Biden takes Kootenai County, state as Dems frontrunner
Former Vice President Joe Biden took hold of the anti-Trump movement Tuesday night, distancing himself from Vermont senator and one-time frontrunner Bernie Sanders to win Kootenai County’s support and Idaho’s 20 delegates for the Democratic nomination for president.
The victory came in the closing hours of a strong night for Biden. The former vice president also gained Michigan’s 125 delegates to go with Missouri’s 68 delegates and Mississippi’s 36. Sanders had a healthy lead for North Dakota’s 14 delegates at 10:45 p.m., while the race for the state of Washington and its 89 pledged delegates was too close to call.
Biden beat Sanders 4,857 to 3,220 in Kootenai County votes. Statewide, Biden’s percentage margin was slimmer; the former vice president led Idaho 46,426 to 41,037, with 96 percent of the state precincts reporting as of 10:45 p.m. While the nomination is by no means locked up, Biden is now considered by pundits and professionals the presumptive nominee.
In a surprise to no one, President Donald Trump last night secured Idaho’s Republican nomination as he gathers momentum for a November showdown with whomever the Democrats eventually choose at their national convention July 13 through July 16 in Wisconsin.
President Trump’s first primary run to the White House did not receive Kootenai County’s blessing in 2016. The former New York City business magnate won over 29 percent of the 22,451 county residents who cast votes as Republican, with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas taking Kootenai County handily in 2016 with more than 53 percent of the local voter bloc.
But this year, as a sitting leader with a wildly-devoted base, President Trump handily won Kootenai County with 12,327 votes (or 96 percent of our electorate) and led Idaho with 91,916 votes (or 94 percent) as of 10:30 p.m.
Biden’s victory follows a dramatic shift in the Democratic Party’s electoral balance over the past month. Sanders emerged from a year’s worth of crowded debate stages to become an early frontrunner while once-popular candidates like South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, California Sen. Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren dropped out. Biden, meanwhile, finished a disappointing fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire. His comeback in South Carolina revitalized his campaign, however, helping him surge ahead in Super Tuesday to take the eventual lead in the delegate count.
Despite that armada of once-plausible contenders on the ballot, Kootenai County Democrats essentially boiled down to two viable candidates Tuesday: Biden, who appears more moderate as his party gradually sways left, and Sanders, the architect of “Medicare-for-all” and the championing voice for the elimination of virtually all student debt.
Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee chair Laura Tenneson said Biden’s more moderate approach makes him a more electable candidate during uncertain times.
“Biden appeals to Democrats because he served under an excellent president that we know and trust,” Tenneson said. “He learned firsthand what a truly admirable leader should be. Democrats believe that Biden has a level head and can accomplish a lot due to his longstanding connections in U.S. politics. Many believe that he’s the safer and less radical choice.”
Not to be outdone, another political party came closer to electing its standardbearer Tuesday night. Don Blankenship had the lead late Tuesday night for the Gem State’s crown as nominee for the Constitution Party, which follows principles that include shrinking the government’s fiscal footprint and abolishing Social Security. Blankenship won Kootenai County 33 votes to 20 over runner-up Sheila “Samm” Tittle. He led 197 to 167 over Tittle statewide as of press time.
Jennifer Locke, chief deputy county clerk, said turnout in Kootenai County was consistently lower throughout the day than what she originally expected, a side-effect she speculated that could have stemmed from a change in practice from Idaho’s Democratic tradition.
“Precinct 5 had some pretty impressive turnout early on,” Locke said of the Twin Lakes precinct. “But so far, we’ve had less-than-expected turnout across the board. But you know, this is the first year for the Democrats going from the caucus to the primary. Just getting that awareness out there of switching like that from the caucus to the primary is always a challenge.”
Tenneson said reports of low turnout early on Tuesday did not surprise her.
“When people devote their time and effort to something, they want to see a return. They want to make a difference. Then they see that things not only aren’t improving, but they’re actually getting worse, and they get pretty discouraged. The American dream that their parents strived for is no longer a possibility for many of them, and we’re facing a climate emergency due in part to corporate greed. Unfortunately, the younger generations are losing hope.”
One person who hasn’t lost all hope is Sanders. The senator is reportedly still planning to attend Sunday’s one-on-one debate with Biden in Phoenix.
