SAN DIEGO — Presidential candidates have made their way through California recently ahead of Super Tuesday. There are 415 delegates up for grabs across the state during the Presidential Primary. California has the most of any state.
The five remaining Democratic candidates have made California a priority in their final push to Super Tuesday. They have mostly clustered around large population centers like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In Los Angeles, Elizabeth Warren spoke Monday night, Michael Bloomberg’s partner was there Friday, and Tulsi Gabbard and Bernie Sanders each spoke there Sunday.
Bloomberg also continued his massive ad buy in five languages. His latest local ad features Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas who previously endorsed him.
In Northern California, Bloomberg’s partner recently visited staff in Sacramento, Gabbard held a town hall on Saturday in San Francisco, Sanders rallied on Sunday in San Jose, and Biden’s wife met with voters in Fort Mason.
Two candidates that dropped out canceled their California stops. Pete Buttigieg was to have a rally in San Ysidro and a fundraiser in San Francisco. Tom Steyer also abandoned a town hall in Los Angeles after dropping out.
While certainly, all candidates want to win, the goal is to at least get 15% of the vote - anything less and they get nothing. That's why candidates spent the weekend making sweeps through the largest population centers in the state.
Fresh off his win in South Carolina, Joe Biden will continue avoiding the Golden State - for now. He held one rally in Los Angeles back in November. His campaign said Biden will return somewhere in the state on Tuesday and he's expected to have a private fundraiser in LA on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, several polls show Sanders ahead by a wide margin. He's campaigned across the state for months including several rallies in the San Diego area.
The question is whether supporters will vote for whomever they're backing. So far, the San Diego Registrar of Voters Michael Vu says turnout is light at less than 20%. About a million ballots are still outstanding, but they're ready for the rush.
“So far, so good. Anything we're seeing in issues we're addressing immediately, but for the most part no major issues at this point in time,” said Vu.