World News: Listen, this is (Super) important

Monday, March 2

Democratic presidential candidates Tulsi Gabbard, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg.

More than a third of Democratic presidential primary votes are coming in hot. It's Monday's news.

Super Tuesday is coming, and it's poised to set the course for the rest of the 2020 presidential race. What makes Super Tuesday more important than Taco Tuesday? And what even is a delegate?

It's Ashley with a SUPER special edition of The Short List. Let's get to it.

But first, we're counting on your vote: Do me (and more importantly, America) a favor and make sure you're registered to vote. Your vote matters.

The Short List newsletter is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!

First thing's first: Who's still running for president?

The entire 2020 presidential candidate field stands at seven – five Democrats and two Republicans, including President Donald Trump. Here's a quick breakdown of each candidate and their experience:

Democrat:

•	Joe Biden: Vice president, 2009-2017; U.S. senator from Delaware, 1973-2009
•	Mike Bloomberg: New York City mayor, 2002-2013; CEO and founder of Bloomberg financial services firm
•	Tulsi Gabbard: U.S. representative, 2013-present; State representative, 2002-2004.
•	Bernie Sanders: U.S. senator, 2007-present; U.S. representative from Vermont, 1991-2007.
•	Elizabeth Warren: U.S. senator, 2013-present; Congressional Oversight Panel Chair for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, 2008-2010; former Harvard Law School professor.

Republican:

•	Donald Trump: President, 2017-present; real estate developer; reality TV star
•	Bill Weld: Governor of Massachusetts, 1991-1997; former U.S. attorney.

Missing some names you'd gotten used to reading?

Sounds like moderate Democrats may be up for grabs. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who pitched herself as a moderate with Midwestern appeal and the political "grit" to beat Trump, ended her presidential bid Monday. Her exit from the race comes less than 24 hours after one of her moderate rivals, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, dropped out. Their combined exit could bring a significant shift to the race, as they both were moderate candidates running to win many of the same voters. It's not clear where the candidates' supporters will land.

Why is Super Tuesday such a big deal?

The big election night is an important one for Democratic candidates, as it has the potential to establish a breakout front-runner (if all goes well). Don't do well on Super Tuesday? It's going to be hard to keep your campaign going. Do well on Super Tuesday? You might rake in the support you need to be unstoppable.

These important things will happen Tuesday:

•	The largest number of states have their primaries.
•	The largest number of primary voters will make their presidential choices.
•	A large number of delegates is up for grabs (34% of all pledged delegates).

Live in these states? Tomorrow's your day to vote

Are you sure you're registered to vote? Check your status.

Super Tuesday states

USA TODAY

You're going to hear a lot about delegates

A pledged delegate is a person selected to represent the interests of that state's voters at the Democratic National Convention in July. Delegates are awarded to states based on total population, so California has a lot more delegates than Utah. There are 3,979 pledged delegates from all states and territories.

Candidates need to win a majority of these delegates (at least 1,991 of them) to win a party's nomination – not earn the most votes.

A break from the (super) news

•	Four more people died in Washington state from the coronavirus, bringing the U.S. death toll to six, health officials say.
•	The Supreme Court agreed to decide the fate of the landmark Affordable Care Act for the third time since its passage a decade ago.
•	James Lipton, the multitalented familiar face who hosted "Inside the Actors Studio," died at 93.

Biden, Sanders are on a collision course

Super Tuesday could prove decisive for Sanders or an opening to Biden. Sanders has fared well in primary challenges and polling, but the majority of delegates are up for grabs . A dominant performance by Sanders could make it nearly impossible for rivals to eclipse his delegate count. A strong second-place showing by Biden could position him as the moderate alternative who might better challenge Trump in the fall. Another curve ball: Voters will find Bloomberg on ballots for the first time.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, left, embraces Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during a Democratic presidential primary debate, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, hosted by ABC News, Apple News, and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Elise Amendola, AP

This is worth repeating: Your vote matters

Like I said earlier, we're counting on your vote this year. Here's how to how to make sure you're ready to vote:

•	Don't have a lot of time? Find FAQs on the issues.
•	Registering to vote takes about two minutes. Do it here, then treat yourself to a taco.
•	Before the 2020 election, we're asking voters about the issue most important to them. This is what they told us. Follow the #VotingBecause hashtag on Twitter.
•	We asked the 2020 presidential candidates their thoughts on medical and recreational marijuana and how they would handle the opioid crisis. Here's what they said.

Real quick

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming of the ~other~ news you need to know today:

•	The Dow surges over 1,200 points, or 5%, as investors expect central banks to help shield the global economy from the coronavirus' impact.
•	Missing Tennessee toddler Evelyn Boswell was born into a family racked by chaos and violence.
•	Katy Perry says she isn't "very close" with former rival Taylor Swift, but "we text a lot."