Joe Biden emerged victorious in a landslide victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary, marking a significant boost for his reelection campaign and dispelling doubts about Democratic voters’ support for their party’s standard bearer. With 96.2% of the ballots cast and 97% of the total votes tallied, Biden secured an overwhelming win, leaving no question about his popularity among Democratic voters. The win also signifies a strong message from voters that they are ready for Biden to pivot towards the November election.
The South Carolina primary holds great importance for Biden, as it was the state’s voters who breathed new life into his campaign in 2020 and set him on the path to winning the presidency. Acknowledging this, Biden expressed his gratitude to the people of South Carolina and confidently stated, “you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again — and making Donald Trump a loser — again.”
Biden’s victory in South Carolina will award him all 55 of the state’s Democratic delegates, further solidifying his position as the preferred candidate for November’s election. In contrast, neither Dean Phillips nor Marianne Williamson, the other two Democrats on the ballot, were able to break the 15% threshold required to secure any delegates.
However, despite the resounding victory, reports of lower than expected turnout have raised concerns about weakened enthusiasm for Biden among Democrats. While approximately 16% of the state’s registered voters participated in the Democratic primary in 2020, that number dropped to roughly 4% this year. This decline in turnout may reflect a waning level of excitement for Biden within his own party.
A key demographic that Biden has been striving to win over is Black voters, who form a significant portion of the Democratic electorate in South Carolina. Polls have indicated that Biden’s support among Black voters has been lagging, posing a challenge for his campaign. Nevertheless, his commanding victory in South Carolina could help assuage some of these concerns and solidify support among this crucial voting bloc.
Biden’s campaign has faced mounting pressure to demonstrate momentum, particularly due to the delayed start of the official primary season for Democrats. In Iowa, the Democratic party opted not to hold a caucus, depriving Biden of the opportunity to secure a win there. However, in New Hampshire, despite his name not being on the formal ballot, Biden emerged victorious as a write-in candidate with an impressive 64% of the vote.
Looking ahead, Republicans in South Carolina are preparing for their party primary on February 24. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will aim to challenge former President Donald Trump in her home state. The GOP primary is expected to generate significantly higher turnout and attention compared to Saturday’s Democratic vote.
Notably, the Democratic primary has been marked by its civility, a contrast to the contentious Republican battle. Dean Phillips, one of the Democratic candidates who received a minimal share of the votes, congratulated President Biden on his “good old fashioned whooping,” expressing respect for his opponent’s victory.
Joe Biden’s landslide victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary has injected fresh momentum into his reelection campaign. With all eyes now turning towards November’s election, Biden’s triumph in South Carolina serves as a powerful statement from Democratic voters that they are ready to rally behind their chosen candidate to defeat Donald Trump once again.
