Up until the past 72 hours, former Vice President Joe Biden had experienced lackluster results. He had a poor showing in the first three voting states and for many, his campaign seemed to be floundering.
All of that changed on Tuesday, according to CNN. Biden won nine states, including Texas, which many pundits believed would go to Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“Folks, things are looking awful good,” an enthusiastic Biden said to supporters in Los Angeles. “For those that have been knocked down, counted out, left behind, this is your campaign. Just a few days ago the press and the pundits declared the campaign dead! It’s looking good, so I’m here to report we are very much alive. And make no mistake about it, this campaign will send Donald Trump packing.”
African American voters in South Carolina propelled Biden to a commanding victory earlier this week and set off a chain reaction through the South, including Virginia where former President Barack Obama had won twice. Up north, affluent suburban voters in Washington signaled their support for the former Vice President.
Late deciders also brought home the victories for Biden. According to CNN, a quarter of Democratic primary voters decided on their pick in the past few days while half of late-deciding voters in Minnesota opted for Biden.
Sanders ultimately won his home state of Vermont, as well as Colorado and Utah. He also won the big-ticket prize of California. But there weren’t enough wins to surge him forward as the front-runner.
“Tonight I tell you with absolute confidence we are going to win the Democratic nomination and we are going to defeat the most dangerous President in the history of this country,” said Sanders.
Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg had a disappointing night. Warren won no states. Bloomberg, who was resting all of his hopes on Super Tuesday, won the territory of American Samoa. On Wednesday morning, he dropped out of the race, according to USA Today.
“I’m a believer in using data to inform decisions,” he said in a statement. “After yesterday’s results, the delegate math has become virtually impossible—and a viable path to the nomination no longer exists. But I remain clear-eyed about my overriding objective: victory in November. Not for me, but for our country. And so while I will not be the nominee, I will not walk away from the most important political with of my life.”
He has voiced his support for Biden. Former candidates Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Mayor Pete Buttigieg also threw their support to Biden, as well. Their hope was to curb Sanders’ liberal momentum and give strength to Biden’s campaign, according to the New York Times.
Donald Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday morning to blame Sanders’ defeats on Elizabeth Warren.
“The Democrat establishment came together and crushed Bernie Sanders, AGAIN! Even the fact that Elizabeth Warren stayed in the race was devastating to Bernie and allowed Sleepy Joe to unthinkably win Massachusetts. It was a perfect storm, with many good states remaining for Joe!”
Six more states vote on March 10 and the remaining candidates will face each other on March 15 for another Democratic debate.
©Getty Images/Scott Olson/Staff
Mikaela Mathews is a freelance writer and editor based in Dallas, TX. She was the editor of a local magazine and a contributing writer for the Galveston Daily News and Spirit Magazine. She blogs at mikaelamathews.com.
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