Nominations could soon usher in election rematch
NEW YORK — Joe Biden and Donald Trump hoped to clinch their parties’ presidential nominations with dominant victories in a slate of state primaries on Tuesday as the 2024 fight for the White House moves into a new phase.
Neither Biden, a Democrat, nor Trump, a Republican, faced significant opposition in primary contests across Georgia, Washington state, Mississippi and Hawaii. The only question was whether they would earn the necessary delegates in each state to hit the 50% national threshold to become their parties’ presumptive nominees.
The 2024 presidential contest is on the verge of a crystallizing moment that will solidify a general election rematch between Biden and Trump. And that rematch — the first featuring two U.S. presidents since 1956 — will almost certainly deepen the nation’s searing political and cultural divides in the eightmonth grind that lies ahead.
On the eve of Tuesday’s primaries, Trump acknowledged that Biden would be the Democratic nominee, even as he unleashed a new attack on the president’s age.
“I assume he’s going to be the candidate,” Trump said of Biden on CNBC. “I’m his only opponent other than life, life itself.”
Biden, too, directed much of his attention toward Trump, whom the Democratic president described as a serious threat to democracy during a campaign stop Monday night in New Hampshire. He also signaled a more robust presence on the campaign trail.
“I’m looking forward to doing more and more of these events,” Biden said. Later, he joked about his age. “I know I don’t look it, but I’ve been around a while.”
Georgia was a pivotal battleground in the last presidential election — so close that Trump finds himself indicted there for his push to “find 11,780 votes” and overturn Biden’s victory.
But as both candidates seek to project strength in the key swing state, Biden and Trump are grappling with glaring flaws.
Trump is facing 91 felony counts in four criminal cases involving his handling of classified documents and his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, among other alleged crimes. He’s also facing increasingly pointed questions about his policy plans and relationships with some of the world’s most dangerous dictators. Trump met privately Friday with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has rolled back democracy in his country.
The 81-year-old Biden is working to assure a skeptical electorate that he’s still physically and mentally able to thrive in the world’s most important job.
He’s also dealing with dissension within his party’s progressive base, which is furious that he hasn’t done more to stop Israel’s war in Gaza. Last month in Michigan, a protest “uncommitted” campaign attracted more than 100,000 votes and secured two Democratic delegates.
Biden entered Tuesday 102 delegates short of the 1,968 needed to formally become the presumptive Democratic nominee. There were 254 Democratic delegates at stake Tuesday in Georgia, Mississippi and Washington state. With no major opponents, Biden is on pace to reach that mark.
Trump, meanwhile, is on pace to reach his magic number as well. As of Sunday, he was 137 delegates short of the 1,215 needed to win the GOP nomination. There were 161 Republican delegates at stake on Tuesday in Georgia, Mississippi, Washington state and Hawaii.