Three things for March 2
1. Buttigieg, Steyer and Klobuchar drop out of presidential race
Three Democratic presidential candidates ended their campaigns, narrowing the field in advance of Super Tuesday. Billionaire Tom Steyer suspended his presidential campaign on Saturday, Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced he was dropping out on Sunday and Sen. Amy Klobuchar withdrew Monday.
Klobuchar is expected to appear at a Texas rally this evening, to show her support for former Vice President Joe Biden.
Steyer did not win any delegates in Iowa, New Hampshire or Nevada. This made winning delegates in South Carolina, where Steyer spent over $24 million on advertising, even more necessary to continue his campaign. However, he finished in third place, with less than 12% of the popular vote.
"I said if I didn't see a path to winning, that I'd suspend my campaign," Steyer said in his announcement. "And honestly, I can't see a path where I can win the presidency."
Despite starting successfully in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, Buttigieg’s campaign failed to win over the support of minority voters. This led to significant losses in the Nevada and South Carolina primaries.
Buttigieg was scheduled to speak at a rally in Texas on Sunday night. Instead, he returned to South Bend to announce the end of his presidential campaign.
“Our goal has always been to help unify Americans to defeat Donald Trump, and to win the era for our values,” Buttigieg said to supporters. “We must recognize that at this point in the race, the best way to keep faith with those goals and ideals is to step aside and help bring our party and our country together. So tonight, I am making the difficult decision to suspend my campaign for the presidency.”
Mayor Buttigieg made history as the first openly gay man to launch a competitive campaign for President of the United States.
2. First positive coronavirus case confirmed in New York
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement on Twitter Sunday night addressing the first confirmed case of coronavirus in New York state.
“There is no reason for undue anxiety — the general risk remains low in New York,” Cuomo tweeted. “We are diligently managing this situation and will continue to provide information as it becomes available.”
Cuomo said the patient is a woman in her thirties who contracted the virus while traveling abroad in Iran. The patient is now isolated in her home and is not in serious condition.
Two deaths from the virus were reported over the weekend in Washington state. The U.S. has confirmed 89 cases of the virus according to counts by the Center for Disease Control.
3. Lee’s Opera Theatre closes spring performances
Lee’s Opera Theatre closes its spring performance tonight at 7:30 p.m.
From Feb. 28 until March 2, the performers have presented two one-act operas. Gian Carlos Menotti’s “The Old Man and the Thief” is directed by James Daniel Frost, associate professor of voice. Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Riders to the Sea” is directed by James Daniel Frost II.
Tickets are required for this event and are available at the Dixon Center Box Office. For more information about this final performance, contact Lee’s School of Music at (423) 614-8240.
