Joe Biden secured a landslide victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary, garnering over 95% of 130k votes cast. The president easily defeated his opponents, Rep. Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson. The victory propels the campaign closer to the general election, anticipated to be the longest and most expensive in American history. The Republican primary in South Carolina will be held on Feb. 24th, where Trump is viewed as a heavy favorite.
AP U.S. Government teacher Tobias Meier expressed indifference to the victory. “In the grand scheme of things, I don’t think the victory matters,” he said. “However, I think Biden could use those huge wins and advertise that as part of his campaign.”
With Trump’s insurrection case possibly taking him off the ballot, the 2024 presidential election remains an unsure mystery, particularly for Republicans. According to a poll conducted by CBS News, 9 in 10 Republicans from South Carolina have “firmly decided” to vote for Trump, despite Nikki Haley originating from the state. Similar patterns have been observed across the nation, as Republicans noticeably favor Trump over Haley.
“I think Trump has huge power and platform and is the presumptive opponent,” Meier added. “Nikki Haley isn’t as high as Trump in appeal, so Biden would rather see Nikki as an opponent. It comes down to who can get the votes of moderates/independents since those are the voters who are undecided on who to support.”
Regarding Trump’s election case, The Supreme Court is expected to back up the Republican candidate, considering the conservative majority of justices. A ruling in Trump’s favor would end efforts from Colorado and Maine to take his name off the ballot.
“I’d prefer not to vote for Nikki Haley at all, and I’m not worried about Trump being taken off the ballot,” said Matthew Walsh, a junior attending the University of Maryland. “The Supreme Court would never go against him. Most of the justices there have been appointed by Trump or another Republican president.”
The presidential election is likely to be another Trump vs. Biden showdown, potentially yielding a different outcome than in 2020. Recent data published in The Guardian indicates a significant increase in the number of conservatives in America, which could impact the election’s dynamics. Biden’s inauguration in 2021 occurred during a period of low social conservatism, which may have bolstered his election win. However, with a growing number of conservatives, criticisms of his age and ability to fulfill his presidential duties could now hinder his chances of winning reelection.
Article Written by Ninia Sopromadze of Walter Johnson High School