Vice President Kamala Harris visited South Carolina to file paperwork for President Joe Biden’s 2024 presidential ballot, marking the state as the leadoff in the Democratic presidential primary. The scheduling change, led by the White House, aims to strengthen the influence of Black voters in the primary process. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a prominent voice in Congress, joined Harris to support Biden’s 2024 bid, emphasizing the critical role that South Carolina played in reviving Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign.
Since announcing his reelection bid, Biden has prioritized official visits to Pennsylvania, a pivotal battleground in the general election, over states crucial to the 2024 Democratic primary. This strategy has brought Harris to South Carolina, where she is building enthusiasm among voters of color, particularly as polls show growing concerns over Biden’s ability to handle a second term due to his age.
A Biden campaign spokesman highlighted the significance of South Carolina Democrats in shaping Biden’s path to the White House. Notably, Biden requested that the Democratic National Party replace Iowa’s 2020 caucus with South Carolina as the leadoff primary, underscoring the need for a more diverse early influence in the nomination process.
The new 2024 primary calendar, approved by the DNC, places South Carolina’s primary on Feb 3, followed by Nevada just three days later, and moves Michigan into the group of early states voting before Super Tuesday. These changes have the Biden-Harris coalition harnessing their efforts in South Carolina to counter the influence of former President Trump’s early lead in the Republican primary.
While Republicans will kick off their 2024 primary with the Iowa caucus, the DNC’s schedule changes have faced resistance, with New Hampshire planning to hold its primary in January, refusing to cede its longstanding position as the nation’s first primary. As a result, Biden will not appear on the New Hampshire ballot and has no intention of campaigning there, except for some Democratic leaders organizing a write-in campaign to support his reelection.
This event sets the stage for a highly anticipated 2024 election cycle, as both parties navigate the consequences of schedule changes and shifting dynamics in early primary states.
