Sep 12, 2018

Progressives go digital before 2018 midterms

A pro-Bernie Sanders rally in Philly during the 2016 DNC. Photo: Albin Lohr-Jones/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Two progressive groups, Organizing for Action and ACRONYM, are investing heavily in digital organizing and advertising two months out from the 2018 midterms.

Why it matters: They're tapping into the grassroots energy they've seen growing since the first Women's March after President Trump's inauguration in the hopes of helping Democrats up and down the ballot on Nov. 6.

Driving the news: OFA launched a Campaign Organizing Bootcamp today — drawing from their collective experience on Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns — which includes free webinars teaching people best practices for "get out the vote" efforts and digital organizing in the final 60 days of an election.

ACRONYM, the digital-first startup working to elect progressive Democrats, is investing $10 million in digital ads to help 75 Democrats running in state legislature races. They're working with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

This follows a trend of Democrats going digital throughout 2018, from ActBlue's record-breaking fundraising to Joe Biden's Instagram TV series.

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Orion Rummler

Debate night: Candidates' last face-off before Super Tuesday

Sanders, Biden, Klobuchar and Steyer in South Carolina on Feb. 25. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Sen. Bernie Sanders wanted to keep his momentum after winning contests in New Hampshire and Nevada, while former Vice President Joe Biden hoped to keep his own campaign alive. The other five candidates were just trying to hang on.

What's happening: Seven contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination were in Charleston, South Carolina, for the tenth debate, just days before the South Carolina primary and a week before Super Tuesday. They spoke, sometimes over each other, about health care, Russian interference in the election, foreign policy the economy, gun control, marijuana, education, and race.

Go deeperUpdated 27 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Zachary Basu

4 takeaways from the South Carolina debate

Former Vice President Joe Biden, right, makes a point during Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate, while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders listens. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The 10th Democratic debate was billed as the most consequential of the primary thus far, but Tuesday night's high-stakes affair was at times awkward and unfocused as moderators struggled to rein in candidates desperate to make one last splash before Saturday's primary in South Carolina and Super Tuesday.

The big picture: After cementing himself as the Democratic favorite with a sweeping win in Nevada, Sen. Bernie Sanders came under fire as the front-runner for the first time on the debate stage. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who will be on the ballot for the first time next Tuesday, was a progressive foil once again, but he appeared more prepared after taking a drubbing at the Nevada debate.

Go deeper28 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Axios

Coronavirus spreads to Africa as U.S. soldier in South Korea tests positive

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's Health Ministry. Note: China numbers are for the mainland only and U.S. numbers include repatriated citizens.

A 23-year-old American soldier stationed at Camp Carroll in South Korea has tested positive to the novel coronavirus, as the outbreak spreads to more countries.

The big picture: COVID-19 has killed more than 2,700 people and infected over 80,000 others, mostly in mainland China. Public health officials confirmed Tuesday the U.S. has 57 people with the novel coronavirus, mostly those repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

Go deeperUpdated 2 hours ago - Health