By Maria Ortiz
Vice President Kamala Harris flew to South Carolina Friday to file paperwork placing President Joe Biden and Harris on the state’s presidential ballot that will open the Democratic presidential primary for the 2024 elections and seized the moment to appeal to a key group of voters.
“Being here today and appreciating for a moment this moment in the context of history, first in the nation, and then putting it in the context of what happened in 2020, when it was South Carolina that created the path to the White House for Joe Biden and me,” Harris said to a room full of supporters in Columbia.
“I’m here to say thank you. I’m here to say: let’s do it again. We will do it again. 2024, there is a lot at stake,” Harris added.
The vice president reviewed a list of the administration’s achievements, including investments in broadband, funding to replace lead pipes, money for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and legislation to reduce prescription drug costs.
And he argued that this week’s Democratic victories in Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania were a sign that Biden’s campaign was entering 2024 with momentum, even as polls indicate the president and vice president have work to do to win. the re-election.
South Carolina has played an important role for Biden’s campaign.
The state provided a huge boost to Biden’s 2020 White House bid after his disappointing results in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Her victory in South Carolina that year cemented her popularity among African-American voters, thanks in large part to the endorsement of Rep. James Clyburn (D.S.C.), who joined Harris on Friday to file the primary paperwork.
Last year, Biden called on the Democratic National Party to put South Carolina first on the primary calendar, putting it ahead of the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
South Carolina will hold its primary on February 3, followed by Nevada three days later.
Democrats had long argued that Iowa and New Hampshire were not fully representative of the party’s voters, but some critics have claimed that putting South Carolina first was intended to protect Biden against a potential primary challenge.
New Hampshire to announce primary date next weekbut Biden will not appear on the ballot there after his campaign intentionally missed the filing deadline.
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips, who is mounting a far-reaching primary campaign against Biden, will appear on the New Hampshire ballot, and some Biden allies are working to organize a write-in ballot campaign for President.
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