CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Over the weekend, President Biden secured 96% of the votes in the South Carolina democratic primary. Out of the three candidates on the ballot, it was anticipated that Biden would win in South Carolina, however yet, it underscores a larger strategic maneuver.
Traditionally, Iowa and New Hampshire were the first primaries in the nation for the Democratic and Republican parties. However, this year, Biden and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) changed the primary election calendar, putting South Carolina first to signify the importance of Black voters.
“We must ensure that voters of color have a voice in choosing our nominee much earlier in the process and throughout the entire early window,” said Biden in a letter to the DNC in December 2022, when election calendars were proposed.
Black voters constitute 60% of the Democratic electorate in South Carolina, but polls show that Biden receives low approval ratings from people of color and young ages.
“We know that to be the Democratic nominee and to win the general, you need to be getting a lot of support from voters of color,” said Josh Marcus-Blank, the Biden campaign’s communications director for state operations.
South Carolina marks the outset of a new campaign journey. Biden aims to court voters of color in other states like Georgia and North Carolina for support in the forthcoming general election.