Multiple news outlets have called the South Carolina Democratic primary for Joe Biden, former Vice President of the United States.
According to the Associated Press, with 95% of precincts reporting, Biden has 48.7% of the vote. In second place is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) with 20% of the vote. Third and fourth place belong to billionaire Tom Steyer and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 11.4% and 8%, respectively. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) takes fifth place with 7%, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) rounds out the top six with 3% of the vote.
Just after news outlets called the race for Biden, the former vice president tweeted:
Just days ago, the press and the pundits declared our campaign dead. But after tonight, it’s clear we are very much alive — and we need your help to keep the momentum going.
Chip in to help us make the most of our big victory in South Carolina: https://t.co/93SWSQkpA5
— Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 1, 2020
Prior to Saturday’s primary, the RealClearPolitics polling average had Biden winning South Carolina by double digits, with 39.7% support compared to second place Sanders’ 24.3% support.
Third and fourth place were Steyer and Buttigieg with 11.7% and 11.3%, respectively.
South Carolina is a massive win for the Biden campaign, which until this point has been subjected to a string of embarrassing losses.
In Iowa, the former vice president came in fourth with just 15.8% of the vote. In New Hampshire, he fell to fifth with an abysmal 8.4% of the vote. In Nevada, Biden placed second, but was blown out by Sen. Sanders who received 46.8% of the vote compared to the 20.2% that Biden garnered.
South Carolina has been perceived as Biden’s “firewall” state, which could provide a boost going into Super Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) endorsed Biden, stating in part: “I want the public to know that I am voting for Joe Biden. South Carolina should be voting for Joe Biden.”
The congressman also tweeted the following:
I know Joe Biden.
I know his character, his heart, and his record.
Joe Biden has stood for the hard-working people of South Carolina.
We know Joe. But more importantly, he knows us.
In South Carolina, we choose presidents.
I’m calling on you to stand with @JoeBiden.
— Jim Clyburn SC-06 (@ClyburnSC06) February 26, 2020
Until Saturday, Sanders was starting to be seen as an inevitability following a staggering win in Nevada, a win in New Hampshire, and a virtual tie for first place in Iowa. However, a second place finish in South Carolina isn’t going to end his campaign.
The states voting on Tuesday are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. American Samoa and Democrats Abroad also vote on Super Tuesday.
According to RealClearPolitics polling averages for the Super Tuesday states, Sanders leads in California, Texas, Virginia, Massachusetts, Colorado, and Utah. Other states where the senator leads haven’t had enough polling to provide an average.
Biden leads in North Carolina.
With Super Tuesday only days away, and Biden’s South Carolina victory so fresh, pundits and voters alike will surely be wondering if the former vice president can pull off a surge, and become a real competitor to Sanders going forward.