Biden, Warren absence at California gathering irks top Democrats

[TexasTowelie]

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The decisions by Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren to skip a weekend gathering of thousands of fervent California Democrats less than three months before voting begins have frustrated and puzzled some party leaders.

But they have offered a chance for their rivals to capitalize on the absence of two front-runners at the gathering that serves as an unofficial kickoff of the final sprint to California’s March 3 primary, which offers the biggest delegate haul of any primary or caucus.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in particular could benefit from Warren’s absence as the two battle over the party’s most progressive voters, many of whom were galvanized to become more involved in official party politics after Sanders’ 2016 bid. Sanders’ campaign has already hired 40 staff members in California, far more than any of his competitors, and is treating the state as comparable to early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire.

“The senator makes it clear that the state is his priority,” said Jane Kim, the campaign’s California political director and former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Read more: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/california/story/2019-11-15/biden-warren-absence-at-california-gathering-irks-top-dems

[calimary]

1. I'm so glad the California primary got moved up.

I got mighty sick and tired of being among the last to weigh in. Most of the time, the winner’s been decided long before we California voters had a chance to matter.

Not fair to the biggest state in the union.

With the most at stake.

The most people who stand to be affected by whatever happens in Washington.

The biggest pool of taxpayers.

The largest Congressional delegation.

The biggest motherlode of Electoral College votes.

The largest share of the fastest-growing demographic (Latinos).

The sixth (or is that 5th) largest economy in THE WORLD.

I always resented that we were always stuck at the end of the line.

I’m no longer a Californian but that’s still bothered me, bigtime. And for a LONG time, too. I always felt California should go first. Thank goodness the California primary finally got moved up! Granted, Super Tuesday isn’t first, but it’s a HELLUVA lot better than having to wait til freakin’ June.