Bernie Sanders wins Wisconsin primary

Sen. Bernard Sanders won the Wisconsin primary Tuesday, dealing another setback to Hillary Clinton and making it more likely that the Democratic presidential primary will continue all the way to the party convention in July.

Networks called the race at 9:20 p.m., just 20 minutes after the polls closed. With 1 percent of the vote in, Mr. Sanders was leading Mrs. Clinton 56 percent to 44 percent.

Exit polls showed Mr. Sanders carried independent voters, who could vote in the Democratic contest in Wisconsin’s open primary, and again fared well with younger voters and those looking for a more liberal agenda.

The Wisconsin loss won’t put much of a dent in Mrs. Clinton’s significant edge in the all-important delegate race, but it will give the Sanders campaign additional momentum and could again highlight the problems the former secretary of state is encountering as she tries to win over progressive Democrats.

Exit polls show that, for example, she continues to be seen as dishonest by a significant number of Democrats.

Only six in 10 Wisconsin Democrats said she’s honest and trustworthy, compared to 9 in 10 for Mr. Sanders, according to ABC News exit polling.

There’s also a significant enthusiasm gap between the two. Fifty-six percent of Democrats in Wisconsin said Mr. Sanders inspires them about the future of the country. Only 41 percent said that about Mrs. Clinton.

But Mrs. Clinton’s strengths lie in the fact that many Democrats see her policies as more realistic, and believe she’s a better bet to defeat the Republican nominee in the fall.

According to CNBC exit polling, 54 percent of Wisconsin Democrats said they want a leader who will continue Mr. Obama’s policies — something Mrs. Clinton has made very clear she will do. Just 31 percent said they hope for more liberal policies.

In addition, 55 percent of Wisconsin Democrats said they believe Mrs. Clinton can defeat Republican Donald Trump in November. Only 42 percent said the same of Mr. Sanders, despite the fact that some polling has shown the senator beating Mr. Trump by a greater margin than Mrs. Clinton.