News Information and Media Site: The Stakes 2020: “Big Amy Energy” and texting with Jaime Harrison

THE LEDE

Now that Americans are voting, it's time to pay a bit of attention to what they're voting for: candidates. No, just kidding, it's delegates. The coming weeks will make us all experts in yet another not-so-democratic system, and if you keep one thing in mind, remember that it's harder than it looks to come from behind. And right now it looks good for Bernie Sanders.

BAE: I never got Amy Klobuchar to do one of these text interviews, despite her telling me in person she would and despite an endless, hopeless text exchange with her spokesperson:

It was, to me, a mark of the edgy, chaotic reality of Klobuchar's world — "Big Amy Energy," in Ruby Cramer's coinage, portrayed at its worst in Molly Hensley-Clancy's reporting on her treatment of her staff: "fits of rage, 'cruelty,' tears." From the story: "Former staffers said they were sharing emails and anecdotes with BuzzFeed News because they believe that insight into her office reflects on the senator's ability to run the country."

If you are on board with Big Amy Energy, you might note that the presidency is a hard, dark job fundamentally unsuited to nice people. You'd rather have FDR than Jimmy Carter.

Yang's Exit: "I can't believe I lost to these people," he told us.

READ RECEIPTS

Jaime Harrison

Jaime Harrison is a big deal in one of the key remaining early tests, South Carolina, where he's a former DNC official and current Senate candidate, having raised eye-popping sums to run against Lindsey Graham. We talked about what people get wrong about the state and its mostly black Democratic electorate, as well as about my inability to spell.

BEN SMITH: Jaimie! Thank you for doing this! To begin with, can you send over a selfie and tell me what you're doing right now? IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Selfie of Jaime Harrison. JAIME HARRISON: In a car... headed to a campaign meeting.

BEN SMITH: Now you're basically a frontline Democrat, running for Senate in a tough state. Are you worried about the top of the ticket after last night's results in New Hampshire? JAIME HARRISON: I'm focused on our campaign to bring hope back to SC and I'm trying to serve as a model for our candidates. The most important thing we can do is to go into all communities and speak to folks where they are.

BEN SMITH: So much media chatter right now -- mostly from people who are not black South Carolinians -- about what black voters in SC will do. What is the media getting right and wrong about these voters? (Also that was the most annoyingly on-message answer.) But as you were saying...

JAIME HARRISON: I think it is important for the media to not speculate about what African Americans are looking for but to actually go into those communities and ask them. We are looking for leaders who can address things like health care. In our communities we need leadership to address issues from the lack of healthcare coverage to disparities that plague our communities to the fact that rural hospitals are closing at a rapid pace. BEN SMITH: On your own campaign: How do you beat a Trump lieutenant like Lindsey Graham in a Trump state when Trump is on the ballot?

JAIME HARRISON: Senator Graham was elected to represent the people of South Carolina but he has failed at the job. He cares more about Washington DC politics than he does addressing the issues that the people of SC are dealing with on a day to day bases. Four of our rural hospitals have closed over the past few years; 1/4 of the state has no access to broadband; the ravages of climate change are increasingly threatening our state economies; and rural SC is suffering, but Lindsey is more concerned with flying on Air Force One. The people of SC are fed up and hungry for real leadership. Take a look at this picture.

This is from a meeting I had in Lancaster County. This county went for Trump 61/35. The winds of change are blowing in SC. IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Town hall in SC with a considerable amount of older white people.

BEN SMITH: That shot doesn't scream ''winds of change: to me -- what is it? Ohhh. Nevermind. JAIME HARRISON: Haha! Yup! BEN SMITH: So... older white people not as into Trump and Lindsey as we all assume.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Another townhall. JAIME HARRISON: Here is another picture from Beaufort SC... another county that went for Trump. This is not a conventional wisdom type of race... we are building a movement like has never been seen in SC.

BEN SMITH: Ok finally, why do weird/bad things like this always seem to happen in South Carolina. What is wrong with your state? IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Screenshot of a news story where a local news station used a mugshot of an black man in a promotion for Jaime Harrison's hosting.

JAIME HARRISON: SC is an amazing state with great people, but most importantly it is my home. I'm told by the station management that this was a grave technical error with new staff. I have accepted their apology and will meet soon with their staff to discuss ways to avoid these types of mistakes in the future. BEN SMITH: Thanks for taking the time Jaimie! JAIME HARRISON: Thanks for the opportunity and by the way... folks go to JaimeHarrison.com go join our movement! BEN SMITH: Ha, well done!

BEN SMITH: Wait, did you just let me get away with spelling your name wrong twice? Damnit! And I can't even edit in this format, so all I can do is apologize. Sorry about that. JAIME HARRISON: Haha it happens all the time so I don't even notice anymore.

JAIME HARRISON: As long as you get the website right! BEN SMITH: *three prayer hands emojis*

ON THE TRAIL WITH BUZZFEED NEWS

Here's Molly from the Warren event in New Hampshire on Tuesday, where Warren still did the selfie line but the arc of her speech was different in light of the disappointing results for the campaign.

Nidhi took some of the most iconic photos of the night, at Joe Biden's bleak New Hampshire party. (Biden himself was in South Carolina.)

Andrew Yang's supporters vowed to make sure their movement had staying power after he dropped out, Ryan reports.

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