U.S. President Joe Biden’s quest for re-election faces its initial test this Saturday as Democrats conduct their first 2024 primary in South Carolina.
Biden, at 81, an incumbent facing minimal competition for his party’s nomination ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. election, seeks a decisive win among South Carolina’s predominantly Black electorate. This aims to address concerns about his age and issues like high consumer costs and border security along the U.S.-Mexican border.
Democratic officials anticipate a total of 100,000 to 200,000 primary votes. This projection follows an extensive county-by-county tour in the state, aiming to engage voters through various events featuring President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Who sits in the White House, it matters, and in this election we each – each one of us – we face a question: ‘What kind of country do we want to live in?'” Harris said on Friday in Orangeburg, South Carolina. “President Biden and I are counting on you.”
At 77, former President Donald Trump emerges as the leading contender for the Republican nomination to contest against Biden in the general election. South Carolina, traditionally Republican since 1976, poses a crucial test for Biden, given that over half of the state’s Democratic electorate is Black, showcasing the significance of Biden’s appeal within a demographic that overwhelmingly supports Democrats in presidential races, at a ratio of nine-to-one.
Anticipate primary results post 7 p.m. Eastern time (0000 GMT Sunday). Some South Carolina voters express reservations about Biden’s re-election bid, feeling it falls short of expectations.
“Sometimes I wonder, is his presence enough because you don’t see him a lot, you don’t hear him a lot,” said Martin Orr, 52, a school administrator from McConnells, South Carolina, speaking about Biden, whom he plans to support in the election. “Is it quiet because of his age or his physical condition, or what’s going on? I think that’s what a lot of people are concerned about right now.”
Echoes Of 2020
Despite numerous upcoming primary contests, Biden has transitioned into general-election mode, criticizing Trump in several speeches. Trump, having secured victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, is strongly positioned for his party’s nomination. The focus now shifts to South Carolina, hosting the next significant Republican presidential nominating battle on Feb. 24.
Biden strategically reshuffled the Democratic calendar, elevating South Carolina as the inaugural nominating contest, preceding Iowa and New Hampshire.
This move amplified the influence of Black voters and effectively marginalized potential nomination competitors. His resounding victory in the South Carolina primary four years ago revitalized Biden’s financially strained campaign, propelling him to secure a triumph in the subsequent general election against Trump.
“Black voters turned out in very large numbers and voted in favor of Joe Biden,” said Kirk Randazzo, chair of the political science department at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. “There’s less enthusiasm for him and his policies among minority voters, in particular among Black men. And it’s unclear whether they’re going to turn out to vote or simply stay home.”
In 2020, Biden secured 49% of the 539,263 votes in South Carolina’s Democratic primary. Anticipated to command a larger portion of a diminished electorate this time, facing contenders like U.S. Representative Dean Phillips and bestselling author Marianne Williamson.
Biden, absent from New Hampshire’s ballot last month, managed to capture 64% of the primary vote through a write-in campaign. While Phillips predicts a substantial majority supporting Biden in the upcoming primary, he underscores his continued role in the process.
“If you want to have a first-in-the-nation primary, you need at least two candidates on the ballot, and I’m happy to be that other guy,” Phillips said.