KUALA LUMPUR – United States President Joe Biden won the South Carolina primary, his first formal victory despite earlier fears of low turnout, most likely setting up another rematch with Republican Donald Trump.
“Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the presidency again – and making Donald Trump a loser – again,” Biden, 81, said in a statement after his victory.
South Carolina, whose population is 23% Black, was pivotal for Biden in 2020 as it launched his road to the White House and a face-off with Trump.
Neither of Biden’s competitors, Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips nor self-help author Marianne Williamson, secured enough votes for the minimum threshold necessary to win support from delegates.
A handful of recent polls showed that Biden’s popularity slipped among Black voters, especially youth, citing frustration that the president failed to address their priorities.
Other polls have Biden holding a small edge over Trump, even though his approval ratings as president remain at low levels not seen by a sitting president for decades.
The South Carolina primary allows any registered voter to participate, though voters mostly choose only one primary – Democratic or Republican – to participate in.
Of the state’s 3.3 million registered voters, about 13% participated in the 2016 Democratic primary, which Hillary Clinton won, while 16% voted in 2020.
South Carolina’s Republicans will head to the polls on February 24 to choose between Trump and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley. – February 4, 2024