Bernie Sanders supporters celebrate at Park Bar.
After holding off for quite a while, MSNBC declared Sen. Bernie Sanders the winner of the hotly contested Democratic primary in Michigan shortly after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Sanders upset Hillary Clinton who had been leading in the polls all along. Donald Trump won the Republican race.
Sanders had about 50 percent of the vote compared to Clinton's 48 percent.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich had a slight lead over Sen. Ted Cruz in Michigan earlier in the evening. Sen. Marco Rubio was in fourth, and not even close.
Earlier in the evening, Trump and Clinton were declared winners in Mississippi.
Todd Spangler and Kathleen Gray of the Detroit Free Press wrote earlier in the evening:
Win or lose in Michigan, Clinton was likely to keep a wide mathematical edge on Sanders in the delegate count that determines the nomination. But a loss in Michigan would also sting Clinton and call into question why she was unable to turn what was considered a big institutional advantage -- and a supposed one with African-American voters -- into a win in a big industrial Midwestern state.
Sanders' anti-corporate, I'm-just-a-regular-guy-like-you message seemed to resonate in Michigan where he likely gained some ground following a forceful performance Sunday night during the debate in Flint. He worked hard to portay Clinton as the establishment candidate in what seems to be an unpopular thing in the 2016 race.
Clinton landed a solid punch during the debate, pointing out that Sanders voted against the bailout for the auto industry, a big deal in Michigan and neighboring Ohio. Sanders said that he didn't like the bill and thought the billionaires, not the middle class, should bail out the corporate titans.
Apparently, some voters cared more about Sanders' overall message than they did about the fact he voted against funding the auto bailout.
People, particularly young folks, liked Sanders' refreshing message of change, but some Clinton supporters wondered just how much he could accomplish in Washington pushing an agenda that includes free college and even a broader universal healthcare then currently exists.
Clinton's party gathered at the Pub Rub in Grand Circus Park, near Comerica Park, though campaign staff said that Clinton had already moved on to the next battle front. The Sander's party was around the corner at the Park Bar.
At the Park Bar, a small crowd shouted in for joy when Sanders' was declared the winner.
In the Republican battle, Trump continues to trump the opposition. Though it seems the Republican establishment is plotting to try and sabotage his campaign.
But if Trump and supporters perceive that the establishment stole the nomination, Trump could run as an independent and sink any chances of Republicans recapturing the White House.
Interestingly, Ronna Romney McDaniel, chair of the Michigan Republican Party, was asked Tuesday afternoon by Kate Snow on MSNBC in a show broadcast from American Coney Island in Detroit, if the party would back Trump if he's the nominee. Her uncle, Mitt Romney, has gone on the offensive bashing Trump.
McDaniel insisted the state party will back whoever the nominee is.
