US media ignores large pro-Sanders rallies ahead of tough Super Tuesday contests

February 29, 2016
Issue 
March for Bernie Sanders in Chicago, February 28. Photo via @Politicaltwain1/Twitter.

Ahead of the March 1 "Super Tuesday" primaries, nationwide marches has swept across the Untied States in support of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders on February 28, US Uncut said that day.

Organisers reported that demonstrations were held in at least 40 cities, and possibly as many as 70, in support of the self-described socialist.

US Uncut said: "Thousands of cheering Bernie supporters have packed metropolitan sidewalks and streets, further cementing the rallying cry that the Bernie phenomenon is more than a Presidential campaign. It's a passionate political movement that demands revolution.

"Despite everything they've battled so far, the Sanders campaign is thriving."

US Uncut said that despite the size and scale of the marches, which were reported across social media via the #MarchForBernie hastag, only a few local media outlets reported the demonstrations.

"By contrast," US Uncut said, "Hillary Clinton's campaign hasn't been able to muster enough supporters for a march of any kind for the entire election season."

On March 1, ahead of voting in caucuses in 14 US states and one US territory, US Uncut said: "As of this writing, Bernie Sanders is on target to raise over $42 million for the month of February ... According to the Sanders campaign, nearly $42 million has been raised by 1.4 million individual contributions, meaning the average contribution was approximately $30."

US Uncut noted: "While the Hillary Clinton campaign hasn't yet disclosed its February fundraising total, it's likely Sanders will have outraised the former Secretary of State for the second consecutive month. In January, Sanders raised nearly $5 million more than the Democratic front-runner, largely from a wave of small donations."

The record fundraising came despite Sanders being beaten by Clinton on February 27 in a potentially decisive race in South Carolina. Clinton was a crushing win with winning the primary with 73.5% of the vote, and picking up 39 additional delegates compared to Sanders' 14, Democracy Now! said.

Crucially, in a state with a large African American population, Clinton beat Sanders in the Black vote by six-to-one. Sanders, starting his campaign as largely an unknown in Black communities, has been making a strong pitch for African American support by offering support to the Black Lives Matter Movement. Among other moves, his campaign released a moving campaign video featuring Erica Garner, daughter of Eric Garner who was murdered by New York police in 2014.

Despite losing the overall vote, Sanders again won the youth vote, with exit polls indicating 63% of voters aged 18-30 backed Sanders, TeleSUR English said that day.

TeleSUR English said: "However, as Clinton secured a big win in South Carolina, several nationwide polls suggest that Clinton and Sanders are tied among likely Democratic voters in the United States. Also, earlier this week a Reuters poll showed Sanders leading Clinton nationwide by more than 6 points among democrats."

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