Dean (West)
My understanding is that the Super Delegates will switch to Bernie if he gets the popular votes. They will not stand in his way so not to worry.

That doesn't mean they are not planning to continue feathering their own nests by being in the box for Hillary until that time.
Joe From Boston (Massachusetts)
I am a senior white guy, but from what I can see in the news, on the web, and on cable, it is apparent that plenty of African-Americans of all ages are supporting Bernie Sanders.

He isn't getting the majority of the "establishment" endorsements, such as the announcement today by the CBC PAC. Those people, represented by Rep. Meeks, try to say they are not "establishment", which is duplicitous at best, given his comment that some of his members would take committee chairmanships (meaning they have enough seniority to be the longest serving member of the committee of Congress on which they sit) if Democrats win control of the House.

Furthermore, that statement is duplicitous on the basis that Republicans have a 59 seat majority in the House, and only an overwhelming landslide by a Democratic Presidential nominee would make it possible to win enough seats to flip the House. Hillary Clinton is not that person. Bernie Sanders could be, if he can motivate enough of the 99% to come out and vote to support him.
rjs7777 (NK)
Do I detect a subtle change in NYT coverage away from the adored HRC/Bush/Rubio straight elitism ticket? I am shocked. How will Sanders or Trump receive their commands from the New York intelligensia, the Beltway dinner set and the San Francisco bluebloods? Surely those approximately 1 million people are still in charge of this election and the country. Aren't they?
Jallard (Portland, OR)
Even before Bernie Sanders beat Hillary in New Hampshire I was donating what little I can afford to his cause, because I truly believe in him and what he stands for. Therefore, I would like to think that I am not throwing my money away, much like I would if I purchased lottery tickets every week.
I have been around long enough to have voted in many Presidential Elections and I know how corrupt it truly is. I know in my heart that what Bernie promises are just that….promises. After all we all know that it takes Congress to pass laws and given the divisiveness between the DEMS and the (cursed) GOP His chance of making good on those promises are slim to none. Still, having him as the next President is a better alternative than having Hillary taking us all down the proverbial crapper. (Money talks and she and her husband squawk like ducks in heat, when it comes to pandering to the rich and Wall Street and beyond.)
I am also well aware that while Bernie may very well win the nomination and go on to win the populace vote, in in the Presidential election, it will be the cursed Electoral College who elects the president. We are also well aware of how corrupt and manipulative politics is. Therefore, there is no doubt in my mind that if it comes to pass those Electoral College votes will be bought and paid for by the opposing presidential candidate. And, people fear Socialism! How stupid is that?
Dean (West)
Whether Bernie (or Trump) wins, votes or dollars are not in vain. Even the sclerotic media is standing up and taking notice of the anger and frustration in the country. They are still confused why, with 5% unemployment and low gas prices, people are angry and have so little trust for the status quo.
Publius (NYC)
Bernie needs to be speaking every day in the black and Hispanic churches and community centers in NV and SC. When they hear his message, they will love him.
jefflz (san francisco)
A close contest is the best way to stimulate the desperately need Democratic voter interest. Let the debate be vigorous but civil. Democrats do not need to do the work of the GOP in destroying one another. Mark Morford, a San Francisco columnist sums it up beautifully:

http://blog.sfgate.com/morford/2016/02/10/feel-the-bern-or-give-em-hill-...
Frank P (Albuquerque)
Editors, look at your cover page headlines today. And of late. And pretty much throughout the campaign. A newspaper with an editorial board that seemed to wholeheartedly endorse Secretary Clinton as the Democratic nominee seems to love to give stories that turn out to be rather even-handed headlines that make it seem as if things are dire for Clinton. Remember that many people don't read the story or read very far into a story; only the headline registers. Look today, for instance: even political sites like Politico, Real Clear Politics and FiveThirtyEight don't assign all their Clinton pieces headlines that look through a glass so darkly.
ejzim (21620)
"I didn't vote for Him...or Her." I'd like to be able to say "I didn't for for Her...or Him." I've had enough Republicans for one lifetime, and I've had enough of the nefarious Clintons.
Jim (Northampton, MA)
I have been a Bernie supporter since he made his announcement, and have watched with amazement how enthusiasm for his campaign has been spreading like a prairie fire. I wonder if we can afford his proposals, or if they can be achieved. Yet, when I talk to fellow Bernie supporters, young and old, those who have known him from his earliest days in politics like myself, and those who are newly discovering him, we are all moved by his vision for this country -- for us -- the people -- because it addresses basic issues of fairness and diginity, and justice. Bernie speaks Truth to Power. That is a great motivator to the 99% of this nation that knows it has been played, and for too long. I consider Bernie a New Deal Democrat, a true Democrat. And by the way, I would love to vote for a woman for President. If Hilary is the nominee of course I would vote for her. But I do think Bernie has consistently offered a vision that this country needs. And when he calls for a political revolution, let's not forget that, if he is elected, then this IS a mandate for change, and this isn't about Bernie's "Pie in the Sky" ideas, but about a vision put out there for the people to either embrace, or reject. But if embraced, and embraced enthusiastically, it is up to Congress and the rest of us to figure out how to achieve this vision. Bernie can't be like the sheriff in High Noon. Too many Americans let President Obama play that role and it was disgraceful. Democracy demands deeds. Feel the Bern!
Tom (<br/>)
New motto: "All the News that's Hillary." (Otherwise, why is she in the headline of an article about Sanders?)
TMK (New York, NY)
Excellent reporting, thank you.
Charlie (NJ)
If Trump or Cruz win the Republican nomination I think Hillary may pick up a lot of historically Republican voters who are more centrist. But she is starting to cave in to Bernie mania. Instead of challenging his "economy is rigged" narrative she is saying he's right but her plans are more practical. She is starting to run a "Bernie lite" campaign and that may lose her the nomination.
Historic Home Plans (Oregon)
If Bernie is the "protest" candidate, does that make Hillary the "more of the same" candidate?
Margaret (Cambridge, MA)
That's actually one of her slogans, in effect.
Christine (California)
“Nevada has been good to us. You voted for me twice. We are very grateful.”

Would someone kindly explain to me what being "grateful" has to do with me voting for MY SELF INTERESTS?

Do they really think running for a government position of service is about them? It is about the VOTER, not the runner.

How many dozens of years will it take for them to learn the difference? Running for POTUS is not American Idol!
viktor64 (Wiseman, AK)
The really interesting question is that if even one of the ongoing FBI, State Department and other investigations results in reasonably strong proof of Clinton misdeeds, will the entire Democratic party simply flock to the remaining candidate and elect a Socialist like Sanders? The gleeful energy that surrounds the 74 year old Sanders should not obscure the fact that he is arguably the most radically far Left "finalist" candidate for President in recent times. It's AWESOME! and fun to talk about veering this way and that if it feels good (which works great when you're scooting your Vespa around the block in capris on a spring day) but does this equate to leading a country which like an ocean liner demands small course corrections made by an experienced hand? This isn't a dig on Sanders or his campaign, which he is running in a gentlemanly manner, simply wondering if/when Clinton is corralled for her various and seemingly flourishing wrongdoings, will Sanders be the only option for the Democrat voter? I hope not but the media's tendency to simplify things and exclude other candidates has resulted in a Democrat candidate field that is two-deep with one very far to the left by American standards and the other looking somewhat suspect. Chances are good that any time on the stand as "the accused" will effectively end Clinton's forced march toward the White House with Bill in tow skipping happily to his favorite haunt.
Kevin Cahill (Albuquerque)
The bias of this article, which is not on the editorial page, tells us that the NYT can not be trusted. Has the NYT ever printed the final percentages? It was Bernie 60.4% and Hillary 38.0%. That's a difference of 22.4%. It's not far from 2 to 1 (66.7% vs 33.3%). Fortunately, people have stopped reading newspapers.
A (NYC)
Bernie is a quack. The reason minority voters won't flock to him is because they see beyond the "political revolution" charade he has presented.

I used to respect Sanders. But I am absolutely disgusted by how he's anointed himself the gatekeeper of the "progressive" movement. Forget the fact that he's to the right of Clinton on important issues such as immigration and gun control.

He's starting to get overconfident though, which is good news. Boy am I looking forward to the moment when he stumbles and his carefully crafted "holier than thou" persona crumbles.
Andrew (NY)
That "holier than thou" accusation once appeared comically in the hit show Taxi: the scoundrel, Danny Devito's conniving scoundrel character says to upstanding mensch played by Judd Hirsch: "why are you always being so 'holier than thou' towards me?"

Hirsch: "Maybe it's because thou art so easy to be holier than."
Eric (Vancouver)
Bernie Sanders is expected to deliver on his promises on Day 1 of his presidency if elected. As for Hillary Clinton, well let's wait and see. Interesting.
Joel (Bainbridge Island WA)
Bernie Sanders presents a message that resonates with many Democrats. That he has been saying many of the same things for decades says as much about what has become of the American people and our government as it does about Bernie. I am familiar with the terrain as I am close to Bernie's age. The goals that Bernie describes gives us a feeling of hope. We had hope when President Obama spoke to us in 2007-2008. Feeding this hope is the growing national consensus that our Congress and Supreme Court often work at cross purposes to the greater interest of the American people. To effect any beneficial national legislation, not to mention foreign policy, the next Democratic president must be able to effectively function in this environment....not to mention appoint of up to 3 Supreme Court justices. The record of Hillary Clinton's public service is being parsed for negative effect, e.g recent Nation article. She is tough and knowledgeable on national as well as foreign affairs. I think that references by previous writers to the effect of Swift Boat lies on Kerry and appeal to fear and ignorance with regard to the campaign of George McGovern are correct. Those past actions by the right wing will pale when compared to the coming bile that will be heaped on a Bernie or Hillary candidacy for President. I understand, and share, the feeling for Bernie Sanders' message but I do not see the logic of expectation that he can win a general election much less govern effectively.
D. R. Van Renen (Boulder, Colorado)
It would be nice to be free, free of big moneyed special interests, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, fossil fuel companies, armament companies and the 2 faced politicians that support them.
erik (new york)
Blackstone, a hedge fund supporting Hillary, is the largest owner of US real estate.

How did they (and many other financial institutions) manage that?

They imploded the real estate market in 2007, and starting in 2008 went on a spending spree buying foreclosed and underwater properties. Especially in hard hit markets like Nevada.

With real estate values making a comeback, who do you think got rich and who was left holding the bag?

Hillary needs to tell me how she will address this injustice. Bernie already has.
Andrew (NY)
"Blackstone, a hedge fund supporting Hillary, is the largest owner of US real estate.

How did they (and many other financial institutions) manage that?

They imploded the real estate market in 2007, and starting in 2008 went on a spending spree buying foreclosed and underwater properties. Especially in hard hit markets like Nevada.

With real estate values making a comeback, who do you think got rich and who was left holding the bag?

Hillary needs to tell me how she will address this injustice. Bernie already has."
Lilou (Paris, France)
That Nevada may choose Hillary based on Bill's popularity does not speak well for her, her platform or her credibility. However, it is said that all's fair in love and war.

It will be interesting to see if the financial crisis and recovery will have changed Nevada voters' minds on establishment politics. Bill Clinton's administration began the deregulation of the banking industry, further augmented by the Bush administration, which eventually led to the crisis.

Under Obama, who I voted for, banks, bankers and investment houses have received the equivalent of slaps on the wrist for their greed. Essentially, American taxpayers bailed out the very institutions who screwed us all--including homeowners and business people of Nevada.

Sanders offers a different solution to the problem of Wall St. than would the Clintons, who are cozy with the banking industry. As to the minority demographics of the state, fortunately, Sanders has an excellent voting record on minority affairs and immigration. However, minority votes may be colored by previous loyalty to Bill Clinton or Barack Obama.

The Sanders' campaign needs to further enlighten people of color about his positive record on minority affairs, immigration, equal pay and minimum wage, as his stand against Wall St. and for single payer health care are well-known.

Thanks, NYT, for the balanced article. An analysis on how, or if, donations, or donors to the Clinton Foundation have had an influence on Hillary would be welcome.
MB (MA)
"Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it."

This message was brought to you by George McGovern.
eusebio vestias (Portugal)
I agree Hillary Clinton 2016 Nevada
Ray Johanson (NYC)
Sanders is selling fantasy.

None of his ideas are achievable. The House and Senate are controlled by Republicans. How is he going to get a veto-proof bill through Congress? He can't. Fantasy.

He's going to single-handedly remake Congress? Fantasy. Senators are reelected every 6 years, precluding a "revolution." Everything he calls for is opposed by 50% of Americans (Republicans). The Republicans have had better turnout in their primaries than the Democrats. If anything, there is a Republican revolution.

But I'm not against Sanders. Trump will have a much easier time against a self-admitted socialist.
AM (Stamford, CT)
You are a realist. I am particularly heartbroken for the younger followers. They are going to be crushed when a Republican takes the WH. The older ones should know better.
samuelclemons (New York)
Her husband was a new democrat which translates into Republican with borderline personality disorder. He was a good salesman with charisma whereas She's in the wrong profession. We may lose with Bernie and we may not but she can't galvanize enough voters and our best chance may be Jim Webb back in the race or a Biden or Kerry run. Ms. Warren are you listening?
Suddenly feeling old (NY)
Interesting. I kind of see Kerry taking another shot in 2020 0r 2024
Esteban (Los Angeles)
Ronald Reagan was a successful president because everyone loved him, even if you disliked some of his ideas. Everyone wanted to please him.

Do you feel that you want to please and help Hillary?

Young people across the country are getting involved because Bernie resonates not just in his policies but in his openness. He's your favorite teacher in high school.
DecliningSociety (Baltimore)
Most fair minded Democrats are likely tired of the political lies and empty rhetoric that has defined the presidency for the last 7 years. With HRC they know they will get a world champion liar that will spew dishonest and empty political rhetoric as often as carbon dioxide. Anybody with any money is deathly afraid of Bernie, and for good reason. Interesting script so far.
Reader In Wash, DC (Washington, DC)
Clinton is missing an opportunity to turn a liability into political gold. Forget about the speech transcripts. She needs to return the speaking fees to Goldman Sachs and the other banks or better yet give the money to the treasury. This would ensure that she's not influenced by the money. For good measure she should return any speaking fees she took from colleges and universities. Public service is about doing for others esp. the next generation. It's not about lining one's pockets. The Sander's campaign should challenge her on this. It would be interesting to see her priorities.
Andrew (NY)
Mr. Sanders better be prepared for such a stunt-gesture, even though its occurrence is quite a long shot (it would be very strategically deft on her part, given the possibly fatal Achilles' tendon it is): Sanders would have to attack it as a cynical gesture to cover up get basic allegiance to and coziness with Wall Street: he would have to liken it to Goldman Sachs and others returning bailout money given to them on terms not available to those destroyed by Wall Street greed and rapacity. Even if it was paid back that doesn't change the underlying corruption and exploitation of our political and economic system by those indifferent to the common good. The whole episode, even with the eventual payback, shows how institutions indifferent to and operating violently against the common good when they have the power to do manipulate and force government to do their bidding. Then when they pay back essentially extorted (we're to big to fail, we go down, we drag you with us, do pay up!!!) money, they perhaps act like the original transaction was A-OK. But it wasn't. Whether or not that )685,000 is paid back doesn't change the basic dynamics and relationships. Then, by the way, what about the $100 million the Wall Street Journal says Wall Street gave to the Clintons over the years as campaign contributions? No beholdenness there? Yeah, sure.

BTW where does HRC stand on citizens United? And the blackstone group hedge fund?
Bill Appledorf (British Columbia)
Check out the ads for luxury items in the Times. Fancy jewelry, fancy vacations, fancy homes. Bernie is a threat to the Times's advertising revenue. Same across a wide spectrum of news media. Bernie working to make the money hoarders able to hoard less money is a threat to the jugglers and the clowns who work for them.
Kenan Porobic (Charlotte)
Are our leading national news outlets, the most prominent journalists and editors telling us that the people of different race have the different human priorities and interests?
If the color of our skin were irrelevant, why would the people of different racial mix vote differently?
So, the population mix of South Carolina and Nevada or the regional percentage of the African American and Latinos is completely irrelevant to the outcome of elections.
We can only talk about the population of different income range, individual wealth and business interests.
Are our best and brightest telling us that the people of the same business and social status would have different political preferences?!
What’s the wrong with this attitude?
Our leaders cannot simultaneously keep telling us that the race is irrelevant and that the race does matter.
It is either-or situation.
Please, make up your mind finally!
Lew (VT)
Sanders’ focus is on domestic issues and polls indicate that the majority of Americans want that as the focus. For decades and throughout the presidencies of the Bushes, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama, US foreign policy has been mostly about spending billions of dollars waging wars and in so doing, fomenting the terrorism that we are seeing, while the country itself has been neglected and continues to fall apart: the infrastructure, the environment, education, productive jobs at home, civil rights, income equality, healthcare, and on, and on, have been ignored. Sanders can also be trusted on foreign policy. Clinton's so-called foreign policy experience as Secretary of State has proven to be a disaster. We know all too well what to expect from her, both at home and abroad. The last thing the country needs, and what it will not survive, is continued wars and aggression while the country goes to hell at home. Sanders has stated as a significant part of his foreign policy approach, the necessity to redirect some of the billions spent on the military and wars to domestic programs, and he has been consistent about this for decades. This is surely the wisest, most sensible, most moral, and most important first step in developing a constructive and realistic foreign policy. Bernie’s got vision. No president since FDR has come this close as a visionary and a doer. It really is, sadly, either now or never.
christv1 (California)
I'd like to comment on caucuses in general. Why do we still have such an outmoded difficult way for people to select their candidate for the most important job in the land? We have computers and smart phones and yet people have to go to a place at a specified time in order to vote. I think this discourages voting. It should be easy. Maybe our voter turnout would be better if all could vote by mail or on their phones.
Makko (10075)
Are these minorities eligible to vote? Who is checking their eligibility?
Having a driver's license or "green card"(permanent resident status) does not make you eligible to vote.
jacobi (Nevada)
I have many Hispanic friends here in Nevada and to a one they like the Bern. If Hillary is depending on them for support she may be disappointed.
Dave (Ventura, CA)
It will be interesting to see how Senator Sanders does in Nevada considering the massive real estate crash that occurred there. Without Glass-Steagal (thanks Bill Clinton) and WITH Goldman Sachs (and Monsanto) lobbyist Steve Elmendorf on her team, Clinton will be lucky to win there. Hillary seems to think she has the African American vote locked up, however there are lots of people pointing out that Bill Clinton was a huge push behind the so-called three-strikes laws that have put many in prisons for life. Fox News can say what they want about Black crime, but they always leave out abject poverty as a factor in their rants.

Clinton may wish to pin this on others, but she can't take credit for Bill Clinton's good accomplishments and wear a Teflon suit around the negative aspects of his presidency. Personally I am tired of her negative campaign, and have a pretty good case of "Clinton Fatigue" at this point. Attacks and comments by her surrogates will not play well, though it seems a comfortable place for her to be. The argument can be made that Sanders will turn out greater voter numbers due to his appeal to the young person demographic.
Mike (State College, Pa.)
What!? The people are resisting the will of the rich? Shocking! Round up the usual suspects!
Jim Conlon (Southampton, New York)
Sanders does not have a prayer. The Democrats should have provided more options. Shame on you.
Vicki (Nevada)
I hate a caucus, "First In The West" or not. I prefer walking in, voting, and then going about my day. Why waste a perfectly good Saturday in a school library?
Sarah (N.J.)
I know that this is a politcal discussion, and it has nothing to do with fashion. But I cannot help wondering about Hilliary Clinton's style yesterday. Her black outfit with the turtleneck high white collar had a touch of Judge Judy, a priestly look and also created visions of Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock.
Laurencia (Ontario)
What were the male candidates dressed like, and what visions did that create?
Sherwood (South Florida)
Where is Barbara Buckley the ex head of the powerful Culinary union? Las Vegas proper is a hot bed of Democrats, culinary workers, Hispanics, everyday casino employees and the home turf of Harry Reid. Bernie Sanders is an an unknown here. The Clintons are not exactly loved but probably pull of a win for Hillary. Let's see if Mr. Adelson will even publish any news of the Democratic caucuses at all. I lived thru the downturn in Vegas and nobody knew how to stop the bleeding of the crash. The Democratic Caucus will show how the power of Sheldon Adelson, Sanders will pull in the younger voters, I predict a win for Mr. Sanders. The rest of Nevada has a Wild West mentality and doesn't really care about the Democrats winning any thing. Let's see how the turnout in the entire state votes. Nevada is important because of the mind set of hands off policy in the Northern part of Nevada and the let the government help help us in Las Vegas.
Chaz1954 (London)
Robert Waldinger reported at his presentation at TEDx Beacon Street that a study found that when asking millennials what they wanted out of their life, 80% said to be rich!!! You can not get there without taking risk, getting an education and reaping the rewards of your efforts and risks. Goodbye to the liberals in this years elections.
Big Al (Southwest)
The Clintons must be a little nervous. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is parachuting in to campaign for Hillary. Perhaps he and the Clintons do not realize that most Nevadans don't know who the machine-Democrat Mayor of Los Angeles is, and care about his opinion even less.
Historic Home Plans (Oregon)
Assuming Congress & Senate remain controlled by the GOP and a DEM wins the presidency I see 2 possible scenarios

Clinton wins and finds herself the focus of the never-ending onslaught of lies, belligerence and deceit that have been tools of trade for the GOP ... think Email-gate, Benghazi-gate, Vince Foster-gate, Lewinski-gate...

On the other hand, should Sanders find himself in the White House I predict a never-ending onslaught of lies, belligerence and deceit from the GOP.

The only difference I can see is that with Sanders the GOP would be presented with a less familiar foe.

I predict a DEM victory in November and it doesn't matter much which one makes it. As long as the GOP remains in control of both houses there will be no progress of any kind and policy debate in DC will continue to be non-existent, replaced by inertia, lies and character assassination.
Paul S (New York)
He has to win the general (unlikely ... then we have Trump? Cruz? doesn't matter, the 3 or 4 supreme court seats mean we lose on every issue there is for 2 generations) and then he has to govern (the GOP won't let a socialist govern. Look how hard it was for Obama, who governed from the middle for most of his terms).

With a diverse electorate, you have to compromise. Hillary is the ideal person for Democrats to send to office at this time. And she'll win. And govern.

Can us Democrats please stop giving gifts to the GOP?
Rebekah Raleigh (Chicago, IL)
It is depressing to read all the extremely negative comments on the NYT website attacking Hillary Clinton from the left, from Bernie supporters. I myself recognize that Hillary is not the perfect progressive candidate. She has compromised and made concessions that Bernie Sanders hasn't in his career, and people view that ideological purity as a selling point. In fact, it is not. Bernie will not win a general election in this country. The far left Bernie supporters seem to have forgotten that 65% of the country are either Republicans, or Independents, many of whom live in southern or western states. To think that hordes of liberal voters are going to come out of the woodwork to support Bernie is just a fantasy that has consistently confounded the left over and over. And yet, those hordes have failed for materialize, not for McGovern, not for Nader, and in response we got Nixon and Bush. I hope ultimately that people will realize that the perfect is the enemy of the good in this situation.
P (NYC)
For what it's worth, we got Bush because voters didn't come out for Gore, who couldn't run on Clinton's record, because ... Clinton.
marvinhjeglin (hemet, californa)
"not the perfect progressive candidate" I say she is not progressive, except on abortion she sits to the right of former president Dwight D. Eisenhower.

She was a young republican, a Goldwater Girl and a Wal Mart Board Member.

Hillary loves herself money and war. The rest of us not so much.
Paul Mohrbacher (Milwaukee)
It's clear in your third paragraph that you still confuse ethnicity and race. For the millionth time: "Hispanic" is an ethnic/cultural designation. The most recent data shows that the majority of Hispanics in the USA identify racially as White. That's what my wife of Puerto Rican ancestry does.
MyNYC (NYC)
I think its funny how so many think votes makes any true difference in the direction of the US. As was stated in some recent movie " if voting really changed anything, they'd make it illegal."
them (USA)
Still no article from the NYT about how even though Sanders destroyed Clinton in NH, Clinton may end up with more NH delegates due to her insider wheeling and dealing.

http://www.npr.org/2016/02/10/466283748/how-hillary-clinton-is-actually-...

If ever there were a red flag (and there are so many) regarding Clinton and her profoundly corrupt and manipulative DNA, this is it.

It's one thing for Clinton to silence the press and sideline the Freedom of Information Act. It's another thing for her to thumb her nose entirely at the wheels of democracy and raise her middle finger to the all the voters in NH.
William (Alhambra, CA)
Just wanted to put a plug in for Hillary Clinton. I'm a young-ish (still under 40), college-educated Asian-American left-coaster. My two main reasons are 1) she's been a First Lady, a Senator, and a Secretary of State. And 2) the Democratic party doesn't operate in a vacuum. Even if I agree with Bernie Sanders's policies, which I don't entirely, most if not all of it will be thwarted by Congress. That is all.
petey tonei (Massachusetts)
The Clintons have long long wooed Asians, specially Chinese and Indians. The Indian American community in Silicon Valley is a big fan of the Clintons. Clintons gave name recognition as far as Indians in India. Who contributes to Clinton foundation is a good indication of the inroads they made with their foundation. It's no secret.
Root (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres" title="http://www.google.com/imgres" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres</a>)
1) Being First Lady does not make you qualified to be President, just makes you married to one.

2) Lived in NY just long enough for her to usurp a real NY'er from running for Senator...just to further her ambition..........I'm born and raised in NY she was mediocre at best.

3) Secretary of State.......try finding any accomplishments of hers while she served..slim pickings at best.......claimed she and Chelsea dodged bullets on tarmac..........another bold faced lie

So considering your reasons she isn't qualified for much. She's another politician who got rich after leaving office and is now solidly part of the 1% and has been bought and paid for by the guys who screwed things up in 2008, that would be Wall Street. So vote for her if you want but nothing will change. Nothing.
Jay Havens (Washington)
OK...and what makes you think the Republican Congress will work better with Hillary in the White House? Can you just imagine her proposed legislation getting the Benghazi reception? If you have even a prayer getting anything even mildly past the Hyper Conservative Republican Congress, your only chance is with Bernie Sanders. And yes, he's proven that he could get his work through while on Veteran's Affairs Committee. Game, Set and Match for Bernie!
Matt Ng (NY, NY)
I'm a lifelong Democrat and just can't find anything to get inspired about by Hillary Clinton.

I should be really enthusiastic about her candidacy and yet I get more disinterested as time moves along.

I can never get over her "yes" vote to the invasion of Iraq, I thought the lead up to that "forever war" was lacking in credibility, made no sense that Al Qaeda and Iraq had collaborated.

That's the main reason I voted for now President Obama, he was one of the only ones to vote "no".

To think of the money and lives lost for no reason, to give Iran a chance to gain power in the region and to destabilize the entire region when "neighborhood advice" from all our partners in the region warned us at the time would happen if we invaded.

Now we'll have to deal with those problems for the next fifty years.

To think that a vote for Hillary would put us in a position to get involved in another trillion dollar war is what's holding me back.

I hope she wins, anything but a Republican would be fine, but I just can't get excited about a Clinton Presidency.
Mary (Minneapolis)
Obama did not vote "no." He was not a member of the Senate at that time, but rather a member of the Illinois State Legislature.
Matt Ng (NY, NY)
You are correct, he was not in the Senate. He was opposed to it, but didn't have a vote on it.
PE (Seattle, WA)
The graphic design of the H arrow is a perfect example of why HRC is struggling. It reminds me of the eye rolls people gave at the Jeb exclamation point signs. The arrow H is too artsy and condescending to some that may want a clear message of jobs and fairness and equality. Don't dance around that message with high-end graphic design. A better sign: "Vote Hillary, she will create jobs".
Elephant lover (New Mexico)
You are the first person I have heard of who objects to Hillary because you don't like her logo! It is hard to get a clear message of jobs and fairness and equality in a logo.
PE (Seattle, WA)
Elephant, I don't object to Hillary. I just think she is making big mistakes with how she is running her campaign. The masses need clarity and repetition. Bernie drives his message home: go at the one percent, make it fair! Hillary is all over the place, and her H sign is all over the place. And her message is muffled behind efforts to spin away scandal. I'll vote for her or Bernie, just want a winning Dem in the general--and I am not convinced Bernie has the nuance to carry a general election. He is one note; unclear on foreign policy. So Hill needs to step up and stop all the vague image making, and wide-eyed Bernie-type shouting. And sit down with America and talk. She is a states-person of the highest order--her presentation needs to reflect that.
doug.eklund (Brooklyn, NY)
It's actually near plagiarism of the Fed Ex logo with the "subliminal" arrow pointing to the right. Leave it to the Clinton team to boost their logo from a multinational...
fast&amp;furious (the new world)
I hope Hillary gets beat so she and Bill will go home and roll around on top of piles of their cash. You know they want to.
Joe Lake (Minneapolis)
Hilary's logo looks like it's directing you to a hospital. How appropriate: her campaign needs some kind of emergency treatment.
NYer (NYC)
How about some detailed presentation of the positions of Clinton and Sanders and a comparison of them?

Instead of all this rumor-generated talk about the process that's so short of information voters need to make informed choices -- the press is really letting down the electorate this election cycle bu failing to do this.
JA (<br/>)
I like Bernie well enough but I must admit that his followers definitely come off as self-righteous, impulsive and irrational. collectively their behavior is very adolescent, which is very off-putting to me.

I will be perfectly fine actually with either democrat over any republican winning the general election. I have no idea which one- sanders or clinton- holds up better against the top nominee in the general election but I hope to god the dems come out on top.

for many reasons including personal ones and barring any bizarre occurrences, I will likely vote for HRC in the primaries. and to responses coming my way, no I don't have issues with her wall street speeches (why has that not been questioned of any male candidates, R or D, before her? I'm glad she got paid well) or her emails (I fault the State Dept. IT Security whose job it is to ensure safe, uniform communication systems, that's what they are hired to do, just like they do at my place of employment).
Bill (NJ)
Party loyalty to former Democratic Party heavyweights like Hillary merely confirm Hilary's political establishment legacies. The more Democratic governors, senators, representatives, and ethnic leaders voice their support for Hillary, they are confirming her commitment to the status quo and payback to her supporters if elected.
Bella (The City Different)
The NYT continually throws the race card out at us every chance they get. Please, give us a break NYT. The Sanders movement is much more than race. It is about the middle class losing the American democracy which Hillary is not a part of no matter all her lip service. The middle class is made up of every ethnic group and that is what Sanders has proven is his base.
RDeanB (Amherst, MA)
The Times gave a Times pick to the commenter that criticized other commenters for claiming the Times has a bias here. Maybe they do, but its not necessarily for Hilary -- rather, it is for creating articles that extend the narrative of the race. Such articles are given precedence over actual national and world events.
DecliningSociety (Baltimore)
When are the liberals going to accept that their choices are even more abysmal than the other side. An annoying liar who is the epitome of the Wall Street 1 percent and a crazy socialist who is promising free everything after dismantling the American capitalist system. Good grief, JFK is rolling.
Laurencia (Ontario)
Nothing could be more abysmal than the prospect of Trump as President. I think you are exaggerating about both Clinton and Sanders. Clinton has a history of supporting social causes on behalf of people who are not the Wall Street I percent, for example, children of middle and low income families. And Bernie is a "democratic socialist" -- which does not require dismantling the capitalist system. For example, universal, one-payer, medical insurance has worked very well in several, capitalist countries for years.
Sam I Am (Windsor, CT)
"Nevada permits same-day voter registration, a matter of special concern to Mrs. Clinton since first-time caucusgoers flocked to Mr. Sanders in Iowa. And 30,000 Nevadans registered and voted on caucus day here in 2008, many of them brought in by Barack Obama."

This is what is of 'special concern' to me.

In order to win in November, the Democratic nominee needs to inspire people that are not registered to vote at their current address to actually register and actually come out to vote.

If Bernie's the one who can get them to do that, then he's the strongest Democratic candidate for a general election. If it's Hillary, then she is.

Any Democrat who's worried about losing a primary or caucus because of these people needs to wake up to the necessity of having these people in November.
Mike Edwards (Providence, RI)
Commentators need to stop putting the wood to the New York Times to protest their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as a bias towards Hilary Clinton.
New York Times articles are excellent in that they always present a backstory – a discussion of some of the events leading up to the subject discussed in the article.

I’m as electrified by Bernie as the next NYT commentator but he doesn’t have a backstory. In the CNN/ORC poll of 02/15/2015, Bernie was polling at 3% with Elizabeth Warren at 12% and Hilary at 60%. Hilary Clinton, on the other hand, has been at the business end of politics since 1992. She has made many statements and taken many actions that voters have an opinion on; hence her seeming to dominate in articles about the next Democratic Presidential candidate, as Times’ reporters seek out those opinions.

And – OK – so the Times chose Hilary as their preferred Democratic candidate. It’s an opinion – that’s all - and not an unreasonable one at that.
petey tonei (Massachusetts)
To your point, she was always favored, always assumed to win the nomination. It's just that along comes an unknown figure, Chanels the public's Long held concerns and gives them a voice. Alongside he gives Mrs Clinton the guaranteed to be the nominee, a well deserved run for the money. It is only going to make her better, more in tune with the people, and bring the change much needed. Bernie is prioritizing it for her. Doing her a favor. We don't have to trip over each other, we don't have to divide ourselves. No need to get nasty or bitter, defensive or aggressive. Chill.
rf (New Hampshire)
"Hilary Clinton, on the other hand, has been at the business end of politics since 1992." You are apparently unaware that Sanders has been in politics far longer. Sanders won his first election, as mayor of Burlington, in 1981, and since then has won two more elections for mayor, eight elections for U.S. congressman, and 2 elections for U.S. senator. Clinton, in contrast, has won only 2 elections (for U.S. senator from New York). Maybe you want to count her years as first lady of Arkansas and of the U.S. as political experience. Its not the same as winning elections.
Dave (Ventura, CA)
I honestly feel that it's disingenuous to say that Senator Sanders "doesn't have a backstory". He's been pretty much the same guy for thirty five years of public service, unlike the Clinton's who've always got a finger in the wind before taking a position. It's not that she is not qualified, I don't hear anyone making that argument, but for right here, right now, Bernie Sanders is the better candidate.
Wizarat (Moorestown, NJ)
People know the Clintons in all parts of the country, they know both former President Bill and former first lady and SOS Hillary. There is nothing new here, they know the strengths and weaknesses of both. What the voters in Iowa and New Hampshire told us that 'trustworthiness' is very important and once you know Senator Sanders and listen to him speak you can make up your mind on that topic.

Bernie Sanders means what he says and with the Clintons I am not sure.
Bernie Sanders is walking the walk and not just talking.

Re the transcripts and email fiasco, sooner or later Mrs. Clinton would have to release them and then it might be too late for her campaign to win.

Underestimation and condescending to youth was Clintons HUGE mistake of 2008 and they are repeating the same.
RD (Baltimore. MD)
what good is "meaning what you say" if you disregard whether there is a realistic chance of implementing "what you say"?

Say that the country that twice elected GWB, has now elected GOP majorities in both houses of Congress, and even greater majorities in state legislatures and governorships, and continues to fight over an incremental change to our private insurer based health care system (House repeal # 63, February 2nd) actually elects an aging, old school socialist (I guess "establishment" is in the eye of the beholder) running on tax hike financed single payer health care reform...

Do you actually think think incumbent interests and entrenched opposition will lay down so President Sanders can accomplish what Obama squeajed through with a single vote when his party controlled all three branches of government (and lost them as a consequence)? Will a President Sanders will money and influence out of politics?

Or say that the country doesn't...
we are one Suprme Court appointment away from a repeal of Roe v Wade, voter rights, worker rights, and the list goes on
Raspberry (Swirl)
Since NH... Bernie Sanders's support has skyrocketed. His camp has brought in over 6 million in monetary support in only a few day's time -- money his camp really, really needs to take this all the way to November... all small donations from everyday people like me. Hillary is no longer running against Bernie... she is running against The People.
petey tonei (Massachusetts)
The People must not be squished and squashed by Big Money.
kicksotic (New York, NY)
So, here's the NY Times re-running the Clinton narrative from 2008: she's on the ropes, she's struggling, she's got her back against the wall, her campaign is imploding and stumbling, they're panicking, etc and so on and blah blah blah.

The reality is, as it was in 2008 when, despite her "struggling" campaign, she kept winning contest after contest, she's in a very strong position with a very strong ground game and very deep Democratic, demographic support. Was NH a great loss? No. Sanders had been leading since November and was expected to win in an all-white Liberal state. Is Nevada a big deal? Yes. Every contest is a big deal and every vote needs to be earned.

Are the stakes in Nevada higher for Sanders than for Clinton? YES!

Why doesn't the Times write about that? Oh right. The Clinton-Is-On-the-Ropes Narrative.

As you were...
rf (New Hampshire)
Deep demographic support for Hillary? Really? Certainly not young voters or male voters or female voters(!) or college educated voters or not college educated voters. What's left? Voters over 65 and voters with incomes over $200,000. Yeah… Hillary has those.
NI (Westchester, NY)
I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am fervently hoping Bill does not put in an appearance or rather take over the entire stage. He SHOULD understand people can put up with only so much narcissism in a cloak of helping his wife. We are not voting for Hillary BECAUSE of him. We are voting for Hillary BECAUSE she IS Hillary in her own lapels, her accomplishments and depth of experience, who happens to be the most Capable PERSON to take on the Office of the President in a fray of current Candidates, both, Democratic and Republican. So stay away Bill unless you are really asked. That would certainly help Hillary's cause.
Jay (SanDiego)
This video from MSNBC is stunningly great and logical criticism of Hillary Clinton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2rn-0MQsxw

“But there was just hypocrisy dripping from that answer [Hillary’s answer], first of all “artful smear”. For Bernie Sanders simply saying about Hillary Clinton what Hillary Clinton said about herself in September few months ago that she was a moderate. And being shocked and stunned deeply saddened that Bernie Sanders is telling the truth … is that Wall Street Journal said today, Wall Street has had no better friend over the past decade as far as democrats Steve Kornacki and Hillary Clinton – no better friend than Hillary Clinton. For her, to accuse Burnie Sanders of smearing her and it goes to Glass Steagle as well. Hillary Clinton is sitting there, attacking Bernie Sanders for what Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton were the champion of. No she didn’t vote for it; she and president Clinton aggressively lobbied for it.”
Vic Williams (<br/>)
I'm a 30-hear Nevada resident, a Democrat in the (mostly) red-tinged northern half of the state. My two teenage daughters are over the moon for Bernie. They don't remember George McGovern and that far-left electoral debacle. They want to recalibrate what they see as a financial landscape tilted heavily toward the very well-off, which it most certainly is. Great job, Baby Boomers. But as we head to the caucus (I'm signed up to be a precinct captain), I recognize that our government, the established in the wake of revolution, is set up to progress incrementally, thoughtfully and with at least a passing glance at reality. I love Bernie's proposals for the most part, but — show of hands, please — how many of us progressives actually believe that what he's proposing would magically become the law of the land in quick order, or even within a decade (when Sanders would be well into his 80s)? And how many of us are willing to put all of our political chips on his side of the table, when we know that Hillary, flawed candidate that she is, would at least continue Obama's incremental (and therefore realistic) approach to change? Are we willing to "Bern" it all down and risk what we've built, however slowly and painfully, over the past century?
Sid (TX)
Playing it safe, huh? Very unlike our forefathers in 1776.
Clark M. Shanahan (Oak Park, Illinois)
Progress incrementally, Vic?
Wealth disparity soared under Bill Clinton and has slowly grown under President Obama.
What about our prisons; a three-fold population growth since WJC?
I don't call our vigorous private prison industry or people like the Pritzkers and Bill Gates calling the shots on education policy in our inner-cities signs of "incremental progress". Ditto for our special ops dealings around the globe.
Anita (Barre, Vermont)
Dont understand why folks think a President Sanders would burn anything down! Please think this through-- he would propose legislation and would defend what we have at the same time until something new passes. If there's a lot of
enthusiasm in the presidential election, we could get more Dems. in Congress.
He would also appoint excellent cabinet and department heads .
MKM (New York)
This problem for the Democratic Party arose not because of Sanders but do to Clintons sucking all the air out the room foreclosing any other candidates. There is no Ted Kennedy who had the stature, as in 2008, to push forward President Obama. Make all the fun you want of the Republican clown car but they haven’t put all the bets on one horse and are slugging out a very messy primary, that is how it’s supposed to work.
Bill (Old saybrook, ct)
Why the focus on Hillary?

Most journalists are aspiring 1%ers or at least consider themselves to be 'insiders' .

Case in point: very few journalists understood that the end of the social security deduction holiday would impact the economy - they don't live paycheck to paycheck.

Case 2 in point: Any DC journalist self-perceived as worth their salt must have known who leaked Valerie Plame's name long before we the public were informed.
George Ovitt (Albuquerque)
Does anyone else feel like the Times coverage of the Democratic primary campaign has gone from being merely partisan (favoring, of course, Mrs. Clinton) to borderline unethical? The editorializing in news stories and the imbalance, if not outright distortions, in news stories have become more egregious as Senator Sanders has overtaken Mrs. Clinton. in the polls. A good example is the claim first made by Nicholas Kristof and now repeated daily that, as a Senator, Sanders was ineffectual. This is patently untrue, as even a cursory review of his legislative record shows (especially impressive is his record of bipartisanship and compromise). On the other hand, Clinton's disgraceful anti-progressive voting and public record on DOMA, fracking, the Iraq War, TPP, Libya, and many other issues--not to mention her dependence on Goldman-Sachs money--has gone virtually unmentioned in the so-called Newspaper of Record. It really is shameful that the Times spills so much ink dissecting the farcical Republican debates, propping up Hillary (e.g. the headline after New Hampshire was that it was "young people" who caused Sanders to win when the fact was that he won nearly every demographic), and ignoring or misrepresenting Sander's ideas, achievement, and simple decency as a human being. A Clinton presidency will look exactly like an Obama presidency--false hope, more wars, and money rising to the top--and that won't do. Do we need a real change? Check out Robert Reich's new book.
CBC (Washington, DC)
I don't understand why Bernie supporters are so ready to see conspiracy everywhere. I read the same headline and think, wow they're just skipping over SC just to get to where there's a "Hillary on the ropes" angle. How can that possibly be considered pro-Hillary? Where is the piece with the headline, "Bernie about to be thumped in SC?" God forbid, people would be burning the Times in the streets!
quadgator (watertown, ny)
Just how out of tune Mrs. Clinton is with the Democratic Party? Has anyone looked at her campaign emblem? The arrow points right as in where she Mr. Clinton took the Democrats back in the 1990's. How ironic, wonder who the genius graphic designer was on that and how much she paid for it?

As a middle age liberal white male Mr. Sanders supporter, Mrs. Clinton if you want to earn my vote in November, assuming all goes well in SC & NV, it's not only changing optics and message.

Yes, I'm ready not to sit out this election but not vote for you, maybe this Country needs 4/8 years of a Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, or any other of the right wing clown car occupants to finally destroy the self-interest voting problem of the majority of Americans seem to have.

Mrs. Clinton, it's about finally embracing that you are a real Democrat and not a carpet bagging Goldwater Girl from the early Sixties, who feels she's entitled because she just happens to be a woman.
Jack (Illinois)
This is exactly the position of Sanders supporters.

If we don't elect Sanders then the country will suffer A Trump or Cruz for president AND THEN America will finally wake up to "Reality."

I have heard the same tripe for 50 years. If a GOPer gets into office now it will be like 30 years going back in progress with the GOPers causing even more damage in the future. No Thanks!
rtj (Massachusetts)
Optics not so good anyway. Seems that the Clinton Foundation got subpoenaed last fall. Last i heard, the State Dept still isn't Republican.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-foundation-received-subp...
John (Stowe, PA)
The $15 million plus of taxpayer money spent on 8 baseless congressional investigations, and untold millions spent through "dark money organizations" on the right all with the singular goal of lying about Clinton have had a discernible impact. The right is delighted at the rise of Sanders. It was a stated strategy on the right, reported here in the Times last spring, to bait the "left" to turn on Clinton because Republican strategists know that Sanders is their only hope of having a shot at the White House.
Billy (up in the woods down by the river)
a baiting strategy like that could backfire and blow up in the faces of those that instigated it.
Richard (New York)
Nope. Clinton has been done in, by her own financial filings, and the tens of millions she and Bill has accepted as 'speaking fees' from Wall Street. With good reason Sanders' supporters view Hillary as bought and paid for, just like her husband was bought and paid for as Arkansas governor, and just as her husband sold out to right wing and establishment forces in the White House (ending welfare, repealing Glass-Steagall etc). Not one Sanders supporter raves on about Benghazi and the other Republican obsessions.
Sid (TX)
Or it might be because Sanders' message resonates with those who have tired of HRC's repeat of her campaign message, which except for a few bells & whistles, is the same-ole, same-ole. The GOP candidates message is the same-ole, same-ole too. Only with more hate speech and desperation than ever before.
PacNWGuy (Seattle WA)
"fought in a state far off in the West "

I know the Times thinks the world revolves around NYC but Nevada is not "far off in the West". Its as much America as Manhattan. It'd be nice if your writers remembered this when editorializing their news stories.
Historic Home Plans (Oregon)
Far off in the east those NY journalists sometimes lose sight of the rest of American. We need to be gentle with them and politely lead them back.

;0)
paplo (new york)
Does Hilary realize the the arrow on her H, on her political poster, points to the right?
SRF (New York, NY)
Oh for heavens sake, the arrow points forward, not to the right. In the English language we read left to right, not liberal to conservative. And I'm a Sanders supporter.

There's nothing helpful about this sort of silly attack. The way to build support for Sen. Sanders is by following his example and staying on the high road.
dm92 (NJ)
Really? How about pointing forward? This typifies that we have truly reached the silly season.
phil (mamaroneck ny)
her political poster looks like the sign on the interstate showing where the hospital is.....I think I am going to be sick.
Chaz1954 (London)
I continue to think that Libs will wise up and not vote for either Clinton or Sanders ... the former a serial liar and the latter a Socialist. We need to cut taxes, cut spending and entitlement programs and help corporations hire more people by slashing regulations!
Sid (TX)
Why not invade Uzbekistan too, a country that seems to have nothing to do with any major issues today, much like Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 almost 15 years ago? Maybe "W" should enter the race, then we can have de-ja-vu all over again.
Historic Home Plans (Oregon)
Are you being serious or facetious? I can't quite tell.
Deus02 (Toronto)
It seems you have a short memory. They already did that and the result was 2008.
carl bumba (vienna, austria)
Since youth, of all colors, do not follow their leaders as in the past, Hillary's costly endorsements will only have a negative impact with them. Sure, millennials are tied to the unfounded, collective "wisdom" of the web. But unfortunately, this is a more democratic expression than what is offered by our current political system - and democracy will prevail.
Abraham Middeldorp (Northfield)
Why did Hilary Clinton quit als secretary of State after 4 years?
njglea (Seattle)
Benghazi foolishness. Who can blame her? And the right-wing fools are at it again. This time it will backfire on them.
Becky M (Los Angeles)
To run for POTUS. So?
Root (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres" title="http://www.google.com/imgres" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres</a>)
To further her political ambitions of course. It's always been about her.
microbio (wisconsin)
There is much in Bernie's message that appeals and that also brings back those wrenching memories of how a very decent George McGovern was demonized. If Bernie is to succeed he needs to show how to combine a vote for him along with a vote for progressives candidates for the House and the Senate. That failing, the non compromising conservatives will neutralize him, as they largely have done with Obama.

HRC has serious campaign problems, not the least of which is that she has incredibly minimal support among younger persons who are upset with the status quo. There is no coherent meaningful message from her to them and if not corrected, will translate into defeat. If she does not smoothly incorporate the durable ideas that attract the younger voter to Bernie, she will for the present, if not the long term, be primarily seen as a shill for Wall St and for privatization of the the public sector.

Had she been seriously thinking of a run for the presidency she should never have accepted exceptionally large honoraria. If she is as bright as she wants us to believe, she should be able to solve a significant problem of her own making and to convince the voters how her other solutions will lead to an economically improved middle class. Unless she is able to do this, she will not have their votes nor their support in caucusing states.
Historic Home Plans (Oregon)
If Clinton wins and the GOP retains control of both houses, she will be "neutralized" as well.
It doesn't really matter much whether it's Sanders or Clinton unless the balance in the House starts to shift too.
HRaven (NJ)
Bernie is calling, over and over, for a citizens' revolution. This will work only if citizens support him now and, if his name is at the top of the ballot, vote for all candidates in the Democrat line. Not interested in a citizens' revolution? Then watch as a Republican President, a Republican Congress and a Republican Supreme Court lead the way to destroying civilization, then the planet as seas rise, earth dries and tribalism reigns as mankind fights for survival in a wasteland. If you consider yourself a member of the 99%, listen to Bernie. He wants to represent all Americans. Repeat -- all Americans. Under Republican dominance, the day may come when you, or your children, or your grandchildren, are asked, "Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Democrat party?"
klynstra (here)
The handwriting is on the wall for Clinton. She'll win in South Carolina but Bernie will do better than expected. He'll also do surprisingly well in Nevada, epicenter of the mortgage crisis. On Super Tuesday Clinton's support will collapse.
CG (Greenfield, MA)
Can you tell us who is going to win the World Series this year?
CBC (Washington, DC)
And then the GOP, which has been holding its collective breath on Sanders, will launch into him, compressing the vitriol they've so successfully used to hobble Hillary Clinton over 20 years into a few short months. Only after Sanders is nominated will his proposals suddenly get real (and no doubt exaggerated and slanderous) scrutiny and we'll hear non-stop how it would blow up the deficit and the debt. Most people will buy it, and Sanders has been so adamant he won't be able to walk any of it back. President Rubio strides to the podium....
LB (MA)
As it's been said, "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." This country is on a bad trajectory; time to have a little courage and give both something and someone else a try.
Marla Burke (Kentfield, Ca.)
The New York Times continues to shill for Ms. Clinton, thus reducing itself to a trade paper for the banking and investment community.
Mike L (Pennsylvania)
Mr. Sanders sure stirs the crowd with his legitimate concerns BUT what specifically are his plans to bring about the change? What has he done in his twenty -five years of service? Sponsored one bill? All the Abbie Hoffman talk has nothing behind it.
Andrea (New Jersey)
And was has HRC done? Vote for war in Irak, take Libya apart, the bankruptcy law...
Winston Smith (Crossing America)
You should look at his website. There are detailed explanations of his programs and policies and how they will be implemented. More details than any other candidate.
marvinhjeglin (hemet, californa)
He and HIllary authored the same number of bills while in the Senate, three each.
annberkeley2008 (Toronto)
I've listened to clips of Sanders speeches and he seems pretty strident to me so why is poor old Hillary being picked on for the same thing? Awful thought - is it because she's a woman? I hope not.

As a left wing liberal, I like what Sanders says but he doesn't appear to have a road map for accomplishing any of it. Take single payer healthcare which Canada and the UK has. (I'm a dual Canada-UK citizen.) In Canada, this was started by the great Tommy Douglas in Saskatchewan after WWII and spread across the country from there. In the UK It began in Wales, once again after the war, and spread from there. For you guys it would most likely have to spread from a single state thus Sanders would not have a real role to play in getting it started.(It was a wonder Obama managed to do what he did.) While the individual states persist in electing republican governors you'll never get single payer care.

As for the rest of it, how is he going to get past your nasty recalcitrant Congress and House? You've got to start from the ground up and elect people for local positions who are for you and not just charmers on the election trail.

To someone outside the country, this election looks like chaos - good fun to watch oversize characters duking it out but depressing when you consider the heft the winner will have out in the world. The only trustworthy person in terms of world affairs is Hillary. Sorry Bernie fans.
Dobby's sock (US)
annberkeley2008,
So to sum it up, Canada and UK managed single payer, but there is no possible way the greatest nation the world has ever know could accomplish that.

You say Sanders couldn't get past our nasty recalcitrant congress, but somehow Clinton will? Because they adore her and will bend to her mighty will?? They are lining up to work with her because....???

The trustworthy person is Hillary because....?? She has taken bribes/donations from many foreign countries? Because she has sold arms to most of the countries with human right violations? Because she has bombed and overthrown sovereign nations? Being a war hawk is now considered to be trustworthy in world affairs according to this Canadian.

Funny that you feel she is trustworthy when many of those in her own party don't think so. Those in the opposing party rinse their mouths out when mentioning her name.

Right....
Sorry Hillary fans.
Mike (State College, Pa.)
No U.S. states up to the task? That's what California's for.
Here (There)
Trustworthiness on world affairs, as you call it, may not be the measure of a president. The US has not elected to the presidency a former Secretary of State since Buchanan (1856). Canada has elected exactly one former Minster of Foreign/External Affairs in the past half century, Chretien, who served for a couple of months under Turner.
Martita (Austin, Texas)
If the landscape mural in Hillary Clinton's Nevada office is any indication, it looks likes a rough climb ahead.
Jim (Seattle Washingtion)
Hillary just isn't as smart as everyone makes out. If she was smart, she would have realized that no matter how you look at it, excepting very large sums of money for speeches to Wall Street will imply conflict of interest. This is basic ethics for attorneys. She would have also realized at that time if she had any idea of reality, that the people were waking up to the fact that after 6 years (circa 2014) of moderate republican corporatism disguised as democratic policy was only serving the interest of the oligarchy.
CG (Greenfield, MA)
What conflict of interest?
rf (New Hampshire)
Accepting six-figure payments for speeches would be illegal for any federal civil servant. Apparently Hillary thinks its ok for a presidential candidate however. Whether or not there is an explicit quid pro quo is immaterial. The mere perception of undue influence is bad enough, which should have been obvious to her.
bb (berkeley)
Nevada a state that was hit hard by the 2008 recession. Reno losing money to California casinos. I think people will recognize Clinton as part of Wall Street and part of the problem and cause of such loses and vote for Sanders. Change is in the air. Clintons foundation is rocky.
marvinhjeglin (hemet, californa)
I found "Clintons foudation is rocky." funny, made think of their $250,000,000.00 foundation and its contributors!
Andrea (New Jersey)
In 1813, as the French withdrew from Spain and Wellington's Anglo-Spanish-Portuguese army crossed the Ebro toward the Pyrenees, the absolutist Bourbon King of Spain, Fernando VII, was released from a French castle somewhere and arrived in northen Spain. Spanish peasants lined the roads saluting him with the cry "Vivan las Cadenas" (Long Live the Chains).
The outgoing king, Jose Bonaparte, was attempting to be a constitutional monarch.
Similarly most of the pundits, insiders, etc., and of course the media seem to abhor the rise of a presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, who does not respond to money and who is committed to put an end to the soft political corruption that is destroying America.
We got used to the abuse.
Bruce.S (Oakland)
Reid: "Bill Clinton plays golf so Bernie has a problem there."
???

Good to know the Democratic establishment isn't out of touch.
Wizarat (Moorestown, NJ)
Why are we trying to sell oldies to young folks.

They like their music which some of us do not get. They get their news on their phones, they get their entertainment on their phones. That is where the strength of Sanders camp lies, they know how to connect with the youth; whereas the Clintons are yesterdays news and yes they try to reach the youth and spend a big chunk of money doing that.

The basic difference is that one is 'connecting' the other is 'trying to reach' the youth. One respects them for their youth, vigor, and ideas, whereas the other think they know best.

These are two different attitudes that has made a difference in the primaries and would continue to make the difference.
Jack (Illinois)
The Pied Piper also 'connected' with his audience.

Bernie and Donald are the Pied Pipers of our time. With as much pizzaz and panache as any other 'Promisers' that we have had along the way.

Two Pied Pipers. Playing the same tune, only slightly different.
Wizarat (Moorestown, NJ)
The similarity ends at not getting money from the PACs and big Banks or other Wall Street moguls, for that matter not even from Sheldon Adelson, oops, she gets it from the other Billionaire Saban though.

Instead of criticising Sanders, it would be nice if HRC supporters would talk about positives about her, if she has any other than its my turn or I am a women. Yes she was SOS for President Obama she accumulated million miles but she has nothing to show for it diplomatically.
Clark M. Shanahan (Oak Park, Illinois)
I have to thank Mr Nagourney for giving a somewhat more balanced appraisal on the Nevada Primary. It is a primary that shall give us some solid indicators.
Note to Maggie Haberman, Patrick Healy and NPR's Ari Shapiro & Mara Liasson: This is advice that I gave to Roger Cohen, years ago, when he was covering France: "Get out of the handball court from time to time".
Meaning; get out of the journalists' ghetto. You sound as though you spend all your time in a secure echo-box filled with worthless trivia and false assumptions.
Sander's backing is not an angry mob, but, people who actually pay attention to our rough times. The fact that Hillary won only the 65 and older and the plus $200,000 households should hit you like a cattle prod.
Brown Dog (California)
WAKE UP, NYT!! You just don't get it. Bernie's supporters are not a bunch of angry people. These are real Democrats who are working to take back their party from those who called themselves Democrats and proved willing to transfer the power of democracy to the wealthy 1%. We are no longer willing to leave politics in the hands of the Comedy Central and HBO or to make our choices based on what the NYT tells us to do. Citizens who passively watched the corporate media dictate their voting choices are for the first time out bounding pavements and manning phones actually talking to their fellow citizens. Make no mistake, this is a wakeup call to the Democratic party that we registered Democrats will no longer be sold out by party bosses and coronations.

Pardon me while this white male goes out with my new Hispanic friend to pound the pavement urging other Democrats to take back their party and return the vote to themselves.
Sea Star (San Francisco)
I'm a Bernie supporter and I really like the fact that he is not dwelling on our differences, but rather our common interests.

Instead of the issues of race, gender, religion, and class to divide us, he focuses on affordable health care, real wages in our pockets and student loan debt.

United we stand, divided we fall!
chrismosca (Atlanta, GA)
Any information on how the Democratic superdelegates want this to go? Just trying to save the people of Nevada some time.
Iowa Hawkeyes (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Most Super Delegates are uncommitted or behind Hillary. Nevada will be no different.
Keith Ferlin (Canada)
If there is a high road and a low road, you will always find Bernie on the high road, where he has been throughout his political life.
Julio in Denver (Colorado)
Super delegates pledge their votes, but they are not binding. Many of Hillary's previous SDs flipped and voted for Obama when he took the lead. History will repeat itself if Sanders leads in the regular delegate totals. Otherwise the SDs will be voted out of office in the election (they are mostly politicians).
Scott Miller (Los Angeles)
If Bernie loses Nevada, it will prove he was just an early protest candidate. If he wins or performs far better than expectations, then it will be on to the next state, to see if it will prove that he's just an early protest candidate. Maybe when he hits 500 delegates we can take him seriously?
CAdVA (New England)
Once the Titanic hit the iceberg, it sank.
Resident farmer (Kauai)
So are you saying that Hillary's campaign will be sinking soon? That's certainly how I, and the vast majority of commenters, see it and hope it to be. The Titanic representing the old order (establishment politics) and the iceberg being the massive upswelling of disenfranchised voters. Not that I wish any lives lost, but letthe Big Ship go down, and good riddance! Feel the Bern!
Hugh Briss (Climax, Virginia)
I'm puzzled by the Clintons' confidence that Nevadans—many still suffering from the economic collapse of 2008—will blindly vote for the team that repealed the Glass–Steagall Act.
Rita (California)
Any evidence that Ms. Clinton signed the repeal of Glass-Steagall?

Or are you just assuming that a wife has to agree with everything her husband says or does?
nana2roaw (albany)
Most Americans have no idea what the Glass-Steagall Act was much less understand its significance.
Iowa Hawkeyes (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Did you read the article? Where did the Clinton's say they were confidant they would win NV?
Marty O'Toole (Los Angeles)
Clinton can run the table and win big if she stops yelling, stops erupting like a crazy old angry lady, listens, reacts honestly to events and people, and shows gratitude.
Chaz1954 (London)
Mary O'Toole
The fallacy in your post is that you mentioned 'Honesty" and "Clinton" in the same sentence. They are mutually exclusive terms.
David (Brooklyn, NY)
Her making a big, sudden shift like that will really help with her credibility.
Brown Dog (California)
In other words, reinvents who she is.
JLK (Rose Valley, PA)
Sanders has the bona fides and the policies to be attractive to minority voters. It's more a matter of convincing them that he has a chance.
Brock (Dallas)
Picture stagecoaches rumbling amuck with riders yelling, "Nevada demands socialism, NOW!"
Resident farmer (Kauai)
Brock- if you live in the past, you are doomed to repeat past failures.
Richard (New York)
Hillary needs to bow out, soon, and gracefully, without (for once) trying to savage the inevitable Democratic Party nominee. She may have all the experience in the world, she may have been working towards this moment for 20+ years, but the truth is she has repeatedly failed to make the connection with the electorate you need to make, to become President. It's not about 'fighting for people' or 'listening tours' or 'taking 25 years of hits from Republicans'. It's an essential X factor - you have it or you don't. If you don't no amount of money, super delegates etc. can make you President. Hillary does not have that X factor, never has, never will. Why the Democratic party didn't run a big slate of candidates this year, as in 1988 and other years, is a mystery. Thank God Bernie had the chutzpah to challenge and make what I have just said, now blindingly obvious to all.
PS (Massachusetts)
Richard - This is typical, thoughtless bullying behavior that is coming from the Sanders crowd. Ignore the democratic process (and the democrat, while you are at it) and “”imagine” what the rules might be.

Drop out? She beat him in Iowa, remember? Not by much but still in her favor. So he got NH, right beside Vermont and in a state that didn’t support Bill either. It’s hardly over.
Deus02 (Toronto)
She beat Obama and Edwards in New Hampshire in 2008 and that was deemed as important to her Presidential aspirations. This time around, she lost by 21 percent in a head to head competition in New Hampshire and now it is not important?
Resident farmer (Kauai)
Your reply, PS, thoughtlessly bullies Richard from NY, who actually did no bullying on his own. He only told his truth as he sees it, which happens to be the same truth I and, hopefully, the majority of voters, see.
Mikeyz (Boston)
Anecdotally..just back from LA. Saw lots of Bernie t-shirts; not a one for Hillary
Becky M (LA)
Our CA primary isn't until June. Hipsters wear Brooklyn shirts here too. Doesn't mean they want to live there anymore than wearing a Bernie shirt means he will win.
Rudolf (New York)
Earlier the NYTIMES kept writing degrading articles about Trump, obviously with zero impact except it resulted in him getting stronger by the day. In Hillary's case it is the other way around in that every write-up about her results in Sanders getting stronger. Constantly having to be reminded of Hillary makes the voter realize hat she is from yesterday and a hypocrite. Most likely the votes in South Carolina, involving many Afro-Americans and Sanders already meeting with Al Sharpton will be Hillary's kiss of death.
Orion (Los Angeles)
if Sanders is president, he would still be president when he is 80. In his last year or 2 of his presidency, there may be terrorists attacks, or world and domestic events that require even more energies a mere human can deal with, just look at the emergence of Isis and some of the key issues that have happened. I don't want a president of the free world, gasping through his oxygen tank, subcontracting his duties to his advisors at key moments in history.
Liz (San Diego)
You have a unnecessarily negative idea of what it means to be in your 80s.
Tom (<br/>)
And if Hillary is elected, in the last year of her Presidency she will be 75. Your point is what, exactly?
Deus02 (Toronto)
How old was Ronald Reagan in his second term?
Rita (California)
Will the candidates discuss policies in Nevada?

This campaign season is beginning to look a lot like the 1968 campaign. The baby boomers, tired of war and fearful of being drafted, flocked to a single issue candidate, Sen. Gene McCarthy. He, and later Sen. Kennedy, successfully painted Hubert Humphrey, a lifelong progressive stalwart, as "establishment".

He won the nomination but had been so wounded during the campaign that we got Pres. Nixon.
Lifelong New Yorker (NYC)
Senator Sanders has been discussing policy all along.
P.S. This is 2016, not 1968. The world (and even America) has moved on.
Bruce.S (Oakland)
Humphrey wounded himself by continuing to support the war. That was "establishment" and shameful for any "lifelong progressive." Not so "stalwart" - more like hopelessly compromised.
Rita (California)
@ Livelong New Yorker,

One learns from history...or not.

Sen. Sanders may be discussing policy but the NY Times gives policy short shift in favor of horse race details.
njglea (Seattle)
I"ll bet a million dollars that Sheldon Adelson, owner of Nevada and Israel, will not be voting for Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Senator Bernie Sanders. I'd bet quite a lot that his workers will - if they can legally vote.
Lifelong New Yorker (NYC)
I'd bet a million dollars that Sheldon Adelson's Republican Party will do whatever it can to ensure that those workers can't vote, regardless.
Lynn (Nevada)
In Nevada, even the Democrats have a conservative streak. Will they accept a self-labeled socialist? I don't know. It is hard to have a caucus in a 24 hour town. People work the most on weekends and can't go. This is a battleground state, and the one thing I know about Nevada is that if Bernie is the eventual nominee, this state will go Red because he will be branded by the Republicans as a communist who wants to start a revolution. People believe all their garbage it seems. Has anyone asked Bernie how he gets to 270, state by state? He needs some battleground states to become President. Which ones are they?
e.s. (cleveland, OH)
As far as I am concerned, anyone who voted for the attack on Iraq, which killed around 4,500 of our troops and injured so many more, is disqualified from the presidency of the U.S. Then there is her role in the attack on Libya which made Libya a shambles to this day. ISIS has now taken over parts of Libya. And then there is her role in the overthrow of Syria's president, Assad which led to the destabilization of Syria. Her "experience" means nothing if she uses poor judgement.
Mark Lebow (Milwaukee, WI)
Uh, Bashar al-Assad is still in power, and Syria was destabilized when he decided to make war on his people instead of listen to their protests.
Iowa Hawkeyes (Cedar Rapids, IA)
As someone who cares about gun reform anyone with Bernie's gun record, and got in bed with the NRA in 1990 to get elected will only get my vote if he is the Democratic nominee. But I hope that doesn't happen because the SCOTUS is too damn important, and once the Karl Rove's of the world show video of Bernie praising Castro and criticizing the US (late 1980's public access interview available on You Tube) and segments from his floor speeches Bernie would be crushed.
blackmamba (IL)
Hispanic/Latino is a unique American ethnic designation that has nothing to do with race or color or national origin or any combination of those factors. Resting entirely within a Spanish language and cultural heritage Hispanic/Latinos can be of any race, color or national origin. A proper analog is Anglo resting in an English language and cultural heritage.

Cruz and Rubio are both white and Cuban Hispanics like Desi Arnaz and Fidel Castro. But about 2/3rds of American Hispanic/Latinos are Mexican mestizo, mulatto, Garifuna, Native and African. The Hispanic/Latinos in Nevada are primarily Mexican.

Nevada rests on a service and metal mineral mining economic base. The state is earthquake prone and fresh drinking water deficient. The plutocrat Hillary Clinton does not know nor experience the pain of Nevadans.
BobMeinetz (Los Angeles)
In 2004 I spent ten weeks in Nevada campaigning for John Kerry, a swing state he lost almost entirely as a result of low voter turnout. Minority and voters of modest incomes didn't feel it would make a difference, so why bother?

After 2007 they realize is does matter, and it's Bernie who speaks for them - not Goldman-Sachs.
Brad (NYC)
I wish states would do away with the caucus' and just have people vote. They are terribly unfair to people who can't afford to give up their evening to support a candidate or happen to work nights. In a word, they are undemocratic.
Iowa Hawkeyes (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Given you live in a state without a caucus I don't know why you care about what other states do. As an Iowan who attended her first caucus in 1980 (as a GOP) and in 1988 (as a Democrat) I enjoy the caucus procedure. Very few people who don't attend the caucus, just like the overwhelmingly people who don't vote, don't fail to do so because of their work schedule.
Dale (Wisconsin)
Good thought, the caucus method isn't that much different from the Republicans requiring people take time to go get an ID and then at another time go vote. How is forcing you to be a decision maker at an overnight event make you more worthy than the federally recognized plan of showing up, standing in any line if there is one, voting and leaving?

Very strange.
Keith Ferlin (Canada)
While you are on that subject, how about an election process that does not stretch out over a year and an election day that is always on a Tuesday thereby handicapping the working class of your country?
Deborah Moran (Houston)
Sanders voters are just as deluded as the protesters in Egypt, thinking that far left liberalism will prevail in the general election. I am voting for HIllary Clinton because I am center left and so is she. The center has always had a more nuanced idea of what works than the extremes of either party.

And it is amazing to me that people still think that Washington will be less dysfunctional if you vote for outsiders, either politically or in practice. It is the infiltration of outsiders and idealists in Congress that has caused the dysfunction in the first place.
Lifelong New Yorker (NYC)
Sanders is only "far left" to the far right.
P.S. The past 7 years of Congressional dysfunction is due entirely to racism by another name.
Paul (White Plains)
Democrat, liberal, progressive, center-left, progressive Democrat, progressive liberal... The list is endless for people who simply don't want to admit they think big government and big taxes are the solution for every problem under the sun. Call yourselves what you really are: socialists.
Julio in Denver (Colorado)
You'll probably vote for the nominee, regardless of who wins. Unless you want a republican in office.
Chingghis T (Ithaca, NY)
Sure hope she wins. Do I love Hillary Clinton? Nope. Would she make a good President? Hard to tell. But I'm old enough to remember George McGovern. In act, I went door to door for him when I was in high school. I learned one big lesson from that campaign that I have never forgotten. It's much better to have a less-than-perfect Democratic President, than any kind of Republican President. I do not believe that Bernie Sanders can win the general election. I'm fairly certain that Hillary Clinton can. I am not willing to take the chance on another George McGovern. The stakes are simply too high. Please Nevada, help us put another Democrat back into the oval office. Vote Hillary.
Bruce.S (Oakland)
No Democrat would have beaten the incumbent Nixon in '72.
TJM (Atlanta)
Our Presidents, Democratic and Republican both, have done nothing to build a next generation, to groom a pack of potential successors. It explains the chaotic Republican competition and the bland sameness of Democratic "annointed."

I'm supporting Senator Sanders because I see it is mobilizing large numbers and out of that swarm, a new generation of leaders will get their training that isn't being imparted in a deliberate way by current leaders.

The real mark of a leader is the success of the people who are trained. Jack Welch cultivated so many who became CEOs after him. P&G makes leadership training a core competency. Our political parties don't.

This is the teachable moment of a next generation, and that's why I'm supporting their enthusiasm and organization. I'm taking the long view.
Iowa Hawkeyes (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Maybe not, but a whole lot of them would have won more than one state. This is a problem not only for the WH, but down ballot races!
Lee K (New York NY)
So far, it seems that both on the Democratic and Republican side, we've got the screamers, the change makers, the "I can do better and differently" folks at the head of the line. I hope people remember that, on the Democratic side, we had the man who was going to bring change to us. And we voted him in, twice. We were all very enthusiastic, Obama was smart and a fresh face. And look what happened. Stubbornness and fury on the other side which thwarted everything he tried.

I would rather go with Hillary because she IS a seasoned politician. She knows how the system works... and you KNOW the system will work against whichever Democrat gets into the presidency.

Why not pick someone who knows the ropes and perhaps has a few advantages? They will eat Bernie alive. They will try to do that to Hillary.... she just might be smart enough and seasoned enough to get around them.

It takes a wily smart negotiator who has not problem saying "Oh no you don't" to the other side and playing the tune just right. We had new and fresh for 8 years and we are all discouraged. Why do we still want new and fresh? What if that means another four years down the tube?
Michael F (Yonkers, NY)
Stubbornness and fury on the other side which thwarted everything he tried.
================
That had nothing to do with it. It was his own rank incompetence. For two years he had a solid Democratic majority and all we got is that fiasco that is the ACA.
NWJ (Soap Lake, Wash.)
Hillary Clinton has held one elected office, a total of six years. Bernie Sanders has held multiple elected offices for thirty five years. To say that Clinton has more experienced and is "seasoned" is absurd.
marvinhjeglin (hemet, californa)
Sanders made his way to the Senate as an independent without party help.

He is a hundred thousandaire, not a two hundred millionaire who voted for Iraq, who supported Goldwater [the failed presidential candidate from the senate who opposed the civil rights act].

Sanders or stein this time.
Billy (up in the woods down by the river)
The super delegate scam is one more clear example that the American political system is corrupt and rigged by the wealthy. How are super delegates allocated by the party and the media in advance? What did the candidate do to earn them?

One of those super delegates is worth more than the choice of 10,000 voters.

$ = Votes. And the people's vote is directly diluted by the money.

I have an open challenge to anyone that can explain this part of the process to a 4th grade social studies class without having to explain that the political system here is rigged in advance and therefore corrupt.
Ivan (Princeton NJ)
The article below is the "advanced political science class" version to your open challenge:

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/after-sanders-big-win-in-n...
PS (Massachusetts)
How about a different title: Stakes rise for Americans if Nevada sees the Ermperor's New Clothes

When Obama ran, I felt stunned and forever distrustful when Democrats so quickly and forcefully threw Hillary to the side of the road and left her for dead. It's happening again, with Sanders who like Obama promises much in the way of things that aren't possible for one person to achieve. Moreover, Sanders and Trump are running the same campaigns. They both march to the drum of a new world order -- but I am not buying it, from either one of them. The presidency doesn't have the power that these two pretend it does. What I am stunned at is the lack of thought coming from their supporters. Why do Americans want fairy tales vs biographies? Sanders' collective cry for the promised land and Trump's threat of his idea of the promised land are the same thing. Not real. I hope SC then Nevada comes as wake up calls and points us back to what can be achieved in the real world -- a world that also contains ISIS and Putin and border issues and a return to racial divide in American (sad).
Root (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres" title="http://www.google.com/imgres" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres</a>)
Good on Bernie to shake things up a bit. Clinton fatigue has set in and I for one am tired of Clinton Inc. thinking they own the White House. It's not a monarchy Hillary. You have to earn it and frankly my dear you haven't.

Go Bernie.
Dennis (New York)
The "rigged" game Bernie refers to was never more relevant than when applied to the delegate count.

Hillary lost NH in a landslide yet she took away more delegates than Bernie. As of now their total delegates count are Bernie has approximately 40 while Hillary already has 400.

Bernie's biggest disadvantage is he's running as an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats while Hillary is a bona fide true dyed in the wool blue Democrat. In Democratic primaries that, as Bernie is wont to say, is HUGE.

This is what the insider pros in politics speak of when they try to explain to uninitiated voters the vagaries of the American political system. Sure, it's unfair, but so is life. Get used to it.

DD
Manhattan
Lifelong New Yorker (NYC)
I can't wait till Clinton starts yelling about unfairness as it applies to her.
Emilio Bandiero (Eugene, Oregon)
Life is unfair, get used to it? That covers a multitude of sins. Why vote at all? Why get up in the morning? Why comment on a newspaper article?
Becky M (LA)
Hillary won the popular vote in Dem primaries in 2008. Obama won more delegates. Get over yourselves Bernie-ites. If Bernie loses the delegates, too bad. That's the system. Since he's not a Dem, and didn't work in Dem politics, he doesn't get to complain.

Bernie isn't inspiring. He just tells good stories. When he needs big money, he will crawl and beg for it. They all do.
Virgens Kamikazes (São Paulo - Brazil)
I agree with what that guy from Counterpunch published today.

Assuming Sanders is capable of surviving until March and keeps his momentum, it's very possible the DNC will try to make a deal with him.

Before the primaries even begun, Sanders correctly analysed that it's impossible to be President without the political machines of the GOP or of the Democrats.

He also correctly stated that it's possible to do socialist policies in the Presidency if popular support is large enough. That's exactly what happened to FDR: he's elected with a populist agenda copied from the CPUSA. When he took office, he begun to do reactionary policies. Lucky him those conservative policies did not lift the USA from 1929 crisis and WWII happened (legend says he commemorated when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor). Those two factors changed the conjuncture and he finally could apply the socialist policies.

In order from Sanders to make it right, the people will have to continue to support him more and more, and continue to do so, in many fronts (battle for unionisation, for gay rights, women rights, better pay, single payer etc.) so as to corner the bourgeoisie into 1) accepting him as a valid candidate, 2) accept him as a President (and not to assassinate him like Kennedy) and 3) to accept his policies in both houses. Since he won't do Super PACs, popular fundraising is more important now than ever - that's the only way to spare him from having to make a deal with the DNC and defeat the GOP.
Bill from Bedminster (Bedminster, N.J.)
I am an ancient liberal centrist raised on the "social justice" stances initiated during 1930s when I was in elementary school that extended into my college days when the civil rights movement swept the nation.

Admittedly, Sander's social justice message and his oratorical style do attract me. I like the guy a lot. But I do have trouble with the "socialist" tab. I witnessed social justice metered out through a center left capitalism in my working class childhood work out well. I don't mind capitalism as long as Glass-Steagal is around. We lived in one room behind my family's retail bakery during the depression and got to college. My grandchildren are in graduate school. In 1985, visited the USSR and the s s were very bare.
Catstaff (Midwest)
NYTimes, as someone once said, "There you go again."

It's just all Hillary, all the time for you: What the "stakes" are for her, as if her opponent is nothing more than background noise.

How about some reporting about the stakes for Bernie in Nevada (and beyond)? You know, balanced reporting?

Over and over, the comments section for your election pieces make this same point that I'm making now (and not for the first time).

You're the newspaper of record, or so it is said. What's your record going to be on covering the 2016 Democratic primary?
avrds (Montana)
Much like the Times's coverage of the Iraq war -- heavy handed and, hopefully, wrong.
T.S. (Phoenix, AZ)
I'm a mid-40s African American woman supporter of Bernie. (Go, Brooklyn!). I'd really like for the Times and the rest of the mainstream media to dispense with the idea that the "black community" is some homogeneous group of lemmings following blindly behind Al Sharpton. For those of us who are true progressives who read, think critically and formulate our own opinions, Sen. Clinton is not the right choice.
Bella (The City Different)
Well said, T.S.
Root (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres" title="http://www.google.com/imgres" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres</a>)
Good on you TS, let's hope that others feel the same. This country needs change, REAL change and Bernie just may be that person to do it.
dm92 (NJ)
Actually, people can do all of those mental exercises you mention, and still not vote for Bernie.
SCA (<br/>)
Hate to need to point out the obvious, but--there are younger black people, and older ones. Younger Latinos, and older ones.

Yes--Hillary is lining up support from yet more of the old folks.

But younger voters are not feeling that they need to march in lockstep with their elders. The Congressional Black Caucus doesn't necessarily fill them with awe and pride.

And to everyone saying Bernie can*t win--candidates win when people vote for them. Don't be afraid of your own power. Use it.
Deborah Moran (Houston)
Problem is...the other side says the same thing and they vote too. We are still an incredibly divided country. My friends would never vote for either Clinton or Sanders.
Lifelong New Yorker (NYC)
This "old folk" is for Sanders. Surprise!
SCA (<br/>)
Deborah: the point is that everyone SHOULD vote, and the Presidency should be held by the candidate who has earned the most popular votes--no matter how repugnant to the others.

We*re not as divided a country as it seems. The desperation and anger motivating Trump and Sanders supporters arises from the same circumstances. In NH, many voters who made up their minds at the last minute were contemplating either of those two, and not any of the others.

Many of us were betrayed by Obama--twice. We got Republican Light. I voted for the candidate who seemed to have the foresight to reject war, and got only a continuation of it. Iraq is not yesterday*s bad choice, now regretted. It was the opening of the gates of hell. Hillary*s support for the destabilization of Syria and Libya--long after her Iraq war vote--proves that she learned nothing, or doesn't care about what she learned.
Paul (White Plains)
Despite being soundly defeated, I heard that Hillary came out of New Hampshire with more delegates than Sanders. Democrats always complain about George Bush losing the popular vote to Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election. Why aren't they screaming bloody murder about Sanders getting the shaft in New Hampshire? The fix is in for Hillary, and this proves it.
kate (VT)
The Democratic Party often seems to be one of the least democratic institutions around. From the concept of unelected super delegates (presumably to protect voters from their rash decisions), to caucuses with arcane rules like IA (which also refused to release popular vote numbers) to a single individual apparently controlling the debate timing and schedule. One person, one vote and transparency are all needed to reform the Democratic Party.
Iowa Hawkeyes (Cedar Rapids, IA)
She did not get more delegates that Bernie in NH, but she did get 6 of the 8 Super Delegates which even up their respective delegate count. The fact that less than ten Super Delegates are willing to side with Bernie should cause you concern. Before Governor O'Malley got out he had more Super Delegates than Bernie. Why have 100% of Vermont's Super Delegates endorsed Hillary. Just maybe these elected officials know that Bernie would get crushed in the general election, and they care about the SCOTUS and retaining the WH.
Ted Pikul (Interzone)
Is anyone else running for the Democratic nomination for President? Stakes only high for Hills?
Phil Z. (Portlandia)
There were other Democratic candidates, but the NYT and the rest of the Weak Stream Media froze them out, including the widely respected Jim Webb who voted against the Iraq War during his one term in the U.S. Senate.

This will be problematic for the Dems once Hillary is indicted sometime in the next 90 days. That would leave Bernie as the last Dem standing. Meanwhile, the Harry Reid machine will deliver Nevada for Hillary.
John Harris (Pennsylvania)
Thank goodness, another headline article on the harrowing struggles of Hilary Clinton.
AACNY (New York)
Sanders has nothing to worry about. If constituents ask, "What are you going to do for us?" he'll find plenty of new benefits to throw their way.

The problem for him is when constituents ask, "How much is this going to cost me?"
michael (bay area)
In a state where 20 percent of the Democratic electorate is Hispanic, 13 percent African-American and which was hit hard by the foreclosure crisis - what's wrong with this comment?

“In Nevada, the one big guy in the room is Bill Clinton,” Sen Reid said. “He comes all the time. He has very good friends there. He plays golf. So Bernie has a real problem there.”

. . . and that's wrong with the DNC establishment.
KJ (Portland)
YES! Clueless!
Frank (Durham)
Every small thing is being viewed in dramatic terms, especially in the early going. There is absolutely nothing "turning point" about these early primaries that would creates alarums of one kind or another. Sanders will continue to do well with young liberals and his campaign will have been successful however many delegates he garners, because it will have highlighted the economic inequality and the lack of interest in the common people on the part of politicians. However, as surprising as the early results may be, there is absolutely no reason for Clinton to push the panic button, Sanders, in the end, will not come close to getting the necessary votes for the nomination. So, pundits, newspaper people and commentators are advised to view the campaign incidentals for what they are: a sign of a well fought competition with a predictable outcome.
Ann (New York, NY)
At least the logo is honest about what direction Hillary will take the country in.

To the right, of course.
AACNY (New York)
Also known as "forward" or "ahead."
P (NYC)
Exactly. There's also the matter of the Freudian *ahem* overcompensation ...
Margaret (Cambridge, MA)
Someone here said it looks like some sort of hospital sign.
Mayngram (Monterey, CA)
The HRC logo tells the story... It points to the exit as if saying "She went thatta way" ... She's 20th century news in the 21st century ... Bye, Bye Hillary.

Feel the Bern!
Ben (Ari)
Problem is, Sanders became a Democrat in 2015, and then, only to run for President. He wants to talk about trust, I want to talk about carpetbaggers. Happy as a clam as an Independent until you want party machinery to propel you to the top.... patently dishonest and dishonorable.
Sage (California)
Much ado about nothing.
Confussed (Tennessee)
Unfortunately Hillary Clinton is incredible dishonest and dishonorable in bigger matters. Not to worry established money, business, wall street and entrenched democratic political and financial supporters(unions, political PACS, current elected office holders, liberal entertainers, Barack Obama, welfare state administrators) all those who the democratic lemings truly follow - love Hillary, they will rig it so Bernie does not get the nomination as long as they can be sure to squelch the voice and vote of taxpaying, working low and middle class Americans. In the end the real winner if they hand it to Hillary will be the republicans being handed such a great candidate to attack and beat in the general election- Hillary is easy to hate and represents an established political dynasty that has really hurt this country.
Zejee (New York)
Yeah. Let's forget about the issues.
Michael N. Alexander (Lexington, MA)
Democrats have scheduled the Nevada Caucuses for a Saturday -- the Jewish Sabbath. Observant Jews, who can not travel on Saturdays (except on foot) are effectively shut out of the process. That's discrimination.

Shame on the Democratic party!
Joel (Branford, CT)
The Talmud clearly says that in case it helps defuse a vital threat, we are allowed, even more, we are required not to respect the interdicts of the Sabbath. Citizen United is a vital threat to our democracy, and by helping republicans that deny climate change, to out planet. Observant Jews from Nevada, drive and vote for Bernie!

Rabbi Joël
anr (Chicago, IL)
You would think Schulz-Wasserman would know better, but actually she does, that is why it is scheduled for the sabbath.
petey tonei (Massachusetts)
The AIPAC has long arms....
Lex (Los Angeles)
I don't think the commenters so far grasp the full cost a Sanders nomination.

Sanders is woefully WEAK on foreign policy, not matter what "revolution" he promises domestically (which, in itself, is not a sound, thought-out plan). We are living in times when fear of terrorism has never been higher since 9/11. And you think nominating a foreign policy beginner is a good idea?!

You people are all fluffy-brained lemmings who think you're being "progressive" by doing what thousands of fluffy-brained lemmings have done before you and followed an abstract promise of "revolution" by someone you vaunt for having "ideals over experience". Do you think, when it comes down to it, the electorate are going to pick ideals to spare us from the much-feared Jihadist insurgents (which are themselves a fantasy, but a more powerful one because they are driven by fear?)

Give Sanders the nomination and you give Republicans the White House. Thanks a lot, fluffies!
Dina Marcus (NY)
Sanders is the unicorn blowing glitter all through the land. I don't need this wanna be revolution of his to help our country. We need someone who knows how to handle foreign affairs as well as internal issues. The revolution should be to not vote for GOP and the Sanders of the world. But vote for someone who is confident, intelligent, and will continue to move us forward.
AACNY (New York)
When he answered that global warming was our most pressing foreign policy issue, he demonstrated for all how an ideologue inexperienced in foreign policy can so easily get it wrong.
Root (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres" title="http://www.google.com/imgres" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres</a>)
Please tell us what accomplishments Hillary had while a sitting SOS??? None that I could find.
bob lesch (Embudo, NM)
what's makes people think that the sanders campaign message has anything to do with race, sex, religion or any the usual nonsense politicians use to divide voters?
Root (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres" title="http://www.google.com/imgres" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres</a>)
It's the Clinton camp that is making this a sexist issue. Women going to hell if they don't vote for Hillary. Such nonsense. When will they realize that people shouldn't respond to bullies.
LaBuffune (los angeles)
Bernie Sanders is an unpretentious advocate for exposing the wreckage of the middle and working classes by a concentration of immense wealth in the hands of but a few corporations and individuals. His credibility comes from standing-up for this issue for 25 years starting the day he was elected to congress in 1991.

The reason why his message of inequality and pillage is so valid now, is obvious. It’s the truth. And the whole truth. The other truth is this is not an issue the wealthy entrenched and established status quo want to talk about. Not the Republicans, but also, not the Democrats. Hillary Clinton cannot run from her past. She is very wealthy and a substantial part of it has come from her close relationships with the same financial industry that Sander’s blames for the mess we’re in. She will not bite the hand that feed her.

Still, no one has yet been able to deny what Sanders says. But the skeptics of his party, primarily the Clinton camp, argue that his policies are impractical and impossible to enact. First of all, no one knows what is possible, but if there is a political revolution by the people who agree with Sanders and they elect him, only then will we know if change is possible. It’s those who do not want to rock the boat that are most afraid of a Sanders platform.

And if that doesn’t scare you, the DNC says Americans will never elect a Socialist and voting for Sanders will give the election to the Republicans. Really?
Vic (Springfield)
Amusing to see all these Hillary supporters talk about how Bernie's ideals are ok but they are too difficult to pass or enact. If you don't vote based on what you believe in then it's no wonder we are in the shape we are as a country.
AACNY (New York)
No, Vic, we are in this shape because people elected someone without the ability to execute based on his promises alone. First it was "hope and change". Then it was affordable health care that would allow people to keep their doctors and plans. Both false.

An inept leader will always have a dysfunctional organization beneath him.
Deborah Moran (Houston)
Your thinking is simplistic. People voting for Ralph Nader voted for what they believed in too. The result was George W. Bush and policies as far away as possible from Ralph Nader's even though if you combine Al Gore's and Ralph Nader's vote, the majority of voters did not want that.
Frank (Durham)
Society always needs people who push the envelope: vote for women, rights for blacks, respect for homosexual, unemployment compensation for the out of work, social security for the elderly, health care for all. At each step, the proposal seems extreme, unrealizable but it enters the social discourse. It allows people to consider it, even if it is rejected for the moment. Once it is spoken about, it is no longer a taboo and little by little it acquires respectability and supporters. These people are called precursors, those who run before. Their role is to open avenues for us.
tim tuttle (hoboken, nj)
The best thing that has happened for Democrats is Senator Sanders entering the race. It forces Sec. Clinton to fight for the nomination and it opens up the dialogue. Thus far the debates have been informative- filled with both policy and substance. They have also been extremely cordial and professional. Mr. Sanders is an excellent human being and a great American. While I don't agree with either of them on everything, I am very impressed by the way they carry themselves in public and on the dais. They both seem to have the qualities of a President. Both are bright and civil. Both have the social skills and calm demeanor to handle the pressure. There will be a ton of long and dark nights in the next administration. I will be far happier if the leader of our great nation isn't in the basement tweeting out global insults. May the best person win the Democratic nomination. And do it with class, style and brains. Remember: Three Supreme Court nominations. THINK. It's patriotic. Good luck to both!!!
ari silvasti (arizona)
The excuses keep piling up for the Clinton crew.
Now finally they have some minorities that historically have supported them in a diverse state.
Hopefully the minorities share the same concern as was evidenced in the two previous primaries; income inequality and rigged elections controlled by big interests and parroted by candidates such as Clinton.
Jesse The Conservative (Orleans, Vermont)
The Clinton Problem: Hillary is a terrible candidate--not inspiring, no new ideas, and delivers speeches by yelling in monotone. Her only attraction to Democrats is her traditional support for Big Government. That's not enough.

Bernie has outmaneuvered her--by offering boatloads of free stuff to her traditional constituents--free college to the youth vote, citizenship to illegals, free health care for everyone--promising to punish successful people in order to pay for it all. Liberals like that.

The only way for Hillary to triumph is by telling the truth--by pointing out that Bernie's delusional dreams of a Socialist America are dead on arrival. He is an extremist and a zealot--and has never shown a penchant for compromise. Even fellow democrat Barney Frank has said he is difficult to work with. Only if yelling is an effective legislative strategy could Bernie Sanders achieve anything in Washington--and it hasn't worked so far.

To win, Hillary needs to adopt the eventual Republican message--that Bernie is a Socialist--with ideas too extreme and out of the mainstream to sell.

Question...will a Democrat dare to bash Socialism--when she stands only an eyelash to the right of him? It's akin to front line soldiers--calling in airstrikes on their own fox holes--to avoid being overrun by the enemy. It's a risky strategy--but it's the only one Hillary has. If she doesn't dare use it, she will lose the nomination to a Socialist pied piper--who simply out-promises her.
Sage (California)
Trump supporter? Trump makes all sorts of promises that are ludicrous. The 'free stuff' meme which TP/GOP supporters love, has no substance. Everything Bernie proposes is paid for. Bernie is reminding all of us that most countries, in the developed world, have what he is proposing: universal health care, free tuition at publicly-funded colleges and family leave. Makes all the sense in the world unless you want to keep a paradigm in place that is destroying the middle class and causing outrageous wealth disparity.
Confussed (Tennessee)
Hillary got crushed in New Hampshire but will get most of the delegates- its rigged and I am sure Harry Reid will be sure to support Hillary and never speak up if the same happens in whatever convoluted primary caucus process rules Nevada has.
Carlos (Seattle)
"To win, Hillary needs to adopt the eventual Republican message"

Which to a lot of Democrats is the point; Hilary and the DNC are yesteryears Republicans.
Joe (Iowa)
So I'm reading that despite Bernie sweeping the floor with Hillary in NH, Hillary comes away with more delegates. Would a Democrat like to explain how that works? Sure seems like the fix is in.
Teri Mayer (Nazareth, PA)
This needs to be the headline in the NYT and explain this process. No mention of this made by Hillary and her campaign. Shame on the people who gave her these extra delegates.
RAYMOND (BKLYN)
The fix is in for HRC with the Superdelegates in many states. If they're perceived as stealing the nomination from Bernie at the convention, several million Dems may be so angry, that feeling swindled, they won't be voting in Nov. In which case, it's Pres. Trump. So give it a great deal of thought, Supers, as you're not bound to HRC. You can go with the voters' choice in July.
Root (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres" title="http://www.google.com/imgres" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres</a>)
Just like those 6 coin tosses she won in Iowa.
John (<br/>)
Since the times is all Hillary all of the time I'm going to use this forum to address the super delegate issue. The important thing to know here is that Superdelegates are merely pledged to a candidate. We know who they support because they’ve stated it publicly, or have been asked by journalists. They are not committed, and can change at any time. If Bernie Sanders wins the popular vote, he will be the nominee. End of story.

Democrats win when turnout is high, and if the DNC decides to go against the will of the people and force Clinton down the electorate’s throat, they’d be committing political suicide. Don't let them scare you. Stand up and be counted.
Rebecca T (Las Vegas, NV)
I'm a white, middle-aged, lifelong Democrat, and will be caucusing in suburban Las Vegas Feb. 20. I previously worked for a labor union, and although the union is formally supporting Clinton, I'm surprised that a number of union members I'm still in touch with support Sanders. For the first time in my voting life, I'm heading into an election unsure of whom I'll support. It will be very interesting to see what Sanders can do here.
Jesse The Conservative (Orleans, Vermont)
@Rebecca, you've worked your entire life--for the things you've earned. Why in the world would you want to support someone wants to hand things over to those who haven't earned it--for free--including people who have broken our laws to be here illegally?

Traditional Democrats (before the recent hard left turn) at least had the common sense not to sink the companies they worked for--and have supported hard-working Americans over free-loaders. I'm not sure Hillary is the most exciting choice (and I'd never vote for her), but Bernie is a train wreck.
Root (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres" title="http://www.google.com/imgres" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres</a>)
Vote your conscience not what the machine tells you to vote for or the Union bosses who get richer every day off the backs of the workers.
marvinhjeglin (hemet, californa)
She took the money and returned the favor with Nafta, Tpp [I do not believe her recent about face] and no support for union issues. The rank and file see through her, but leadership is buttering their own bread.
Roger Faires (Portland, Oregon)
C'mon Nevada!
You can do it.
Bernie! Bernie!
Steve (NY)
Sanders must do 3 things:

A) add "recuse" to his debate vocab: "if a judge received $675,000 from a party, he loses his credibility/credible impartiality and must RECUSE himself from ANY PROCEEDING involving that part because of his/her CLOSE FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP. Plus: received $675,000 after being Secretary of State; how much are they implicitly promising her after being president? Will she vow now not to take any money after president? Will bill vow not only to take no more money? Will they both vow to return all funds so she can do the job impartially?

Can she credibly attack Cruz for his Goldman Sachs connection and his inability to act impartially with a wife working there, when Hilary has been paid comparable money by GS, in likely case he is the nominee?

B) brush up on foreign policy, especially reining in Putin/ Russia.

C) show that he is will be able to draw the Tea a Party disenfranchised contingency who overlook that Bernie Sanders is their natural candidate. Only Bernie Sanders can INSPIRE reconsideration and realignment of the political identifications and attachments that set in years ago and no longer apply, new coalitions for the new era.
mr. trout (reno nv)
“In Nevada, the one big guy in the room is Bill Clinton,” Mr. Reid said. “He comes all the time. He has very good friends there. He plays golf. So Bernie has a real problem there.”

Yeah, that's what we look for in a president, Harry. You are so out of touch. This isn't about womanizing or golfing or yucking it up with friend$. This is about democracy in America. Do you Feel the Bern yet?
Elephant lover (New Mexico)
What evidence do you have for your statements? How is it that you know Bill Clinton's motives for spending time in Las Vegas?
Root (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres" title="http://www.google.com/imgres" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres</a>)
Time for the likes of Pelosi, Reid and McConnel to hit the road and vacate their offices and make room for some new blood. Reid is a hack.
Harry Pearle (Rochester, NY)
"Nevada remains “Clinton country,” she said." I think that Hillary should see herself as the underdog in every state, from now on. She has to fight back against Sanders attacks.

I suggest that she push the idea of a woman president, constantly. Prejudice is prejudice, whether it is against women or men. Racial prejudice against Blacks and Hispanics is prejudice.

I believe that having a woman in the White House is huge because it would be a constant encouragement for all women and all men to rise up against prejudice. Prejudice and inequality are leading us to STAG-NATION in the economy.

I suggest using a symbol. Clinton is using the letter "H" as a symbol, but why not also use the letter "W" for woman, as well? I suggest that she try making a "W" sign, with two "V" signs, using both hands, together. Then, for balance, she can flip her hands over to form an "M", for man.

If Hillary wants to challenge Bernie she has to pull out all the stops. Prejudice is prejudice:

One step for (W)oman. One giant step for (H)umankind
=========================================
W W W W W W W W W W --- M M M M M M M M M M
=========================================
Jimhealthy (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
This is like saying Obama's campaign should have been based upon electing the first black President -- regardless of his qualifications. Hopefully, Hillary can come up with a stronger appeal that the one you suggest.
Harry Pearle (Rochester, NY)
Jim, yes, I agree with you, but fighting Black prejudice from the White House is dangerous! Obama received many threats.

But I believe that Hillary, as a woman, would not get as many threats fighting prejudice toward women and toward prejudice in general. (And it is about prejudice toward TRUTHFUL ideas, as well)

But being in the White House puts her in the SPOTLIGHT all the time, regardless of what she says. She would be like a liiving "STATUE of LIBERTY" in DC... Thanks
P (NYC)
Better yet, she could just take the M in her 'Me' campaign and turn it upside down to have a W and a 'We' campaign, like Bernie.
OldBoatMan (Rochester, MN)
Hillary Clinton is Democrat-Lite. We have had Democrat-Lite for the past seven years. Now is the time to try the real deal. That's why Bernie Sanders won in New Hampshire.

You make an excellent point. Hillary can shift 90 campaign staffers from Iowa to Nevada. That the Wall Street dollars at work, buying a candidate. My hunch is that Wall Street dollars won't buy the primary caucuses. Go Bernie, the Democrats are behind you.
AACNY (New York)
No, you've had an inept progressive without the ability to deliver on his promises. First, he exercised no control over his party, and they rode roughshod over everyone else. Then, when voters balked and put the brakes on, removing his majority, he became the ineffective politician he always was.
PS (Massachusetts)
So the democrats have no problem fleeing their own party and those who built it?
kate (VT)
Actually the article says that Bernie shifted 90 campaign workers from IA to NV. Guess that's the power of $27 average contributions at work.
Tara (Overseas)
Why would the article say that Nevada remains Clinton Country when she lost there in 2008 to Obama? She is not the same candidate as Bill, though it seems that sometimes both the Clinton's and the press forget this.
PS (Massachusetts)
And yet, Tara, they hold Hillary accountable for Bill's shortcomings. Bill was the cheater and today, decades later, front page news talks about how Hillary handled it. Sexist to the core. I am amazed that she still stands and fights and looks her opponents right in the eye. Indeed, she is NOT Bill and I glad to know it.
Iowa Hawkeyes (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Hillary won Nevada in 2008. Obama won Iowa and SC and Hillary won NH and Nevada. Because of the way they award delegates (Super Delegates etc.) the two of them left NV with equal delegates, which is essentially what happened in NH on Tuesday due to Hillary getting 6 of NH's 8 Super Delegates (the other 2 are uncommitted). But look it up Hillary did win NH, and Bernie Sanders is no Obama. Democratic caucus attendance in Iowa and primary turn out in NH was significantly lower than in 2008.
Big Al (Southwest)
Barack Obama won the caucuses. However Hillary got all of the Super Delegates.

That's one thing I don't like about the Democratic Party. They won't trust all of the rank and file to chose the candidate. Frankly, it's an insulting "plantation mentality".
Joseph (Texas)
Except that Hillary will likely receive more delegates in NH, making this, pretty much, a non-story.
OldBoatMan (Rochester, MN)
You ought to be more careful. Your arithmetic does not distinguish between super delegates and ordinary delegates. Hillary is the establishment candidate now just as in 2008. Super delegates can vote for any candidate they choose. They can declare for one candidate and then shift their allegiance. Many who declared for Hillary early in 2008 shifted to Obama. The ordinary delegates and the super delegates combined to nominate Mr.Obama in 2008. When it comes to super delegates, don't count their votes until the primaries have shown which the wind is blowing.
Patricia (Edmonton)
This is another oddity about the American voting system that makes little sense to folks not steeped in American political ways.
Ann (New York, NY)
I found this to be a thoughtful piece on the superdelegates issue:

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/after-sanders-big-win-in-n...

If the superdelegates were to override the popular vote it would put people off the Democratic party for a good long while. They'd need to think long and hard about the consequences of that.

It seems like the emphasis on the superdelegates is out there to make people think the situation is hopeless, and not to bother voting for Bernie.
tewfic el-sawy (new york city)
Mr. Clinton is said to play golf in Nevada: "He plays golf. So Bernie has a real problem there."

I agree. His golf buddies will vote for Mrs. Clinton. Now what about the 99.9% in Nevada (and elsewhere) who can't afford to play golf?
RD (Baltimore. MD)
assuming that 99.9% are nascent Sanders voters?
NineShift (River Falls Wisconsin)
So how does Nevada's African American and Latino populations break down by generation? Because after six years of seeing the generation gap with the Republican Party, the generation gap in the Democratic party became really obvious in the last week.
Will T. (Auburn, NH)
Let's face it and say it out loudly and clearly that despite her earlier work with Marian Wright Edelman and the Children's Defense Fund, Hillary has become Wall Street magnified while Bernie is Main Street. For many, therein lies the difference.
marvinhjeglin (hemet, californa)
well those little tidbits were just for the resume and completely balanced by her Young Republican Goldwater Girl Wal-Mart Board activities.

She wasn't marching with King, Sanders was.
Martita (Austin, Texas)
Isaac Brekken's photos brilliantly illustrate the differences between the two campaigns.

One shows a well-appointed campaign office in which a beautiful mural of local scenery has become a convenient backdrop for the candidate's large, superimposed logo.

The other shows a young worker arriving in the dark, skateboard in hand, at a modest campaign office to do the hard work of earning the people's votes.

I think they say something about who has our best interests at heart.
Eric (Johnson)
Let's say Bernie wins the presidency, and let's even say that democrats pick up 12 seats in the senate and 50 in the house. They have huge majorities in congress and a democratic president. Sound familiar? Hey, it's 2008 again! Let us now recall what happened: the best the party could do, after twisting copious arms and riding the momentum of the disastrous Bush presidency, was to pass a lackluster stimulus bill and the ACA. Why? Because most elected democrats are centrists, not socialists. Now, somehow Bernie supporters have convinced themselves that this time will be different. Previously it took three election cycles for democrats to build up congressional majorities, but this time they will do it in one fell swoop. Moreover, all those centrist democrats are going to change positions and back the democratic-socialist agenda. Sounds likely, right? Especially given how much democrats forgive candidates who change their minds (see: unbelievable recent hostility towards HRC). What about the GOP who felt that the conservative-inspired, Romney-care mimicking ACA was too liberal? They apparently are going to roll over while capitalism-as-we-know-it is dismantled.

More likely: If Bernie wins the nomination, expect democrats to lose the presidency. Watch as the only thing growing in congress is their minority status. Then sit back and cheer as a Sanders revolution nets us 2-3 more conservative SCOTUS justices.

That's the reality of 'Feeling the Bern.' Wake up!
Vic (Springfield)
So you don't vote based on what you believe in? No wonder we are in the situations we are in.
WiltonTraveler (Wilton Manors, FL)
Perhaps Sanders supporters should "wake up." He's no Obama in 2008, and if Sanders becomes the party's nominee, I—a lifelong Democrat—will vote for a moderate Republican candidate or an independent. Or I'll just stay home. As for gaining 12 Senate seats with a socialist presidential candidate heading a ticket. Welcome to Never-never land and fond memories of President McCarthy or President McGovern.
ari silvasti (arizona)
And you keep lowering the ball to appease the Republicans. Let the people speak instead of buying into the establishment mantra.
Jack (Las Vegas)
Hillary has an increasingly smaller chance with the minorities because the media had driven the narrative that she is deceitful and unlikable. It doesn't matter whether it's is true or nor, minorities are affected by it. Clintons have a lot of powerful friends in Vegas, but, except union workers, they have very little influence on common folks. Don't be surprised if Bernie burns Hillary campaign to ashes in Nevada, not dissimilar to what Trump has done to Jeb nationally.
Confussed (Tennessee)
Why would any minority support Hillary Clinton? Why would any American for that matter?
George S (New York, NY)
Only "minorities" are concerned that Hillary is deceitful and unlikable? If true that is pretty sad for the non-minority groups, however one defines it all!
Hardley (Outer Limits)
The "media" hasn't driven that "perception" of Hillary; she has.
Jack Wells (<br/>)
Let's see. 20 + 13 = 33. That leaves 67 percent white, Native American, or some other race. So I'm not sure what the point was of this statistic other than to emphasize that the first two states in the primary present a different demographic map.

As I pointed out in a coment in the Post yesterday, Nevada is a purple state, and fairly difficult to predict. My guess is this vote could be close, depending on turnout. I'm less sanguine about South Carolina.
William Case (Texas)
The Census Bureau says Nevada is 76 percent white.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19000.html
Chris (NYC)
Only if you count Latinos as white.
America is 61 percent white now.
William Case (Texas)
Hispanics, or Latinos, are an ethnic group, not a racial group. Although they can be of any race, or mixture of races, most are white. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States is 77.4 percent white. Do you really think Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are not white? What about Latino actress Cameron Diaz?
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html
anthony weishar (Fairview Park, OH)
The United States has 30 million college graduates with over $10,000 in student loan debt. Of that number, 7,000,000 (yes million) are in default. For young voters, we have replaced the job, new car, and house with nothing but a debt. These grads are educated and they vote. They see the imbalance, how wealth and Wall Street rig the game in government. Bernie represents an escape from a system that took the American dream from recent generations of college graduates.
Catherine2009 (St Charles MO)
You are assuming that the Republican dominated Congress will willingly vote for the huge tax increase on those earning $250,000 or more, and more taxes on off-shore business and more taxes for corporations? BS's "free" college tuition and "free" healthcare will have to be paid for somehow! College professors, physicians and nurses and upkeep of college buildings and hospitals etc. have to be paid for somehow! I haven't heard of any "democratic socialists" running for Congress!
SW (San Francisco)
I believe the West is going to surprise Hillary, and not in a good way. She will come out here assuming that she will sweep the Western states, and will trot out her celebrity endorsers who also make millions per paycheck. Her insistence that she identifies with the average American becomes more ludicrous the further down the economic food chain one goes. Bernie's message will resonate particularly well with Californians, who are mostly true progressives, although Hillary will lock up the votes of Hollywood and Silicon Valley millionaires and billionaires who don't want their marginal taxes raised on everything after the first $10 million they make.
Garth (Berkshires)
The article says Sanders started advertising in Dec; Clinton in Jan. Clinton's Nev state director Emmy Ruiz says Sanders "cannot parachute in." Excuse me but didn't Sanders start a month earlier? Typical Clinton tactic.

I've been weighing which candidate to vote for and decided on Sanders. I thought long and hard about this and realize a significant part of Bernie's appeal is that he talks about us, not about himself. Hillary is always talking about herself.
C.C. Kegel,Ph.D. (Planet Earth)
I am sick of the NYT's editorialized news. Your very headline is biased; it should read "for Clinton and Sanders." You report on both candidates' campaigns, but only interview Clinton's workers.
This article should be in the editorial pages.
Hz (Illinois)
Greetings, and great message!

-Your friend from the Bernie event.
Paul (Bellerose Terrace)
Here's a fairer headline:
"Long assumed romp in Nevada will indicate whether or not the Clinton Campaign is a house of cards."
ps (Ohio)
Hillary is a fighter - just watch.
TRF (St Paul)
Yes she is a fighter, but for what and for whom does she fight? If it walks like a duck...
Teri Mayer (Nazareth, PA)
She tells us that she has been fighting all her political life for the rights of people. Well she has been around a very long time and we have not seen much change. I will only mention fewer jobs, the list does go on.
Now she went to see the people in Flint because she cares, well what of it. The people still have the same lead in their water as when she left.
Kevin (<br/>)
For those of you not old enough to remember McGovern I encourage you to look it up. I was on fire for McGovern - we nominated him - he was too far to the left for the country - he lost overwhelmingly and we got Nixon. I don't want us to do that again but that's what Bernie would bring us, as good a person as he is. Clinton is the original progressive but one that appeals to centrists as well. She has had everything in the world thrown at her by the far right and she is still standing. Bernie would be eviscerated - called a socialist, etc. Ever hear of Swift Boating? Help Clinton win so we can fix the Supreme Court. Can't fix it if you aren't elected.
Rob (Raleigh, NC)
2 things about the McGovern analogy:

1) 1972 was 44 years ago. The middle class has practically disappeared since then, which puts Sanders 's policy proposals today in the sweet spot for the general populace, not just lefties.
2) Bernie does the eviscerating not the other way around. He already eviscerated and disarmed Clinton and Trump and he remains singularly focused on his powerful message. Fantastic message discipline. As for Swift Boating, it is widely understood that Kerry didn't respond quickly or forcefully enough. Sanders, quite obviously, is not Kerry. He'll win the general. This is not politics as usual.
upstater (NY)
@Rob: As we say in New York:"From your lips to God's ear!" Unfortunately, the fact remains that Bernie is a 75 year old Jew from Brooklyn, and I think will never overcome the biases of the southern and western states. BTW, I'm 75, from Brooklyn, and Jewish by association, as most New Yorkers are!
jmd (va)
McGovern lost in a second term election. we already had Nixon after Humphrey lost in 1968. The only real issue was the VietNam war and although a lot of people like to say that there was lots and lots of opposition to the war the reality was that we opponents were vastly outnumbered. and at least we were fighting for the right position and not saying oh well we'll never stop the war so there is no ned to try lets nominate somebody who'll just go along as we are.
joelle koenig (clearwater, FL)
I thought this campaign was an opportunity for the women of the world to have AT LAST a woman in the White House. For me it was going to be THE POLITICAL REVOLUTION of the 21st century.The white people of New Hampshire prefer a 74 old candidate, 75 on election day, to a competent woman. It is definitely hard for women in politics. At least Justin Trudeau, the 45 year old Canadian PM, appointed 50% women in his Cabinet...
GM (Concord CA)
It's a shame you and Hillary only have one qualification for presidency.
MJCK (undefined)
the women of New Hampshire spoke clearly...Hillary, just because she's a woman, is not enough....the only demographic she won in New Hampshire was women over 65. Younger women looked at her and her history...and that of Bill Clinton, and said, "NO"....very clearly. I am a feminist, but just because you are a woman, doesn't mean I should vote for you...and I didn't. Bernie 2016
njglea (Seattle)
It is, joelle, and the male-dominated establishment will do everything in their power to prevent it, just as they didn't "allow" women to vote until 1920 - after black men were allowed to vote. Shameful. Allowed. Women must step up and DEMAND an equal society as the courageous Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton is doing. She has my vote and that's all money can buy.
Ben U (MA)
Since the NH primary, Sanders raised $7.43M as of 08:45EST this morning. I pitched in, and will continue to do so. It's on Hillary!

Feel the Bern!
Jack (NY, NY)
The "journalistic" aspect of this article disappeared when the reporter lapsed into the mandatory prism of color to give us his writer's biases. Why is addressing minorities monolithically wrong but seeing them as a voting block is not? For better or worse, the public has identified Hillary Clinton with Wall Street, big banks, and corporate interests. Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, portrays the average guy, attacks Wall Street, the big banks and corporate interests as being rapacious. Now, why would people split on these issues according to their race or ethnicity? Only the Times and only this biased reporter would suggest that they will.
Mel Farrell (New York)
Hilarious the relentless push by the Times to sideline Bernie Sanders, the first honest to goodness representative of the people since FDR.

It's embarrassing to know that throughout our nation, millions are coming to know how media has been manipulating perception for decades; it's even more embarrassing as we realize people all over the world are seeing it too, watching as the power elites and their media mouthpieces seek to rig elections the moment candidates declare themselves.

I'm inclined to say, keep it up, it's backfiring big time and drawing millions into the Bernie Sanders camp.

November 8th will be a new dawn for the American people.
David Gregory (Deep Red South)
"after Mrs. Clinton’s overwhelming defeat in New Hampshire by Senator Bernie Sanders on Tuesday, eight days after she barely won the Iowa caucuses"
She did not win Iowa. 49% is not a majority in any math class I ever attended. Only in Clintonland does having every endorsement, having a 2 term President, heavy media bias, and more money than God with less than 50% equate to a win.

Hillary tied in Iowa and got her backside handed to her in New Hampshire. If voters take a look at her record they will see she is not a Liberal, not a Progressive and that she s a political shape shifter that morphs into whatever she has to to scam voters into voting for her.

When is the New York Times going to report on what Hillary said to Goldman? People who were there said it was not generic and she gave a speech that could have come from a Goldman Managing Director. Stop giving her a pass.

-The person who saw Clinton’s Arizona remarks to Goldman said they thought there was no chance the campaign would ever release them. “It would bury her against Sanders,” this person said. “It really makes her look like an ally of the firm.”-
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/clinton-speeches-218969
avrds (Montana)
Thanks for that link, David. I wonder why the NY Times hasn't followed up with people who heard her talk at some of these high-priced events. Oh, never mind, I know why .....
charles almon (brooklyn NYC)
An attendee has reported she sounded like a cheerleader/employee for Goldman.
I guess "You stop that!" had to do with double-dipping a chip or something. She will never release her speeches.
Andrew J (Baltimore, MD)
You realize that Hillary and Bernie voted 93% of the time together. Those 7% of votes where they differed (including gun legislation!) must really make the difference in who is liberal and who is not.
MARY (DA BRONX)
Why is Nagourney calling Sanders a "protest" candidate? Can we not call Clinton a protest candidate as well? I don't get it, unless it's another example of the NYTimes covering Clinton's campaign differently than Sanders' amazing feat.
Liz (San Diego)
"Protest" also implies extremists on the fringes...not appreciated, NYTimes.
Michael F (Yonkers, NY)
Yeah nothing extreme about a communist.
Historic Home Plans (Oregon)
I suppose if Bernie is the "protest" candidate that makes Hillary the "more of the same" candidate.
:o)
Sean (Greenwich, Connecticut)
The New York Times just refuses to be fair. It's all Hillary all the time. Once again we see the Times writing from the perspective of Hillary Clinton: "Stakes in Nevada Rise for Hillary Clinton as Caucuses Near."

For the Times, it's all about Hillary. No surprise, since the Times endorsed her in its earliest candidate endorsement ever.
John Harris (Pennsylvania)
The NYT's bias towards Hilary is nothing short of shameful. It's one thing to take a stand in an editorial; it's another thing entirely to subtly slant the actual news stories. A once revered and respected publication is sinking to the level of Fox News. Is Hilary Clinton really worth it?
morGan (NYC)
Sean,
It's no longer NYT ,regrettably
It's called The Daily Clinton....for at least 2 years now
anr (Chicago, IL)
Response to Sean in Greenwich, we all know now the NYT's bias for the wealthy 1% establishment, specifically HRC. What a downfall for a once respected progressive newspaper. This soulless paper will never be the same. We, the readers will not forget this sell out.
heinrich zwahlen (brooklyn)
As many people are still hurting from the recession and angry about inequality and the immoral handling of it: It's not about sex, it's not about race, it's about the economy stupid! Hillary and her husband have dismal economic credentials and that's not so nard to explain in a campaign for Sanders.
Michael F (Yonkers, NY)
Any one who is concerned about the economy and who would vote for Red Bernie is simply fooling themselves.
Third.Coast (<br/>)
[[Stakes in Nevada Rise for Hillary Clinton as Caucuses Near]]

Really?

Not "Opportunities in Nevada Rise for Sanders as Caucuses Near"?

Bias.
Jamie S. (New York, NY)
The entire article is about how things look bad for Hillary. I'd argue that the article IS biased, though in the exact opposite way you seem to be suggesting.
Confussed (Tennessee)
Hillary just received an endorsement from the Political Action Committee of the Congressional Black Caucus. Hillary has the support of our current political leadership because she has the money. Hillary is what is wrong with this country but likely she can buy the nomination. She has the business and wall street money. She takes money from all the established places where you get the cash needed to keep the political status where it is now. Hillary is connected.

Connected is enough even if you have a poor record, lie as a regular standard is fine if you have the cash and connections with the establish traditional political stalwarts and have their cash. Bernie is honest, people love him but he does not have the connections to the old people who matter and run the country. Trump has a personal fortune, fame and a whole new way to up end the system and Hillary Clinton if it comes down to it cannot stand up to insults and the brutal truth . She is an old, rich , connected , unpleasant and personality negative lady - she will melt against someone like trump by losing her mind and getting caught up in her decades of lies.
georgia (knoxville, tn)
Seriously? The "old" people who run the country? Is this an example of the brave new world offered by the Sanders followers?

Can you cite an actual Hillary "lie"?

As soon as someone asks Sanders to name the effective tax rate in one of the Scandinavian countries he likes to suggest as models, Trump becomes our president.
Chris (NYC)
Sanders is actually older than her.
Funny how the age thing never comes up about him or Trump.
Margaret (Cambridge, MA)
How about the one about exiting the plane in Bosnia under gunfire, for starters? Then there was the claim about being named after Sir Edmund Hillary (even though he didn't make his historic climb till years after she was born). Then we can move on to the Benghaze and email-related ones....
Mark Bishop (NY)
I don't know why young people keep complaining about their student loan debt, when they can just give a couple speeches to Goldman Sachs and wipe out the debt. Such whiners. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!
Catherine2009 (St Charles MO)
You need to start saving for college as soon as your child is born! You need to make sure your child takes the appropriate classes in elementary and especially high school. Look into what scholarships are available! Sometimes its best to go to a community college for the first 2 years and then transfer to a 4 year university. Does your employer, fraternal organization etc. offer any monies for your dependents college education? Did you bother to vote in your state and local elections? The once affordable state colleges have raised their tuition hugely. State universities now pay their sports coaches more than the college president! Many are in reality no longer institutions of higher learning, but "farm teams" for the NFL and NBA!
Siobhan (New York)
I'm expecting that within a few years, Chelsea will be launched as the "most qualified candidate of her generation," based on her experience heading up her parents' foundation.
Margaret (Cambridge, MA)
Catherine, I think maybe you didn't read Mark's entire comment. It's pretty obvioiusly sarcasm.
Ellen Liversidge (San Diego CA)
From the article, it´s hard to see how Nevada remains ¨Clinton country¨just because Bill Clinton is popular there. The voting on the Democratic side is between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, not Bill. Though I enjoyed reading the interview Bernie´s wife gave, which gave me some insight into their marriage, it had nothing to do with my decision to vote for, donate for, and work for Bernie.
And I think most people feel the same about their vote.
Bruce Rozenblit (Kansas City)
I can't understand how so many pundits write that black and hispanic people will automatically vote for Hillary merely because of familiarity. It's as if the punditry assumes that these voters can't read or think or make a decision. Frankly, I find it insulting and degrading.

Another issue is assuming that Bernie can't get elected unless he sweeps the minority vote. If gets a majority of the white vote and splits the minority vote, he still wins. Secondly, minority participation in the election process is much lower than whites. Nevada is a caucus state. They have to show up. That's a lot harder than answering a pollster telephone call.

If there is one thing this election season has shown us is that inevitability no longer exists. Everything is up in the air. Bernie has a very good chance to both win the state and win the minority vote.
Teri Mayer (Nazareth, PA)
Thank you! Very tired of Hispanics put into one pot. This term should not be used at all, it is increasingly implied that all so called Hispanics are a race when in fact it merely implies a group of people who speak Spanish. So all you English speaking American must be British because we are in an English speaking country.
nana2roaw (albany)
Sanders is not going to get a majority of the white vote in the general election. He must depend on large turnouts of Hispanics and African Americans.
Odee (Chicago)
Hi Bruce Rozenblit, I agree with you, as I find it insulting and degrading. I'm black and I didn't vote for Obama either time, because I predicted how he would do things, and unfortunately, I was correct: Controlled by the puppet strings of multi-nationals. Now, he's trying as hard as possible to push the TPPA on us, which will result in MUCH worse than Bill Clinton's NAFTA, as if that wasn't bad enough.

By the way, I'm black, and I fully support Bernie Sanders. Hillary Clinton will just be more of the same, and will probably get most of her advice from the first husband, who may have left office with a surplus, but he also left office with a ticking time bomb, which helped push us into the depression, NOT recession of 2008, by helping to remove Glass-Steagall. If the TPPA doesn't go through, the big money will need a HRC to push it, because Bernie certainly will not. If that goes through, governments mean nothing as we loose out to corporate tribunals, and there's only one way that turns out: Corporations win and we loose.
Paul (Berkeley)
Sanders if the Trump of the Democratic primaries-- and this is NOT meant as a complement. He has no policies of substance. Trump says "vote for me because I am a winner and I can get things done." Sanders just says "vote for me and I will change everything." Both boasts are so full of hot air and so devoid of political reality that they are equally laughable. They say more about the simple-mindedness of their followers than of how politics and policy happen in the USA. I want someone who understands both-- and who is a progressive who knows how to move things forward in a manner than achieves goals. Clinton is the only candidate out there who can do this.
SW (San Francisco)
Obama also said vote for me snd I will change everything. America fell for it from a young, inexperienced man who refused to vote and thereby avoided having a track record on which to evaluate the substance of his promises. As for calling Clinton a progressive, I'll refer you to the Students for Sanders group at Cal, the largest in the country. I doubt there are more than a handful of people in Berkeley who believe that Hillarys' and Bills' Goldman Sachs' payments and her incessant warmongering qualify her to label herself a progressive.
Katmandu (Princeton)
Sanders has been very specific about many issues. While I would not vote for him as a matter of policy and ideology, he is consistent and trustworthy.
Sean Belt (St. Louis)
Students for Sanders is not the be-all and end-all of the Progressive movement. Nor is Senator Sanders himself. I've been a proud Progressive (nee Liberal) for 60 years. I've marched for Civil Rights in the 1960's, engaged in civil disobedience demonstrations against the Viet Nam and second Iraq wars, supported Eugene McCarthy in 1968, George McGovern in 1972, Barack Obama in both of his elections and have spent many hours actively supporting other Liberal causes and actions which I continue to do to this day. I also support Secretary Clinton for President and deeply resent the implications by Senator Sanders and many of his supporters that only they can decide who is a true Progressive and who has credentials as a Liberal; that if I don't support Sanders I am not a Progressive.
A Populist (Wisconsin)
Hillary sells herself as a "Progressive that can get stuff done".

Really? How?

Because the Republican House members love her so much?

Because her lobbyist and banker friends are going to twist arms and make deals to raise taxes on themselves, expand SS, raise the minimum wage, or cut interest rates on student loans?

Talk about fantasy...

Hillary talks about Bernie's "contentious-ness" as if it were some horrible catastrophe. News flash: The wealthy donors, and their lobbyists, pundits,and pols have a never-ending supply of contentious-ness. The only question, is whether this will be met in kind, or with appeasement.

No worthwhile change benefitting the working and middle classes will come without "contentious-ness".

Either accept that reality, or accept the continued inexorable decline of the American middle class.

The idea that paid-off pols will cooperatively enact change to reverse the decline of the middle and working class?

Now THAT is a fairy tale.
Elizabeth (Cincinnati)
Just the Facts please, we don't need commenters who write in support of their candidates by creating fantasy facts.
Can you point out what exactly have Sanders accomplish as a political veteran of 30 years besides voting against gun laws and voicing oppositions of various programs and the Iraq war?
Gemma (USA)
Watching Bill Clinton watching Hillary make a speech, I got the distinct impression that he no longer believes she is going to make it. And maybe she won't be able to beat Bernie, which is the first step in the running for president by Bernie.
Katmandu (Princeton)
HRC has proven ad nauseum over the years that she will say anything and seek to "reinvent" herself in any fashion to get elected. While all pols (except maybe Mr. Sanders - and I am a Republican) exhibit that behavior, Ms. Clinton is particularly egregious in that regard, especially since she has no ability to hide her phoniness. That a substantial portion of the American public believes and trusts in her is amazing.
Pam M (MA)
This struck me: When the lights came up during a commercial break, an organizer shouted: “Get on Twitter everybody! Tweet, tweet, tweet!” Nothing wrong with it, but the idea that social media is somehow more authentic and honest than other communication channels is one whose time is past. This election is a turning point - we've got campaigns swarming on Twitter, Facebook, online surveys, and comment boards creating complete alternative realities. If you say it enough times on social media, it becomes true.
Freeman (Vancouver, WA)
Nevada, as the article points out, was one of the hardest hit states when the real estate bubble collapsed. Brand new neighborhoods were wiped out and those whose hopes for the future were invested in Nevada had to start over. One does not forget an experience like that, ever. Others found their investment in Nevada real estate suddenly underwater and were trapped in a twilight zone of markets out of kilter. These events violated every precept of free markets as innately efficient clearing houses for pricing every human activity one can conceive. Liquidity did not exist. The choice was to try holding on or abandon hope and move on.

The question for the Nevada Caucus pundits to grapple with is what proportion of the voting public in Nevada carries those memories and stayed.

I'm liking Bernie's chances in Nevada.
Gee (<br/>)
Thanks, you saved me from having to make the same comment. I do think the Clinton team is seriously underestimating how different the landscape is in Nevada since the housing bust moved through. Yes, there has been a sharp rebound in that market, but prices are still 25% or so down from the prior peak, a lot of people are trapped in bad investments, and many many more area already embittered by what happened, not to mention what the banks did in terms of falsifying loan documentation so that they could milk them and then foreclose on them. It would be pretty easy to make the link that a candidate that backs the banks so heavily (if Clinton ever released the GS speech transcripts, she would be roasted over a fire by the public) is part and parcel to what has gone so horribly wrong with this country. A senator from NY - who do you think here real constituents were?
AM (Stamford, CT)
Clinton was going to put a moratorium on foreclosures when she campaigned against Obama. It was one of her primary concerns. Nobody was listening.
r in louisville (colorado)
Excellent point, and will they attend the caucus? Numbers are usually dismal even in energized years so a minority drives the outcome again. Thanks for you thoughts!
Ivan (Princeton NJ)
It isn't exactly clear to me how the allocation of delegates works in Nevada but the issue of Super Delegates is a tinderbox for Bernie supporters. Apparently Hillary will get the same number of delegates from NH as Bernie. He won 15 of 24 in the vote, and she won 9. However, there are 6 Super Delegates from NH and they support Hillary. Could you blame Bernie's supporters for getting disillusioned? Younger voters, who went overwhelmingly for Bernie, are media savvy and outspoken on social media. Can you imagine how rigged the nomination would seem to them?
Tyler (Nashville, TN)
The Super Delegates can change their vote. If Bernie ends up winning the popular election, the Super Delegates aren't going to vote against him, it would throw the party into disarray and lead to a very low turn out for democrats at the general election. Bernie supporters shouldn't be too worried about the Super Delegates at this point.
TheBronx (New York)
Fortunately, Super Delegates aren't obligated to support any candidate at the Democratic Convention. You can bet that if/when Bernie wins a majority of the delegates from the popular votes and caucuses, that the Super Delegates will switch their support to Bernie.
Confussed (Tennessee)
It is rigged and nobody who is entrenched in the democratic party stealing money for the last 50 years wants Bernie Sanders. Hillary is one of them and they will rig it so she can win the nomination.
KS in NYC (NYC)
Sanders has a clear message, Clinton does not. The fact that Hillary accepted the huge paychecks from Goldman Sachs and needed to spend $200,000 on a vacation rental this summer shows that she is out of touch. Yes, I'm sure she'll bring in Bill to scream at the slot machines but it is Bernie's message that will hit home.
Jesse The Conservative (Orleans, Vermont)
Yes, agreed: Sanders has a clear message--so does Castro--do did Hugo Chavez--so do the mullahs in Iran. The ability to articulate a message is of no value--when the message is wrong.
Deus02 (Toronto)
Other than fear and intolerance what is the message of the Republicans? I am waiting......
RD (Baltimore. MD)
Message:
I am going to will away money and influence out of politics, implement single payer and free college tuition, and get a majority Republican Congress to raise taxes to do it!

Well, at least the message part is clear.
Kelly (Buffalo)
Why the Clinton campaign believes that black and Latino democrats sympathize with HRC is beyond me. She is so very white, so very wealthy, so clearly out to promote herself and her name, I just don't get where they see something other than that. What has she EVER done for her minority constituents?
Josh (Washington, DC)
The Clintons are really good at raising profiles and money for black candidates. That right there is a large reason why they get so much black elite support, IMO. The typical voter? We will see.
Elephant lover (New Mexico)
What has Hillary "EVER" done for her minority constitu
Glad you asked! These are a few of the ones in Wikipedia. All that would fit!

1) "As First Lady of the United States, her major initiative, the Clinton health care plan of 1993, failed to reach a vote in Congress. "
2)"she was a force behind the passage of the State Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997, a federal effort that provided state support for children whose parents could not provide them with health coverage, and conducted outreach efforts on behalf of enrolling children in the program once it became law."
3) "Clinton served on the boards of the Arkansas Children's Hospital Legal Services (1988–1992)[114] and the Children's Defense Fund (as chair, 1986–1992)"
4)"She promoted nationwide immunization against childhood illnesses and encouraged older women to seek a mammogram to detect breast cancer, with coverage provided by Medicare.[161] She successfully sought to increase research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health.[51] The First Lady worked to investigate reports of an illness that affected veterans of the Gulf War, which became known as the Gulf War syndrome"
5)"Together with Attorney General Janet Reno, Clinton helped create the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice.[51] In 1997, she initiated and shepherded the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which she regarded as her greatest accomplishment as First Lady."
Roger Binion (Moscow, Russia)
And what is Bernie if not whiter than white? And a Senator from a very white state? And what is he doing besides out promoting himself and his name?

And your asking about what Hillary has done for minorities just shows that you have not done any research into Hillary's work or her record.
TCA (Florida)
I am beginning to think that Senator Sanders has lived and breathed what the Clintons have repeatedly told us they believe, and so the Clinton argument that they know how to get things done and that is the difference between the two candidates, well, it is having a hollow sound.
William Case (Texas)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Nevada is 76.2 percent white,9.1 percent black and 8.3 percent Asian, which makes it more racially diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire, which are 92.1 percent and 92.1 percent white, but it's not one of the more racially diverse states. South Carolina is 68.3 percent white.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19000.html
me (world)
WRONG stats: see "White alone, not Hispanic/Latino", and then see "Hispanic/Latino". Former is 51.5%, latter is 27.8%. Those stats, together with the black and Asian stats you cite, really do make Nevada a racially diverse state. Surprised you missed this, given the prominence of Latinos in Nevada.
Bud (McKinney, Texas)
Why would anyone vote for Hillary?She's outdated,unethical,beholden to Wall St/Banks and her major theme is elect me because it's my turn,I'm a woman,and I'll continue Obama's programs.As a middle class retiree who is struggling to make ends meet financially.I want someone in the WHouse who will cut spending,and people work instead of sitting home and collecting freebies from my hard earned tax dollars.
TheBronx (New York)
I bet that you don't get the irony of your opposition to people collecting freebies from your hard-earned dollars. As someone who collects Social Security and Medicare benefits, you fit right into that camp of people collecting freebies. Over your expected lifetime, you will get back much more than you paid into Social Security and Medicare including interest. And, you can thank Socialism for the creation of Social Security of Medicare.
tennvol30736 (GA)
From my education, I found its overriding purpose was to critically examine the issue at hand without prejudice, based upon evidence. It has become increasingly apparent our structure isn't workable and is in need of reexamination. Government is far too important for enabling greed, ignorance and sacred cows. Feeling the Bern.
Confussed (Tennessee)
Get it but Hillary is part of what is broken and has the money from traditional progressive groups, wall street, business and everyone who benefits from the broken system. I think Trump maybe able to beat her in the general. Hillary is very unpleasant and will Trumps insults, truths and pressure having to face someone like him day in and day out she will get caught up in decades of lies and end up losing. I think Bernie is a great guy but I just do no believe in his cause like he does. I do like how he is against the established system, but very uncomfortable with the Mao socialism he has lived and professed for 40 years.
johnpakala (jersey city, nj)
i have never voted for a republican, and my politics is to the left of mr sanders. i would love to see him as president; however, i supported george mcgovern in my youth, and i remember what happened to him.

because ms clinton has not attacked mr sanders as a self-declared socialist, i feel their race does not reflect the treatment mr sanders would receive in the general election in our right-wing country. don't forget: the republicans have a vicious attack machine, and they lie smoothly and often.

ms clinton has a lifelong record of supporting programs to help the least among us, and Yes, i know she's tighter with "the establishment" than is mr sanders, but she is also aware of, and prepared to deal with, "the vast right-wing conspiracy" that is killing our country. she seems more ready to be president on day one than any candidate i've seen that had not previously been vice-president.

i'm torn between them, but being from jersey there's little chance my primary vote will decide anything. But one thing For Sure: in the general election i Will go out and vote for the democrat, whoever it is. please, no petulance or sulking on the part of those whose candidate does not get the nomination. Vote, democrats, Vote.
Roger Faires (Portland, Oregon)
I very much respect what you're saying, John . . but hey, please make it a vote for Bernie! Your vote does count. It counts to us.
Let's change our 'preordained by the mega-wealthy' future!
Feel the Bern!
2016
Katmandu (Princeton)
"they lie smoothly and often."

And Ms. Clinton does not?
Bobby (Palm Springs, CA)
You have a number of good points, John, but it all depends on how the Clintons treat Bernie.

If they start to get slimy and even more Republican, as Chelsea did with her lies and half truths about Bernie wanting to dismantle Obamacare and Medicare, I'm staying home. If Bill starts another personal attack on Bernie, I'M STAYING HOME.

Four more years of Republican-light after Obama? No Thanks.

If we survived Reagan, we can survive Trump or Cruz.

The people are FED UP with the Clintons and their Wall Street pals, Rubin and Goldman Sachs, as well as with the Republicans.

Hillary's cramped and incrementalist 'vision' is nauseating and depressing to listen to.

It's time for the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party to have a shot at this.
Feel the Bern.
Socrates (Downtown Verona, NJ)
The red-colored sideways Hillary arrow in the Hillary logo tells you everything you need to know about Hillary's vision for a triangulated American future.

Instead of an upward arrow connoting forward progress, we get a Republican red arrow pointing sideways as Hillary promises to work sideways to reform right-wing American greed and psychopathy that has unmistakably hijacked the nation rightward.

Senator Bernie Sanders has a more positive and honest message for Americans that will resonate.

Most Americans already Feel The Bern.

Now it's just a matter of actually pressing the Bernie button in the voting booth and in November....and preventing Republican dirty tricks from undercounting and hijacking those votes.

Bernie Sanders 2016
Ellen Liversidge (San Diego CA)
Socrates, I interpreted the red-colored sideways arrow, pointing to the right, as a symbol of what Hillary´s policies would be if elected....taking us further to the right.
Bernie Liz 2016.
Sean Belt (St. Louis)
Seems like you guys are reaching for some symbolism in the Hillary logo and ignoring the facts that Senator Sanders is making big promises with no credible plan to make them happen.
Memi (Canada)
The arrow only points to the right from your point of view. If you are Hillary standing on stage the arrow points to your left.

Right and left are relative to your point of view and that perfectly explains everything you need to know about politics.
Richard G (Nanjing, China)
“H(Bill Clinton) comes all the time. He has very good friends there. He plays golf." Gee, could we underscore, boldface and italicize what is wrong with more Clintons?
Stephen Beard (Troy, OH)
A story in the New York Times ostensibly about Hillary Clinton but actually about Bernie Sanders and the hurt the Sanders campaign is bringing to the arrogant and over-confident Clintons. Is this a first?
josey (jordan)
Arrogant?? - says Republicans and BernieBros.
M. Imberti (stoughton, ma)
Yes, arrogant. Unless you think entitlement = humility.
David A. (Brooklyn)
We will learn two important things from the Nevada caucuses.
(1) Whether the "Sanders magic" that takes from single digit support to a tie or beyond with Clinton can happen in a short time-span as opposed to the months his campaign spent in Iowa and NH.
(2) Whether the Sanders campaign has the organization and sophistication to translate such an increase in support (if it happens) into actual voter activity in a caucus. (If they can manage a caucus, a primary will be a piece of cake.)
If (and it is a big if) Sanders accomplishes both in Nevada, watch the super-delegate support for Clinton begin to crumble.
HRaven (NJ)
I have no idea how many prospective voters are like me, in that I don't get my news from TV but from reading articles, pro and con, about Sanders, online, every day. I did watch the Dem debates and the "town hall." I was for Bernie before he announced, and just do not understand 'undecideds."
JY (IL)
Your questions are important for winning or losing the nomination, of course.
But what about the issues that concern lower and middle-class no matter whom they vote for? Mr. Sanders is inspiring much enthusiasm among voters by raising the issues with inequality and elite corruption/arrogance that aggravates inequality. Wining or losing, he is the one who has made a substantial contribution to democracy.
LaylaS (Chicago, IL)
Yes, vote for Sanders because he's cool and all your friends are doing it...Clinton is Charle Brown, she's not cool!

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/bill-maher-pens-blistering-ess...
Patrick Stevens (Mn)
I don't know why Nevada would be a walk for Clinton. Maybe it's the money. Nevada is a state controlled by big money, as is Clinton. Vote for Sanders, Nevada Democrats, and get us off the money trail.
josey jordan (FL)
Both Trump and Sanders are offering UNrealistic solutions
with NO credible ways to deliver.
Hillary's proposals are more realistic and feasible.
Elephant lover (New Mexico)
Yes, Karl Rove and other Republican operatives have been campaigning for Berbnie Sanders. I guess they are more confident in beating a Socialist than the first woman President. Who would have thought that Karl Rove would be rooting for Bernie Sanders?
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-01-19/republican-operati...
trudds (sierra madre, CA)
So if they vote for the other person its about the money, if they vote for your candidate its principles? Thanks for clearing that up for me.
lulu (henrico)
Not by design, I am sure, but it seems too ironic that a box of tissues is prominently displayed in Clinton's Nevada office.
Ethel Guttenberg (Cincinnait)
I carry a package of tissues with me wherever I go. Is there something wrong with that?