Joe Biden wins big in South Carolina

Former US Vice President Joe Biden won the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, preliminary results showed. It was his first victory of the 2020 presidential contest.

Biden's popularity among black voters was a key factor in helping him surge ahead in a state where more than half of electorate is African American.

Biden won 48% of the popular vote, according to official exit pollsters Edison Research. This could give him at least 36 delegates in South Carolina. Progressive rival Bernie Sanders won 20% of the vote, which would give him 11 delegates.

Sanders was fresh off major victories in the Nevada caucus  and New Hampshire primary earlier this month.

The former vice president was jubilant, as he met supporters at a victory party in the state's capital Columbia. "For all of those who have been knocked down, counted out, left behind — this is your campaign," he told the crowd.

Biden is hoping to gain momentum in the so-called Super Tuesday on March 3, when 14 states vote and about a third of the delegates are at stake. 

Black voters back Biden

According to exit polling, four out of 10 voters in South Carolina said they wanted a turn back to Obama-era politics.

Biden's campaign had been laser focused on preserving and protecting the policies of the Obama administration, during which he served as vice president. 

The former vice president went into the Democratic presidential primaries with a high approval rating from black voters and he was banking on holding this support in South Carolina. Biden received a late endorsement from influential black congressman James Clyburn days before the vote.

Six of 10 of South Carolina voters said Clyburn's endorsement of Biden had been a factor in their decision, according to exit polls.

Tom Steyer drops out

Following the results in South Carolina, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, who came in third in the contest, dropped out of the race.

Steyer's signature policy issue was climate change. He poured millions of dollars into his candidacy, including nearly $24 million ($21 million) on television advertising in South Carolina alone.

“Honestly, I can't see a path where I can win the presidency," Steyer said.

Five main candidates – Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar – remain in the running for the Democratic Party presidential primary and are expected to go head to head on Super Tuesday.

ed,jcg,tg/aw (AP, Reuters)

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