2016: The Race to Replace President Clinton

[Progressive]

LEADING UP TO 2016

**NOTE: In terms of policy events and historic events, assume the same things took place as in the real-life Obama presidency (Obamacare = Hillarycare, the rise of ISIS, endorsing same-sex marriage, etc).



On November 4, 2008, New York's junior senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was elected president with 332 electoral votes, to Arizona senator John McCain's 216 electoral votes. Clinton won about 52% of the popular vote, while McCain won about 47% of the popular vote.

On November 6, 2012, President Hillary Rodham Clinton was re-elected president in a landslide with 358 electoral votes, to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's's 180 electoral votes. Clinton won about 53% of the popular vote, while McCain won about 45% of the popular vote.

Cabinet of President Hillary Rodham Clinton

Vice President: Antonio Villaraigosa (2009-2017)
Secretary of State: John Kerry (2009-2013); Tammy Duckworth (2013-2017)
Secretary of Treasury: Barney Frank (2009-2011); Sheila Blair (2011-2015); Timothy Geithner (2015-2017)
Secretary of Defense: Wesley Clark (2009-2017)
Attorney General: Eric Holder (2009-2013); Deval Patrick (2013-2017)
Secretary of the Interior: Jeff Bingaman (2009-2014); Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (2014-2017)
Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack (2009-2017)
Secretary of Commerce: Evan Bayh (2009-2014); Sheryl Sandberg (2014-2017)
Secretary of Labor: Linda Sánchez (2009-2013); Ben Ray Lujan (2013-2017)
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Howard Dean (2009-2016); Donna Shalala (2016-2017)
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Cory Booker (2009-2013); Stephanie Rawlings Blake (2013-2017)
Secretary of Transportation: George Pataki (2009-2015); Richard Hanna (2015-2017)
Secretary of Energy: Katie McGinty (2009-2016); Lisa Jackson (2016-2017)
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Tammy Duckworth (2009-2013); Dan Choi (2013-2017)
Secretary of Education: Dennis Walcott (2009-2017)
Secretary of Homeland Security: Joe Lieberman (2009-2017)
White House Chief of Staff: Terry McAuliffe (2009-2011); Maggie Williams (2012-2017)

Notable career information for other 2008 Democratic contenders?

Barack Obama: Ran for governor in 2010 after Gov. Blagojevich took bribes to appoint statewide judges. Obama won the race handily, but faced a serious challenge in 2014 from an IL businessman, Bruce Rauner. Obama won 53% of the vote to Rauner's 45% of the vote.
John Edwards: scandal, faded into oblivion
Joe Biden: Became one of President Clinton's staunchest allies in the Senate and was reportedly offered secretary of state position before Kerry was offered the position.
Bill Richardson: scandal, became a pundit

UP NEXT: Potential 2016 GOP and Democratic contenders

[LLR]

I mean, I would've preferred Bayou Rising, but this looks good so far

[Progressive]

MIDTERM 2014 FALLOUT AND 2016 OUTLOOK

Devastating losses in the 2014 midterm elections put President Clinton's legacy in jeopardy. Quietly, DNC officials rounded out 2014 focused on recruiting a crop of presidential candidates who could hold on to the White House. President Clinton committed what was considered by many to be a gaffe by stating that "people just didn't understand the results and achievements of this administration" resulting in an embarrassing RNC social media campaign called #HillarySoSmart.

By January 2015, President Clinton's approval rating was 43%, compared to a 52% disapproval. Furthermore, Vice President Antonio Villaraigosa has continued to poverty distance himself from President Clinton. In an interview with George Stephanopoulos, Vice President Villaraigosa said that he "respects every decision that President Clinton has made," but does not necessarily agree with it. When asked to elaborate, Vice President Villaraigosa stumbled, stuttered, and backed away from offering specifics, only saying "look George, George, everyone has a different style, and we're a team, but that doesn't mean that we have the same perspectives on everything."

The Washington Post: Who’s most likely to end up as Democrats’ nominee in 2016 presidential race?
Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake, Jan. 3, 2015.

10. Sen. Niki Tsongas (D-MA): Massachusetts' senior senator who replaced John Kerry after his appointment as secretary of state has kept a relatively low-profile in the Senate, working on reforming sexual assault policies in the military and protecting natural resources. A reliable Clinton ally in the Senate, Tsongas is thought to have the stability and the demeanor to run as a steady Clinton replacement.

9. Former Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD) Few people want the job like Sen. Biden does. Martin O'Malley may be one of them. The guitar-playing former governor is seen by many in the Democratic Party as a competent executive who pushed through progressive policies like marriage equality and the DREAM Act. Still, his protege Anthony Brown handily lost a bruising governor race last November to a Republican businessman in a deep-blue state.

8. Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE): Few people want the job like Sen. Biden does. Still, personal tragedy and age may keep Biden from his third run for the White House. Nonetheless, Biden has not denied interest in the position, and the Run Joe, Run! Super PAC has expanded its base of operations in the early states. Keep an eye on Biden as a potential dark-horse who can fight back allegations that he'd merely be a Clinton third term.

7. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) The Clinton ally was just re-elected by double-digits to his second term as governor of a large blue state, an obvious plus in the race. And though he is considered by many to be a more boring version of Martin O'Malley, he is a prolific fundraiser. Perhaps he's angling to be a vice presidential candidate for one of the other contenders on this list. Finally, an embarrassing primary result last year against a virtually unknown primary challenger may sink his chances.

6. Former Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) Although Napolitano has been out of the governor seat for almost four years, she has kept a high-profile as a pundit on MSNBC and later CNN. She was a surrogate for Democrats running in 2012 and 2014, and has publicly praised President Clinton's pragmatic progressivism on television. Like O'Malley, Napolitano has also hired aides in anticipation of a national run and is thought to be focusing on winning the Nevada caucuses.

5. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) Polis has been a vocal member of the House Democratic caucus since his election in 2008. Jewish and openly gay, Polis has said it's "time to make more history" in presidential politics. He has credited President Clinton with "creating a gay moment in U.S. history." Many think he may also be angling for a vice presidential spot on a ticket.

4. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) Young, Latino, and progressive, Becerra is positioning himself as an alternate first Latino president to Vice President Villaraigosa. Close with Clinton but also noteworthy in his own right, Becerra is thought to be actively considering a run.

3. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) Some speculate that the former Newark mayor, former HUD secretary under President Clinton, and now junior senator from New Jersey is President Clinton's preferred choice to succeed her. Booker has already hired a number of Clinton loyalists including Joel Benenson as strategists for a potential bid.

2. Gov. Barack Obama (D-IL) After a near win in 2008 against then-Senator Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama grew famously tired of the senate and returned to Illinois to build a portfolio of significant achievements in his own right as governor. In 2013, a group of Obama loyalists including family friend Valerie Jarrett started "Fired Up and Ready to Go PAC" which has supporters, donors, and active volunteers in all 50 states. Clinton is thought to prefer Booker over Obama becoming the first black president.

1. Vice President Antonio Villaraigosa (D-CA) Vice President Villaraigosa tops our list though his stock may be sinking. His gaffes have drawn close scrutiny from aides close to Clinton, and, senior Clinton aide and famous friend Huma Abedin is thought to be actively dissuading the Vice President from entering a messy primary battle. Still, Villaraigosa remains popular with Latino voters and young voters, and is said to be strongly considering a bid.

NEXT UP: PEOPLE DECLARE, AHH!!

**NOTE: GOP race is the same**

[Progressive]

WINTR AND SPRING 2015: HEATING UP FOR THE 2016 RACE

In January 2015, former Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) became the first official, serious entrant into the presidential race.

At her campaign kickoff in Phoenix, Napolitano told reporters that she was in the race fully and not forming an exploratory committee. "What's there to explore?" she coyly joked to reporters. "I was governor of a large, diverse, border state for eight years. I'm ready for the job, I'm in it to win it, and I'm confident that we need an executive's approach to build off President Clinton's progress. We need another strong woman in the White House."


Meanwhile, Vice President Antonio Villaraigosa has remain mum about his future presidential plans. Top aides to the vice president have reportedly met with top Iowa and New Hampshire Democratic party leaders, who appear cool on a potential Villaraigosa bid. Off the record, one influential Democratic New Hampshire state senator told CNN that "there's no clamoring for Villaraigosa to run. He's less popular than [President] Hillary [Clinton], and has been an awful surrogate for the White House." Rumors keep swirling that former Clinton campaign aides have discussed plans to make Iowa and New Hampshire prohibitively difficult for Villaraigosa, forcing him to decline a presidential bid. The rumored feud between Clinton and Villaraigosa came to a further head when First Gentleman Bill Clinton responded to a reporter's question this way: "Not sure why people keep asking about Antonio running, aren't there others you should be asking about too, come on now."



While Vice President Villaraigosa has remained quiet about his ambitions, aides to Governor Barack Obama (D-IL) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) have been actively recruiting prominent black Democrats for potential bids. Polls suggest that Gov. Obama polls better among older black voters and black men, while Sen. Booker polls better against young black voters and black women.


Like Gov. Napolitano, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) has entered the race without forming an exploratory committee, though has gained little traction or establishment support from Beltway Democrats who want the next Democratic nominee to be someone other than a straight, white, male.

In other news, Senator Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY), and former Governor Martin O'Malley (D-MD) have all declined presidential bids.

U.S. Representatives Jared Polis and Xavier Becerra maintain that they are "actively exploring" bids though have yet to make serious indication that they will run for the office.

NEW SPECULATION

Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NY) is reportedly eyeing a presidential bid, with Gov. Cuomo not running. De Blasio is close with President Clinton, whose senate campaign he managed in 2000. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) is allegedly also gearing up for a presidential bid, hoping to win the party's more moderate and conservative voters. Manchin has been to Iowa 25 times in the past year to meet with local farmers and other groups, and hopes to capitalize on a rigid field operation.

POLLS WITH VILLARAIGOSA

NATIONAL [Politico/Battleground]
23% Villaraigosa
21% Obama
13% Booker
4% Napolitano
3% De Blasio
3% Biden
2% Manchin
1% each Polis and Becerra
30% undecided

NATIONAL [Marist]
24% Obama
24% Villaraigosa
15% Booker
3% De Blasio
3% Napolitano
1% Biden
1% Manchin
1% Becerra
0% Polis
27% undecided

IOWA [Selzer]
31% Obama
14% Villaraigosa
14% Booker
6% Napolitano
4% Manchin
2% De Blasio
2% Biden
0% Becerra
0% Polis
26% undecided

NEW HAMPSHIRE (QUINNIPIAC)
23% Obama
16% Booker
15% Villaraigosa
5% De Blasio
3% Napolitano
3% Biden
1% Polis
0% Becerra
0% Manchin
33% undecided

UP NEXT: A busy busy spring in politics-land! The field forms, and national dialogue develops. Plus, some drama and some familiar faces.

[Progressive]

SUMMER AND FALL 2015: KICKING 2016 IN TO HIGH GEAR

He's in! NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NY) has jumped into the 2016 presidential race and has dominated much of the conversation over the summer and fall, focused on campaign finance reform, income inequality and fixing what he called a "Tale of Two Americas," which has become a central campaign theme.


Meanwhile, Congressmembers Jared Polis (D-CO) and Xavier Becerra (D-CA) who were widely considered to be leaning toward running have announced that they will not run.



CNN hosted a September 2015 Democratic candidates forum which was characterized by several news outlets as "boring," a "yawn fest," and "tame" compared to the wily Republican primaries in which Donald Trump (R-NY) has emerged as frontrunner. One point of note was that Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) appeared particularly anxious to discard Gov. Barack Obama (D-IL) as "amateurish" and "a good guy, but old news" after Obama criticized Booker's tenure as mayor of Newark. They were interrupted by former Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) who said "while you boys are fighting, let's have a strong woman intervene and talk about how to actually get things done." All 6 declared Democratic candidates were on stage.


OCTOBER SURPRISE! In what was considered a surprise to many, Vice President Antonio Villaraigosa (D-CA) who flirted with running for president and was hesitant to enter the race, has made a late surprise entrance to the race.

NATIONAL POLL <December 2015>
Post-Villaraigosa

CNN
20% Villaraigosa
20% Obama
20% Booker
14% De Blasio
8% Napolitano
3% Biden
1% Manchin
14% undecided


IOWA POLL <December 2015>

Selzer/DMR
24% Obama
21% Booker
14% Villaraigosa
14% De Blasio
7% Napolitano
4% Manchin
4% Biden
12% undecided

STAY TUNED FOR IOWA CAUCUSES RESULTS NEXT

[Kingpoleon]

Will we get a Republican race? Is Kasich doing better in NH ITTL?

For the Democrats, my current ranking is:
1. Joe Manchin
2. Joe Biden
3. Jared Polis

I'd have trouble supporting any of the other Democratic candidates. Manchin and Biden should focus on SC or Florida, IMO.

[Progressive]

Will we get a Republican race? Is Kasich doing better in NH ITTL?

For the Democrats, my current ranking is:
1. Joe Manchin
2. Joe Biden
3. Jared Polis

I'd have trouble supporting any of the other Democratic candidates. Manchin and Biden should focus on SC or Florida, IMO.

I am going to post GOP race results in my next post when I start with actual primary contests (first obviously the IA caucuses, but in terms of who has entered the race, it is going to mimic exactly what we saw this year. Also, in this TL, Polis decided against taking the plunge and running for president but he's not exactly going away More to come

[Higgs]

If all the same events occurred, why did Hillary win a landslide in 2012?

[Enderman]

If all the same events occurred, why did Hillary win a landslide in 2012?

Better campaign?

[Progressive]

If all the same events occurred, why did Hillary win a landslide in 2012?

Better campaign?

Yep...Iowa Caucus results coming soon BTW.

Anyone have predictions?

[Progressive]

IOWA CAUCUSES

DEMOCRATS

De Blasio
Booker
Obama
Villaraigosa

DE BLASIO, BOOKER TOP CAUCUSES IN PICTURE PERFECT FINISH; VILLARAIGOSA, BIDEN DROP OUT

RESULTS:

24.5% Booker
24.1% de Blasio
20.4% Obama
15.5% Villaraigosa
7.3% Napolitano
4.3% Manchin
2.5% Biden

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NY) surged to a near-win in Iowa tonight, bested by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). Flanked by the growing movement to reform the campaign finance system and the desire to tackle income inequality, de Blasio surged ahead of his better-known opponents winning in Iowa's cities and college campuses, as well as rural areas amenable to the first-term mayor's populist message. Support for de Blasio was also buoyed by the endorsement of "progressive lions" in Democratic politics including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Florida Rep. Alan Grayson, who would like to join Sanders in the Senate this year. Clinton allies are weary that de Blasio's success could potentially undermine her legacy in the White House, since many de Blasio supporters wish that Clinton would be "more liberal." Meanwhile, Booker's first place result has reportedly pleased the Clinton White House, who is said to be supporting Booker.

Gov. Barack Obama (D-IL) scored a disappointing but strong third-place finish, just 8 years after he relished in a surprise victory against Clinton and Edwards. Obama vowed to stay in the race at least through the early states to garner momentum and build a stronger campaign. Vice President Antonio Villaraigosa (D-CA) dropped out of the race at a rally in Los Angeles, urging Democrats to unite behind a candidate that "urges government to do more." Beltway pundits suggest that Villaraigosa, a former big-city mayor, may be leaning toward endorsing colleague de Blasio depending on the results of the New Hampshire primary. Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) dropped out and endorsed Sen. Booker at a speech in Iowa. Despite disappointing results, Former Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) insist that they are in the race for the long-haul.

DEMOCRATIC DELEGATE COUNT (including super delegates) [2383 delegates to win]

BOOKER: 39
DE BLASIO: 15
OBAMA: 15
VILLARAIGOSA: 6
NAPOLITANO: 6
MANCHIN: 3
BIDEN: 3

REPUBLICANS

IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED I CAN PROVIDE A LIST OF SUPER DELEGATES AND WHO THEY ARE BACKING

NEXT UP: IOWA CAUCUSES DIGEST/DISCUSSION AND NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY RESULTS

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I am interested.

[Progressive]

NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY

RESULTS:

41.2% De Blasio
28.5% Booker
16.5% Obama
10.3% Napolitano
3.5% Manchin

DE BLASIO ROUTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE; OBAMA QUITS; CLINTON WORLD UNSETTLED; BOOKER GOES FULL STEAM AHEAD TO DETHRONE HIZZONER

Flanked by support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and local liberal politicians, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NY) blew his supporters out of the water, causing Obama and Manchin to drop out of the race altogether. Clinton camp insiders are growing extremely nervous that De Blasio, who has had a somewhat icy relationship with Clinton since he was inaugurated mayor in January 2014, will hurt her legacy either by losing the general election or by ignoring the very important accomplishments made during her presidency. De Blasio has criticized President Clinton as not being liberal enough and too considered with pandering to what he has described as the "tepid middle." Recently, former Clinton aide Maggie Williams, who serves now as a pundit on CNN, suggested that De Blasio had "little juice left" to run a serious national campaign. De Blasio, who has refused to take donations from corporations or developers (though will accept from lobbyists, PACs, etc), has just $1 million in funds though he is expected to receive strong financial backing after his victory in New Hampshire.

Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) are expected to back Booker, hoping to bring a major blow or at least a slowdown to De Blasio's surging campaign.

DEMOCRATIC DELEGATE COUNT (including super delegates) [2383 delegates to win]

BOOKER:     48
DE BLASIO: 31
NAPOLITANO: 9

**NOTE: DOWN TO THREE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES...I have not listed which super delegates have backed which candidate because Gov. Barack Obama (D-IL) and his super delegates will make a major endorsement, and there is going to be a major movement among super delegates.

Stay tuned!

[Progressive]

Going to wrap up the rest of election results for the Democratic primary!

REMAINDER OF DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RESULTS + KEY EVENTS

**February 17: Obama and Villaraigosa back Napolitano**

February 20: Nevada Caucuses
Napolitano:  44% 
Booker             28%
De Blasio         27%

**February 19: De Blasio, Booker perform well at various town halls in SC; Napolitano not so well**

February 27: South Carolina Primary
Booker:    51%
De Blasio 31%
Napolitano 18%

**February 28: U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announces indictment of several top De Blasio aides; Booker fumbles on questions about charter schools; WARREN endorses Booker**

March 1: Super Tuesday States

Alabama
Booker:   54%
De Blasio:    27%
Napolitano:  19%

American Samoa
Booker wins all delegates

Arkansas
Booker:  60%
De Blasio:   28%
Napolitano:  22%

Colorado
De Blasio:   34%
Booker:       34%
Napolitano:  32%

Georgia   
Booker:   63%
De Blasio:    22%
Napolitano:  15%

Massachusetts
Booker:   50%
De Blasio:    41%
Napolitano:   9%

Minnesota
Booker:   41%
De Blasio:    38%
Napolitano:  20%

Oklahoma
De Blasio:  40%
Booker:   36%
Napolitano: 24%

Tennessee
Booker:   57%
De Blasio:    30%
Napolitano:  13%

Texas
Booker:    54%
De Blasio:     25%
Napolitano:   21%

Vermont
De Blasio:  51%
Booker:   39%
Napolitano: 9%

Virginia
Booker: 55%
De Blasio:  31%
Napolitano: 14%

**Booker wins 9 super Tuesday states, De Blasio 3. Napolitano, having underperformed despite endorsements from Villaraigosa and Obama, will drop out. De Blasio will soldier on despite the fact that local NYC area pols have called on him to step aside**

March 5: Super Saturday

Kansas
De Blasio: 56%
Booker: 44%

Louisiana
Booker: 70%
De Blasio: 29%

Nebraska
De Blasio: 52%
Booker: 48%

**Ahead of the Maine Caucuses, De Blasio, desperate for a strong turnout in the northeast, announces that he would choose Sen. Bernie Sanders of VT as his running mate. Booker received endorsements before Maine from Obama and Maine's Dem Congressmembers**

March 6: Maine Caucuses
De Blasio:   51%
Booker:   49%

**Despite pouring tremendous resources into Maine, Booker was unable to win the Caucuses and De Blasio lives another day. Booker is getting closer than De Blasio to the magic number of 2383, but De Blasio/Sanders vows to double-team Booker, who will not announce any VP or cabinet choices until after the primary, until every vote is counted**

March 8 Primaries

Michigan:
Booker:   50%
De Blasio:   50%

Mississippi:
Booker:    79%
De Blasio:     20%

**In a rare, candid move, Sen. Chuck Schumer calls on De Blasio to end the race and unite behind Booker. Meanwhile, polling nationally, Booker leads De Blasio 51% to 41%.**

March 12: Northern Mariana Islands
Booker wins all delegates

March 15: Super Tuesday Parte Dos

Florida
Booker: 65%
De Blasio: 34%

Illinois
Booker: 54%
De Blasio:  45%

Missouri
Booker: 54%
De Blasio:  45%

North Carolina
Booker:  56%
De Blasio:   40%

Ohio
Booker:   55%
De Blasio:    44%

**After a shellacking in Super Tuesday Dos, President Clinton is reported to have called her onetime friend and ally, de Blasio, asking him to drop out of the race instead of prolonging an unnecessary primary when Cory Booker could be taking on Donald Trump. De Blasio publicizes this phone call, infuriating the Clinton camp.**

March 21: Democrats Abroad
De Blasio wins most delegates here

**Napolitano campaigns extensively with Booker in the West*

March 22: West Contests

Arizona
Booker:  60%
De Blasio:   37%

Idaho
De Blasio:  54%
Booker:      46%

Utah
De Blasio: 55%
Booker:   45%

**Irritated by De Blasio's wins, Booker calls on De Blasio to release his communications with "agents of the city," a controversy that has dogged his approval rating back home. Among NYC Democrats, his approval rating is only 40%**

March 26: West Caucuses

Alaska
De Blasio:  55%
Booker: 44%

Hawaii
De Blasio:  53%
Booker:   47%

Washington
De Blasio:   60%
Booker:  40%

**Booker's campaign releases ads accusing De Blasio running mate, Sanders, of being "in bed" with the gun lobby. The ad shows an older, bald man sleeping "in bed" next to a gun.**

April 5: Wisconsin Primary
Booker:   51%
De Blasio:   49%

**In a bruising, nasty primary battle, Booker pulled off a solid but small 2-point victory in Wisconsin. Introducing De Blasio at what was thought to be a victory party earlier in the night, Sanders insisted that the Wisconsin primary has been "stolen" from the voters. This primary was so especially important to the De Blasio campaign because the April 19 NY primary polling showed De Blasio's lead over Booker continuing to shrink. The latest poll has De Blasio at 41%, Booker at 40%.**

April 9: Wyoming Caucuses
De Blasio: 57%
Booker:  43%

**NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo formally endorses Booker on the same day as De Blasio's double-digit victory in Wyoming. De Blasio decried Cuomo as a "right-wing hack," and urged New Yorkers to take heed from his campaign's momentum. NYC's entire Congressional delegation (except for Rep. Yvette Clarke), has endorsed Booker following the Wisconsin/Wyoming contests**

April 19: Big Apple NY Primary
Booker: 52%
De Blasio:  48%

**The De Blasio campaign spent literally all of its remaining cash on hand on the NY primary. Sensing a shift toward Booker, De Blasio spent heavily in upstate NY. It paid off for him there. De Blasio won much of the North Country and the Hudson Valley area. De Blasio also did well in progressive, white parts of NYC. But Booker trounced De Blasio in vote-rich Jewish communities, Latino and black communities, and NYC suburbs such as Nassau and Westchester, as well as the Buffalo and Rochester area. De Blasio has vowed to continue his campaign. President Clinton released a statement congratulating Booker on a "pivotal win" and thanked De Blasio for his campaign to succeed her, saying it was a "valiant effort" and that the people of New York should "change the course of the race."

**Pressed on whether she has endorsed Booker, on an interview with Robin Roberts of ABC, President Clinton says "I voted for Cory Booker back home in New York. I voted for him because I know him, I believe in him, and, at this point, I can't imagine anyone better to secure our progress at home and abroad.**

April 26: Super Tuesday III

Connecticut
Booker: 52%
De Blasio:  46%

Delaware
Booker:  66%
De Blasio:  32%

Maryland
Booker:  70%
De Blasio:  29%

Pennsylvania
Booker:  60%
De Blasio:   38%

Rhode Island
Booker:  49%
De Blasio:   49%

**De Blasio drops out and after several weeks endorses Booker**

BOOKER VEEPSTAKES

Original List of Candidates Vetted for Vice President
NOTE: these candidates are listed in order of what is generally considered their ranking for VP selection
* Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
* Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
* Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
* Fmr. Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ)
* U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)
* Fmr. Sec. of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
* U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
* Fmr. Sec. of State John Kerry (D-MA)
* Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)
* Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
* Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
* Gov. Barack Obama (D-IL)
* Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE)

Short-List just before convention
* Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
* Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
* Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
* Fmr. Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ)
* U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)

IT'S POLIS



BOOKER NOMINATED JARED POLIS FOR VP! IF ELECTED, POLIS WOULD BE THE FIRST OPENLY LGBT and FIRST JEWISH PERSON IN THE WHITE HOUSE.


ELECTION RESULTS

BOOKER/POLIS:  53%
TRUMP/PENCE:   45%

358-180.

President Booker and VP Polis replace the Clinton White House. The End