President Joe Biden secured victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary, a crucial state that played a pivotal role in his 2020 presidential nomination. The campaign is optimistic that this win will reinvigorate support from Black voters, a demographic that has shown some deviation, contributing to the decline in Biden’s approval rating.
Key Facts:
- The Associated Press declared Biden the winner at 7:23 p.m., a mere 23 minutes after the polls closed, with Biden securing over 95% support.
- Representative Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and author Marianne Williamson garnered less than 2% of the vote each.
- Biden was widely anticipated to dominate the South Carolina primary, solidifying his position as the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination.
- South Carolina holds significance as the kickoff for the Democratic nominating contest and was strategically placed ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire on the official primary calendar.
- The state will award 55 delegates out of the 1,991 needed to secure the Democratic nomination.
Crucial Quote: “The truth is I wouldn’t be here without the Democratic voters of South Carolina, and that’s a fact,” Biden expressed at an event in Columbia, South Carolina last month. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Big Number: Biden’s support among Black voters dropped by 19 percentage points last year, according to a November NBC poll, contributing to his approval rating hitting 40% among all voters, marking the lowest point of his presidency. Currently, his approval stands at 39%, hoping that the win in South Carolina, where approximately 60% of Democratic voters are Black, will rally this crucial demographic for subsequent primaries and the general election.
Key Background: Biden is poised for a potential rematch against former President Donald Trump in the November general election, as Trump is on track to secure the Republican nomination. The Biden campaign seeks to differentiate itself by emphasizing contrasts with Trump, focusing on characterizing the former president as a threat to democracy. Their rematch is expected to be closely contested, with polls indicating a narrow lead for Trump.
What to Watch For: The next Democratic primary is scheduled for Thursday in Nevada, while Republicans will also hold their primary on the same day.
Tangent: New Hampshire held its Democratic primary on Jan. 23, but it was unsanctioned, and no delegates were awarded. Biden, despite not appearing on the ballot, secured victory with 64% of votes following a successful write-in campaign.