In South Carolina, US President Biden clearly won the Democratic primary. There, where he made his breakthrough into candidacy four years ago. But this time there are also critical voices.
Silvia and Ron come out of a polling station in Charleston. You elected US President Joe Biden. “He is the best person for the office,” say the two African-Americans. Darleen, a petite old lady, also voted for Biden because she “completely trusts” him.
And it actually took less than 25 minutes after the polls closed until Biden was declared the winner of the primary election – with around 96 percent of the vote. An expected victory, but also a convincing one. No surprise to Charleston County Democratic Party Chairman Sam Skardon. The 35-year-old is sitting relaxed in a bar. “The Democrats in South Carolina love Joe Biden,” he explains and predicts a big boost for Biden from the southern state, as was the case in 2020, when South Carolina won the Democratic primary for Biden was a turning point. South Carolina paved the way for Biden to run for president.
Biden sees boost for candidacy
Biden himself also interpreted the result of this first Democratic primary in 2024 as a boost. Biden said he has no doubt that the people of South Carolina “have put us on the path to winning the presidency again – and making Donald Trump a loser again.”
However, national polls look bad for him. And critical voices can also be heard at polling stations in South Carolina. Liz, for example, voted for Biden because she thinks he did a great job. But actually she would now like a different candidate. It’s time for someone new.
Discussion about Biden’s age
Like three-quarters of Americans, Liz thinks Biden is simply too old. Dianne at another polling station disagrees: For her, it’s not a question of age, but rather how capable someone is. Some didn’t work at age 20, Dianne said.
They also discuss the age issue in a café in the small town of Summerville in Dorchester County, about half an hour from Charleston. The monthly coffee session for new members of the Democratic Party has just begun. John, Richard, David and Deborah greet Karen. The table is decorated with advertising for the Democrats, with paper cups of coffee on it, and John and Richard are wearing Dorchester Democratic Party sweatshirts. New member Karen says she has never been politically active. But now she wants to change that, she wants to be with people who have the same political goals.
Especially in this presidential election year, it is important to her to support the Democrats. In Summerville they are already planning for the presidential election in November after the primary election in their state. They now want to concentrate fully on the election campaign, especially on getting people to the polls, explains John, the others nod.
Low voter turnout
Because it will be about mobilizing voters. Voter turnout in South Carolina in this primary was less than five percent. Biden’s campaign strategists will now closely analyze who voted and also how he performed among the black population.
Because Biden depends on them if he wants to have a chance of victory in November and thus a second term in office.
Nina Barth, ARD Washington, currently Charleston/South Carolina, tagesschau, February 4, 2024 5:52 a.m