Senate Democrats avoid calling Sanders front-runner

[RandySF]

Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate are sidestepping references to his front-runner status, even though he has the most delegates and is the odds-on favorite to win California and Texas on Super Tuesday.

Senate Democrats, most of whom do not support the Vermont Independent’s boldest proposals — “Medicare for All,” tuition-free college and the Green New Deal — aren’t ready to crown Sanders as the likely nominee, arguing that former Vice President Joe Biden or another candidate might surge to the top.

“You know, it’s hard to say. What, about 3 percent, or something like that, of people have voted? So a lot more people have to have their voices heard,” said Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) when asked if Sanders is now the front-runner.

Smith is up for reelection in a state that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won in 2016.

Trump plans to compete in Minnesota this year, telling supporters in 2019: “We are going to fight with all of our heart and soul to win the great state of Minnesota in 2020."

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is up for reelection in a state President Trump narrowly lost, acknowledged that Sanders has won the most contests but said the race is far from over.

“We’re not even a hundred delegates into this process, so we have a long way to go,” she said.



https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/485251-senate-democrats-avoid-calling-sanders-front-runner