By Bill Badour
UNIVERSITY CENTER – South Carolina was seen as Joe Biden’s make-or-break state. Biden promised a strong showing at the debate when proclaiming: “I am going to win South Carolina.”
With Bernie Sanders either winning or tying the first three states, a moderate front-runner had not yet emerged.
Biden turned out to be right, earning 48.4% of the vote – the largest win for anyone so far. Sanders placed second with 19.9% of the vote, the lowest support he’s received so far. They were the only two candidates to win delegates in the state.
Billionaire Tom Steyer, who spent nearly $4 million on ads in South Carolina alone, received 11.3% of the vote. Shortly after the race was called for Biden, Steyer announced that he would be dropping out of the race.
Former mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg, earned 8.3% of the vote. The day after the South Carolina Primary, Buttigieg announced that he would suspend his campaign and endorse Biden.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren collected 7.1% of the vote, while Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar pulled in 3.2%. Two days after South Carolina, Klobuchar dropped out of the race and endorsed Biden. Warren recently dropped out of the race, but has not officially endorsed a candidate yet.
