Biden’s South Carolina win dimmed by 4% turnout: ‘Don’t think we’re building a new blue wall’

Published February 4, 2024 6:18pm ET



COLUMBIA, South Carolina — President Joe Biden may have had a landslide victory in South Carolina that put to rest lingering doubts about his march to the Democratic nomination, but concerns remain about excitement for November.

While black early voting numbers were strong, overall turnout on Saturday was abysmal at 4%, with even one of Biden’s top allies acknowledging he’ll have a hard time counting on the South for any pickup opportunities in the general election, in which he’ll most likely face a rematch with former President Donald Trump.

Despite Democratic Party efforts to get voters to the polls to show enthusiasm for Biden and his choice to make South Carolina the kickoff state for his reelection bid, both total turnout and overall early voting numbers plummeted in South Carolina’s primary compared to 2020.

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