President Biden secures overwhelming victory in South Carolina
The president, moving toward an all-but-certain nomination, on Saturday grabbed roughly 95% of the vote in the Palmetto State as ballots continued to be counted into the night. This decisive win has propelled Biden further towards the path of winning the presidency once again.
Biden’s message to South Carolina voters
“In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign and set us on the path to winning the presidency,” Biden said in a statement soon after the race was called. “Now, in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again, and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the presidency again — and making Donald Trump a loser — again.”
Other candidates fall behind
Biden trounced his two long-shot rivals, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and Marianne Williamson, the bestselling author and spiritual adviser who’s making her second straight White House run. The president’s strong showing further solidifies his position as the frontrunner.
The significance of South Carolina
South Carolina, where Black voters play an outsize role in state Democratic politics, led off the party’s official presidential nominating calendar for the first time. Biden, who orchestrated the change to place the Palmetto State first, aims to solidify his support among Black voters in South Carolina and across the country. With concerns over eroded approval ratings among this crucial part of the Democratic Party base, Biden’s mission was more than just winning the primary and collecting delegates.
Trump’s attempts to sway Black voters
Former President Trump, the frontrunner for this year’s Republican nomination, is making a play for Black and Hispanic voters. While Trump suggests increased support among minority voters, there is little polling evidence to back up his claims. However, even a slight shift of voters from Biden to Trump or the possibility of some Black voters sitting out the 2024 election could potentially impact crucial battleground states.
Eyes on Nevada
Next up is Nevada, where 36 delegates are up for grabs in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Biden and Williamson are on the ballot in the Silver State, while Phillips is not. Spanish-speaking voters, who play an influential role in Nevada elections, will also be a focus.
Nevada’s unique Republican contests
In a strange twist, there are two Republican presidential nominating contests in Nevada. A GOP primary will be held on Tuesday and a Republican caucus on Thursday. Former President Trump is the only remaining major candidate running in the caucus, while former U.N. Ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is the sole major GOP contender on the primary ballot.
