In a resounding victory, President Joe Biden has clinched triumph in the South Carolina Democratic primary, securing all 55 pledged delegates after nearly all ballots were tallied from Saturday’s vote. This marks the inaugural official Democratic primary leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
Facing minimal competition within his party, President Biden expressed gratitude to South Carolina voters, emphasizing their role in breathing life into his 2020 campaign and asserting his unwavering confidence that they would propel him to victory in the upcoming presidential race.
Recalling the crucial support from the state’s black voters, who constitute over a quarter of South Carolina’s population, Biden credited them as the driving force behind his Democratic nomination win in 2020. Addressing a predominantly black audience in January, he stated, “You’re the reason I’m president. You’re the reason Donald Trump is a loser, and you’re the reason we’re gonna win and beat him again.”
Preliminary figures indicate that Democratic contenders Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips lagged significantly behind Biden, securing only 2% of the votes each.
President Biden, who officially announced his re-election bid in April 2023, citing a pivotal moment in the country’s trajectory, emphasized the need for more time to “finish this job.” Notably, he played a key role in reshaping his party’s nomination process, advocating for South Carolina to be the first state to vote, a move aimed at ensuring the diversity of the Democratic Party was reflected in the process, according to a Biden campaign adviser.
As the Democratic primary sets the stage for the 2024 presidential election, President Biden remains focused on securing continued support and translating his victory in South Carolina into momentum for a successful bid for a second term in the White House.