Biden hopes for Super Tuesday boost after stunning primary win
● Sanders a distant second in South Carolina in test of black voters’ support
Joe Biden scored a thundering victory in South Carolina’s Democratic primary on the strength of African American support, a decisive win that could force moderate rivals out of the race and blunt the rise of progressive leader Bernie Sanders.
Mr Biden needed an emphatic rebound after underwhelming performances in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. The race moves to the 14 states from Maine to California that vote tomorrow in what in effect will be a national primary.
“We are very much alive,” Mr Biden declared at an exuberant post-election rally. “For all of you who have been knocked down, counted out, left behind – this is your campaign.”
He won about three times as many delegates in South Carolina as his nearest rival. Mr Sanders claimed a distant second place, a loss that gave a momentary respite to anxious Democrats who feared the democratic socialist would finish February with four consecutive top finishes that would make it difficult for anyone to overtake him.
Even with the victory, the shortcomings of Mr Biden’s campaign remain, including a lack of robust funding and organisation, and he will face for the first time Mike Bloomberg, a billionaire who has spent more than $500 million advertising in the Super Tuesday states. Mr Bloomberg announced plans to deliver a three-minute primetime address last night on two television networks.
Mr Biden made a round of media appearances yesterday in an effort to counter Mr Bloom berg’ s massive spending. he’ s also working to secure endorsements from prominent Democrats and, shortly after the Saturday results were in, former Virginia governor Terry Mcauliffe backed him.
The South Carolina primary was the first major test of the candidates’ appeal among black voters. That courtship was set to continue yesterday when many of the White House hopefuls travelled to Selma, Alabama, to participate in ceremonies commemorating civil rights heroism.
A number of states that vote on Super Tuesday, including Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia, have substantial black populations.
One of the candidates who spent recent weeks wooing black voters, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, ended his cam paign on Saturday after a disappointing third place finish. He spent more than $24 million on television advertising in South Carolina, more than all of his rivals combined, but never found a clear lane in the crowded contest.
Seven candidates remain in the Democrats’ quest to find the strongest possible nominee to take on President Donald Trump in November. They spent Saturday assessing the impact of Mr Biden’s win.
Aides to Mr Bloomberg’s campaign said they still the former New York mayor can win in a handful of states that vote on Super Tuesday, including Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Virginia and North Carolina.
Sanders was already looking ahead to the next contests as well, betting that he can amass an insurmountable delegate lead. After two consecutive victories and a tie for the lead in Iowa, the 78-year-old Vermont senator’s confidence has surged.
Mr Sanders congratulated Mr Biden on his first win and said it was nothing for his own supporters to worry about.
“That will not be the only defeat. A lot of states in this country. Nobody wins them all,” he told a cheering crowd in Virginia. “Now we enter Super Tuesday.”
Pressure is building on lower performing candidates including former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren to justify staying in the race.
None gave any indication they would quit before tomorrow.