Hillary Clinton Wins Nevada Caucuses

With 94 percent of the 1,714 precincts reporting, the Associated Press declared Hillary Clinton the winner of the Nevada Caucuses with better than 52 percent over her rival, Bernie Sanders.

It's the second caucus win in a row for the Democratic frontrunner, who narrowly won Iowa by 0.3 percent, and a defeat for Sen. Sanders, who received more than 47 percent of the vote. Despite Clinton's victory, she split the delegates in Nevada with Sanders, each taking home nine delegates because the vote was so close.

Clinton addressed Nevada supporters with former President Bill Clinton by her side, telling them, "we're in this together."

"This is your campaign and it is a campaign to break down every barrier that holds you back. We're going to build ladders of opportunity in their place so every American can go as far as your hard work can take you."

Women voters overwhelmingly favored Clinton over Sanders; the Los Angeles Times said the margin was two to one in favor of the former secretary, senator and first lady. According to ABC News, roughly 60 percent of Clinton's supporters in Nevada are women, while only 46 percent of Sanders supporters in the state are female.

In his concession speech, Sanders blamed "the corrupt campaign finance system" but credited his campaign with making up ground against Clinton. "Five weeks ago, we were 25 points behind in the polls," he said. "We have made some real progress."

And in a strange sequel to Iowa's quirky coin toss awarding of delegates, in which Clinton won six precincts with the flip of a finger, the Democratic frontrunner won a precinct in Nevada because the captain in Pahrump, Nev. won a card draw against the representative for Sanders, reported the Wall Street Journal.

The New York Times called Clinton's victory a "serious setback" for Sanders, after a significant victory in the New Hampshire primary, where voters are overwhelmingly white.

But in Nevada, African-Americans went for Clinton in large numbers. According to CNN entrance polls, only 22 percent of African-American caucus-goers supported Sanders.

The Times reported Sanders advisers admitted his poor showing among African-Americans could spell trouble in the South Carolina primary on Saturday and the Super Tuesday states on March 1, where there are significant African-American populations.

Sanders did find support among Nevada's Latinos, winning 53 percent of the Hispanic vote to 45 percent for Clinton, according to CNN's entrance polling.

As for the Republicans, Donald Trump sailed to a second consecutive primary victory in South Carolina tonight. Read more about that race here. The GOP caucus in Nevada is scheduled for February 23.