Campaign

The Hill’s Campaign Report: Sanders top target at CPAC

by Julia Manchester,Max Greenwood and Jonathan Easley - 02/27/20 5:08 PM ET

Welcome to The Hill’s Campaign Report, your daily rundown on all the latest news in the 2020 presidential, Senate and House races. Did someone forward this to you? Click here to subscribe.

We’re Julia Manchester, Max Greenwood and Jonathan Easley. Here’s what we’re watching today on the campaign trail.

LEADING THE DAY:

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. — Thousands of conservatives filed into the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center at the National Harbor on Thursday for the second day of the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Speakers included Vice President Pence, Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

The theme for this year’s conference is “America vs. Socialism,” and the event’s speakers wasted no time painting the Democratic presidential contenders, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in particular, as socialists. Sanders was the only contender mentioned by name by Vice President Pence in his address to the conference.

“It’s truly astonishing to think that the party of Harry Truman and JFK is actually on the verge of nominating an avowed socialist,” Pence told hundreds of supporters packed into a ballroom, referring to Sanders. “Despite what the media loves to tell you, there are no moderates in this Democratic field.”

The strategy of painting Democrats as socialists has not only been employed by Trump’s campaign, but by Republicans looking to win a number of down-ballot races.

“The Democrats are going to get wiped down-ballot,” American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp told me. “I think they’re going to get wiped no matter who they nominate. It’s not about Bernie Sanders because once again they all have the same policies, by and large.”

— Julia Manchester

READ MORE:

One of the nation’s largest labor unions is launching a $150 million anti-Trump campaign, according to The Hill’s Marty Johnson.

FROM THE TRAIL:

Some of Hillary Clinton’s closest aides and allies say they’re unsure if they could support Bernie Sanders if he becomes the Democratic nominee, The Hill’s Amie Parnes reports.

Vulnerable Democrats are bracing for Sanders at the ticket, report The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Scott Wong.

A group backing Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is sharpening its attacks against Sanders in a sign of growing tension on the progressive left. Read The Hill’s Marty Johnson.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is going on the attack against Sanders, warning Democrats that Sanders’s claims that he will bring new voters and young people to the polls are unfounded, reports Marty.

Sanders, though, will have a lot of star power as he seeks to win the all-important California primary on Super Tuesday. Joining him at events in Los Angeles and San Jose: legendary rap group Public Enemy, comedian Sarah Silverman and iconic actor Dick Van Dyke.

FROM CONGRESS AND THE STATES:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce last week endorsed Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and left the door open to supporting other Democrats in the 2020 election, in a shift for the nation’s most influential pro-business lobby. Read The Hill’s Alex Gangitano.

PERSPECTIVES:

Adam Goodman: Wanna beat Sanders? Hope he wins South Carolina

Kevin Walling: Where is Barack Obama?

Thomas Friedman: Democrats must not nominate Sanders

Jim Naureckas: The corporate media meltdown over Sanders

POLL WATCH:

MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY — SOUTH CAROLINA

Biden: 36 percent

Sanders: 16 percent

Steyer: 15 percent

Warren: 8 percent

Buttigieg: 6 percent