February 11, 2020: Five (5) Democratic presidential candidates won delegates in Iowa: Pete Buttigieg (14), Bernie Sanders (12), Elizabeth Warren (8), Joe Biden (6), and Amy Klobuchar (1). All are hoping to add to those totals in the New Hampshire primary today.
Traditionally, Iowa and New Hampshire have played the role of narrowing the field of serious candidates for the nomination. However, that does not appear to be the case this year. One Democratic activist said, “It could be a jump ball for months.”[1]
In addition to the five candidates who have already won delegates, a pair of billionaires may do so in the coming weeks. Tom Steyer is doing better than expected in South Carolina. Michael Bloomberg is devoting a lot of money, advertising, and staff to pick up delegates on Super Tuesday.[1]
If the field remains divided, some believe it may lead to a brokered convention. The last time that happened was in 1952. In that year, liberal Democrat Estes Kefauver led after the first ballot. However, the Democrats eventually nominated the establishment candidate Adlai Stevenson. Stevenson then lost a landslide election to Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The total of 41 delegates awarded so far represents fewer than 1% of all the delegates who will attend the Democratic National Convention.
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