CHARLESTON, S.C. — Eyeing a South Carolina victory to rescue his presidential ambitions, Joe Biden claimed one of the state's most coveted endorsements on Wednesday as Democratic front-runner Bernie Sanders marched past the blistering assault from his rivals on the debate stage the night before. And Pete Buttigieg, a leading...
Democrats Unload on Bernie Sanders in Likely Debate Preview
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Democratic rivals to Bernie Sanders are preparing to try to knock him off his front-runner perch in a debate Tuesday night before a critical South Carolina primary that could dramatically reshape the race. With mounting fear among the Democratic establishment that the self-described democratic socialist is on the verge...
Doubts Persist for Dem Voters About Female Nominee in 2020
PLYMOUTH, N.H. — In a perfect world, Susan Stepp, a 73-year-old retiree, would be voting vote for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren in New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, she says. But that won't be happening. “I am not sure a woman is the best candidate to go up against Trump,”...
Key Takeaways From Democratic Presidential Debate in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — Some key takeaways from Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate in Des Moines, the final forum before the Iowa caucuses: Civility and Substance Over Fighting and Friction After the United States’ killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Democrats were bracing for fights over foreign policy. Instead, a whole lot of substance...
Dueling Wealth Tax Plans Mean Sanders-Warren Clash May Come
WASHINGTON — Bernie Sanders announced on Tuesday a plan to tax the nation's wealthiest households, saying it will generate more than $4 trillion over the next decade and substantially reduce billionaires' fortunes — his version of Democratic presidential rival Elizabeth Warren's signature proposal. Sanders, a senator from Vermont, and Warren, a senator...
Poll: Trump Isn't Getting a Boost from Strong US Economy
WASHINGTON — The solid economy is doing little to bolster support for President Donald Trump. Americans give Trump mixed reviews for his economic stewardship despite the growth achieved during this presidency, according to a new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Nearly two-thirds describe as "good"...
Breakouts, Burns, Zingers: What to Watch in Democrats' Debates
WASHINGTON — Sixty seconds for answers, a television audience of millions and, for some candidates, a first chance to introduce themselves to voters. The back-to-back Democratic presidential debates beginning Wednesday are exercises in competitive sound bites featuring 20 candidates hoping to oust President Donald Trump in 2020. The hopefuls range widely in age, sex...
Sanders Wants to Wipe Out All Student Loan Debt
WASHINGTON — Days before the first Democratic presidential debates, Sen. Bernie Sanders and House progressives rolled out legislation to cancel all student debt, going farther than a signature proposal by Sen. Elizabeth Warren as the two jockey for support from the party's liberal base. By canceling all student loans, Sanders says...
2020 Democratic Hopefuls Embrace New Meaning of Reparations
Several Democratic presidential candidates are embracing reparations for the descendants of slaves — but not in the traditional sense. Over the past week, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro spoke of the need for the U.S. government...
Warren Struggles to Move Past Native American Heritage Flap
WASHINGTON — Sen. Elizabeth Warren is on the verge of launching a presidential campaign that should be all about her vision for the future. But first she has to explain her past. For the second time in two weeks, the Massachusetts Democrat apologized Wednesday for claiming Native American identity on...