Biden celebrates S.C. Democratic Primary win, Steyer drops out
#JoeBiden #BernieSanders
Former Vice President Joe Biden declared his presidential campaign back in a big way before a throng of supporters elated with his big win in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary.
U.S. Congressman Jim Clyburn, whose endorsement of Biden on Wednesday was said to have a big impact on voters’ decisions at the polling place, introduced Biden at his event in Columbia.
CBS News, The Associated Press and numerous other outlets called the race for Biden within minutes of polls closing. The calls for Biden came before any official numbers were released with the projections based on exit polls.
As of 9:10 p.m., Biden had pulled in 50% of the votes, with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders a distant second at 20%. Businessman and billionaire Tom Steyer came in at third place with 11% followed by Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg in fourth place at 8%. Elizabeth Warren was in fifth place with 7%.
Addressing Democrats across the country ahead of Super Tuesday, Biden
said this is a moment "to choose the path forward" for the party.
Sanders has won second place in South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary, a respectable showing in a state dominated by Biden. The Vermont senator had won the past three contests in Nevada, New Hampshire, and Iowa.
Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, is set to address supporters later Saturday night at a rally in Virginia, where scattered boos were heard as Biden was announced as the winner in South Carolina.
Billionaire activist Tom Steyer told supporters in Columbia Saturday night after a disappointing finish in the South Carolina primary that he was dropping out of the race.
“Honestly, I can’t see a path where I can win the presidency,” he said.
Steyer said he got into the race because he didn’t think racial injustice was being addressed in the country. He said he will continue to work to address that issue. He also thanked his supporters and pledged that he would never forget South Carolina, where he focused most of his presidential efforts.
As the ballot boxes were being brought in here to the Charleston County election warehouse, it was clear Buttigieg would not come out on top.
However, the former South Bend mayor says he’s not giving up the fight for the Democratic nomination.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren left South Carolina Saturday morning after an event in Columbia headed for Arkansas.
She, along with some other Democratic presidential hopefuls, has shifted her attention to one of the 14 states nationwide holding a primary this Tuesday, which is dubbed “Super Tuesday.”
Warren told voters in Arkansas she is the woman for the job of taking on the president in November.
