Biden wins the Democratic primary in South Carolina
President Joe Biden won the first Democratic Party primary held in South Carolina.
Politicians and pundits closely followed the vote, the results of which are believed to be an indication of the African-American community’s attitude toward Biden.
With 93.3 percent of precincts reporting, Biden won 116,266 votes, or 96.4 percent of the 120,643 votes cast, well ahead of his two main rivals, Congressman Dean Phillips and writer Marianne Williamson.
“In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who breathed new life into our campaign and put us on the path to winning the presidency, proving the experts wrong,” Biden’s campaign said in a victory statement. – Now, in 2024, the people of South Carolina have voted again, and I have no doubt that thanks to you, we are back on track to win the presidential election.”
Four years ago, it was the votes of South Carolina’s African-Americans in that state’s primary that helped Biden win the presidential race.
South Carolina is a Republican state, but 26% of its residents are African American. In the 2020 general election, African Americans made up 11% of the state’s electorate, and 9 out of 10 of them supported Biden, according to AP VoteCast.
Shortly before polls closed in South Carolina, Biden arrived in Los Angeles to meet with African-American cultural figures.
In New Hampshire, where Biden was not on the ballot last month, he won 64% of the vote in the primary thanks to a campaign to get his name on the ballot.
While dozens more nominating primaries lie ahead, Biden has already moved into general election mode by criticizing former President and Republican Party nomination contender Donald Trump.
“There is a lot at stake,” Biden said Saturday, addressing staffers at his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.
The next primary for the Republican presidential nomination will be held in South Carolina on Feb. 24.
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