▲ LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 22: Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden (L) and his granddaughter Finnegan Biden are greeted as they arrive at a Nevada caucus day event at IBEW Local 357 on February 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada held its first-in-the-West caucuses today following four days of in-person early voting, becoming the third state in the nation to vote in the Democratic presidential nominating process.   Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS &amp; TELEVISION USE ONLY ==   <All rights reserved by Yonhap News Agency>
▲ LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 22: Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden (L) and his granddaughter Finnegan Biden are greeted as they arrive at a Nevada caucus day event at IBEW Local 357 on February 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada held its first-in-the-West caucuses today following four days of in-person early voting, becoming the third state in the nation to vote in the Democratic presidential nominating process. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

[네바다 경선] ‘2연승’ 샌더스 초반경선 기선제압…슈퍼화요일까지 이어가나

미국 민주당의 대선후보 3차 경선인 22일(현지시간) 네바다주 코커스(당원대회)에서 버니 샌더스 상원의원이 압승을 거두며 뉴햄프셔에 이은 2연승으로 초반 기선 제압에 성공했다.

1, 2차 경선에서 대의원 확보 1위에 오르며 샌더스와 치열한 선두 다툼을 벌인 피트 부티지지 전 인디애나주 사우스벤드 시장과의 ‘양강 구도’도 부티지지가 이번에 3위로 주저 앉으면서 허물어졌다.

▲ Democratic presidential candidate, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas, hosted by NBC News and MSNBC. (AP Photo/John Locher)    <All rights reserved by Yonhap News Agency>
▲ Democratic presidential candidate, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas, hosted by NBC News and MSNBC. (AP Photo/John Locher)

▲ Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., right, with his wife Jane, speaks during a campaign event in San Antonio, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)    <All rights reserved by Yonhap News Agency>
▲ Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., right, with his wife Jane, speaks during a campaign event in San Antonio, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

샌더스가 선두자리를 견고히 하며 대세론을 바라보게 된 반면 부티지지는 기세가 한풀 꺾이며 향후 동력 마련에 비상이 걸렸다.

반면 지난 두 경선에서 4, 5위로 참패해 위기에 몰렸던 조 바이든 전 부통령은 2위로 도약해 기사회생의 발판을 마련했다. 

CNN에 따르면 개표율 27% 기준으로 샌더스는 대의원 확보율 46.6%로 1위에 올랐다. 바이든은 22.7%로 2위를 기록했고 부티지지(14.5%), 엘리자베스 워런 상원의원(8.9%)이 그 뒤를 이었다.

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