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ELECTIONS
New York

Clinton defeats Sanders in New York, says race in 'homestretch'

Heidi M. Przybyla
USA TODAY

NEW YORK — Hillary Clinton handily defeated Bernie Sanders in New York’s Tuesday primary, dealing him a blow that could cement her grip on the Democratic nomination as the campaign heads to other Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states later this month.

Hillary Clinton walks on stage with her husband, Bill Clinton, after winning the New York primary on April 19, 2016.

"Today you proved once again, there’s no place like home,” Clinton told supporters at a victory speech in a Manhattan hotel ballroom as she headed toward a double-digit victory in the state she represented in the Senate for eight years. While the campaign has notched victories across the country, "this one’s personal," said Clinton. She also called the race for the nomination “in the homestretch.”

Clinton seemed to make a direct appeal to Sanders' supporters as the race has taken an increasingly bitter tone in recent weeks. "There is much more that unites us than divides us." She took no direct shots at the Vermont senator who's given her an unexpectedly fierce challenge, keeping her focus on Republicans Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

The two are "pushing a vision for America that’s divisive and, frankly, dangerous,” she said, including a return to “trickle-down economics,” opposition to a minimum wage increase and hostility to immigrants, said Clinton. “We have a very different vision. It’s about lifting each other up, not tearing each other down.”

In a rally at Penn State University prior to polls closing in New York, Sanders emphasized his campaign's core themes.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

“What we have shown, uniquely, is that we can run a winning national campaign without being dependent on the big money interests," he told supporters in Pennsylvania, which holds a primary on April 26 along with four other states.

“Secretary Clinton has chosen another approach,” he said, citing the role of super PACs in backing her campaign.

Later, speaking to reporters at Burlington's airport after returning to Vermont, Sanders congratulated Clinton on her New York win.

"We think we have a message that is resonating throughout this country. We have come a long, long way," Sanders added. “We have a very, very strong grass-roots movement. … Activism wins elections.”

Sanders also raised concerns about what he called “voting irregularities” in New York and said he believes independents should have been allowed to participate in the primary.

Clinton made eight stops around the Big Apple on Monday in a final hectic campaign push, including visiting with cafeteria workers in Yonkers, drinking Asian bubble tea in Queens and mingling at an Irish Americans for Hillary event in Manhattan.

With 247 pledged delegates at stake in New York's primary, Clinton —  who entered Tuesday's contest with more than 1,750 delegates when superdelegates were factored in —  stood to inch closer to the 2,383 needed to clinch the Democratic nomination.

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Clinton had significant advantages in New York, including that it is a closed primary. Sanders has benefited from the support of independents in past contests.

Clinton was also buoyed by strong support among minorities, according to exit polls, while the two split the white vote.

Sanders, a Vermont senator who was born in Brooklyn, once predicted he could beat Clinton in New York and argued that a heavy turnout would favor him. Sanders has pledged to fight all the way to the convention in July.

Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally at Penn State on April 19, 2016.

Tensions heightened between the two campaigns in the days leading up to Tuesday’s vote. Sanders accused Clinton of violating campaign finance laws with a joint fundraising deal between the campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

“While the use of joint fundraising agreements has existed for some time — it is unprecedented for the DNC to allow a joint committee to be exploited to the benefit of one candidate in the midst of a contested nominating contest,” said Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager.

Clinton’s campaign manager, Robby Mook, shot back in a statement the "false attacks" from the Vermont senator's campaign "have gotten out of hand."

“As Senator Sanders faces nearly insurmountable odds, he is resorting to baseless accusations of illegal actions and poisoning the well for Democratic candidates up and down the ticket," Mook said. "It is shameful that Senator Sanders has resorted to irresponsible and misleading attacks just to raise money for himself.”

Sanders: Clinton 'bending' campaign finance laws

It was just the latest example of infighting, and polls suggest that it's taking a toll on Clinton’s standing among Democratic voters. A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found 41% of Sanders' voters now have a negative opinion of Clinton compared with 40% who have a positive view of her.

New York is likely to be a barometer for the next states up on the calendar. Polls show her leading by similar margins in Pennsylvania and up by about 22 points in Maryland, according to a recent NBC4/Marist poll.

Meantime, Clinton tried to push forward as the party’s likely standard-bearer  by taking repeated shots at the Republican field in appearances across the Big Apple.

“We’re going to go up some power forces that will do, say and spend whatever it takes to stop us,” she said Tuesday night. “But remember, it’s not whether you get knocked down,” she said, as the crowd chanted: “It’s whether you get back up.”

Voters at New York University polling locations illustrated both the age and philosophical divide between backers of the two Democratic candidates.

“I feel like the point of voting for a president is to getting someone who’s as close with your ideals as possible,” said Malik Marshall, a 19-year-old Sanders voter.

David Feldman, a 62-year-old Clinton supporter, said he chose the person who would continue "what we've already started" under President Obama.

"I like what Bernie says a lot but I just don't think he can get it done,” said Feldman, a restaurant owner. “He can't get anything don't so forget about turning the world upside down." he said.

Contributing: Adam Silverman, Burlington Free Press and Lydia Randall, Medill News Service

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