|
Listen to this article here
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
President Joe Biden wins the South Carolina Primary in the Democrat’s race for the nomination, taking all 55 delegates on Saturday, February 3rd. He carries 96.2% (126,321 votes) of the democratic vote as the incumbent. Marianne Williamson carries 2.1% (2,726 votes) and Dean Philips 1.7 % (2,239 votes). In 2024, South Carolina makes history and becomes the first state in Democratic primaries to lead the election cycle.
What Delegate Threshold is needed for Democratic Nomination
To secure the Democratic nomination for the presidency, Biden must obtain a majority of the total pledged delegates. In the Democratic Party, this majority threshold is typically set at 50% plus one delegate. During the 2020 Democratic primary, Joe Biden secured a total of 2,687 pledged delegates but only needed a minimum of 1,991 to secure the nomination.
Biden’s large-margin victory should boost his momentum and confidence among voters as he moves forward in the Democratic primary race. It also demonstrates that he still has strong support among Black voters, which could help him appeal more to the average voter in upcoming primaries and caucuses.
Role of Black Voters in South Carolina
During the 2020 presidential primary, Black voters in South Carolina played a pivotal role in rescuing Joe Biden’s campaign and represented half of the party’s primary electorate. Notably, this was after his campaign suffered significant setbacks in Iowa and New Hampshire.
What’s also notable is President Biden receiving 13% more of the Black vote than in 2020. In part, this is due to there being less competition among Democratic presidential candidates. For context, there were 29 presidential candidates on the ballot during the 2020 South Carolina primary. This year, there were only three: Biden, Williamson and Philips. Nevertheless, it could still indicate that despite low favorability polling among Black voters, he’s getting support among them when it counts.
President Biden’s Statement
After becoming the projected winner, President Biden posted a statement on X – formally known as Twitter:
“As I said four years ago, this campaign is for everyone who has been knocked down, counted out and left behind. That is still true today. With more than 14 million new jobs and a record 24 straight months—two years—of the unemployment rate under 4%, including a record low unemployment rate for Black Americans, we are leaving no one behind.
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.
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.”
Biden’s good showing in South Carolina might help him on Super Tuesday, where many delegates are up for grabs. To secure a strong position, he must maintain his momentum in both the Nevada and Michigan primaries before the March 5th Super Tuesday.
Republican Presidential Candidate Nikki Haley
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is the former governor of South Carolina. She faces an uphill battle against former president Donald Trump in her home state. However, Trump enjoys considerable favoritism among Republican primary voters in South Carolina, making him the frontrunner. However, Republicans continue to face challenges in attracting Black voters to their party, especially Haley. The Republican primary in South Carolina is scheduled for Saturday, February 24th.
Implications of South Carolina Primary
If Joe Biden does not encounter significant health challenges due to his age, he is expected to secure the nomination. He will then likely compete head-to-head with former President Donald Trump in the upcoming general election. The crucial role of Black voters in Biden’s potential re-election is evident. Importantly, the notable turnout of Black voters in the South Carolina primary sets a significant precedent.
Out of over 3 million registered voters, only 131,000 people voted in the SC primary. Doesn’t look like a resounding victory to me. Looks like a lot of voters are sitting it out.