Biden returns to South Carolina ahead of First-in-the-Nation Democratic primary

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)- Applause and chants of “four more years” filled the room as President Joe Biden walked onstage to address attendees at the South Carolina Democratic Party’s ‘First in the Nation’ Celebration and dinner.

It was Biden’s second visit to the Palmetto State this month, signaling his appreciation for the state that helped propel him to the White House in 2020.

“You’re the reason I’m president,” Biden told the crowd. “You’re the reason Kamala Harris is a historic vice president. And you’re the reason Donald Trump is a defeated former president. You’re the reason Donald Trump is a loser. And you’re the reason we’re going to win and beat him again.”

Joined by state Democrats and party leaders, Biden touted some of his administration’s accomplishments in its first three years, saying that he delivered on his campaign promises and offering a few new ones.

“We passed the most significant gun safety law in decades and I will not stop until we once again ban assault weapons as we did once,” he said.

Congressman Jim Clyburn (SC-06), South Carolina’s lone Democratic congressional representative and longtime Biden ally, introduced the president by ticking through a number of the administration’s policies he said are majorly impacting South Carolina.

“You see those four lanes [on I-26] that have been crowded for years will soon be six lanes,” Clyburn said. “Why? Because of Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill.”

In addition to laying out his plans for a second term, Biden took an opportunity at the dinner to swipe at former President Donald Trump as a 2024 rematch between the two appears likely.

“And by the way, have you noticed he’s a little confused these days?” Biden asked the audience. “He apparently can’t tell the difference between Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi.”

Biden was referring to comments Trump made at a rally in New Hampshire last week in which he appeared to mix up GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) while discussing the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

South Carolina’s primary, which is just a week away, is the first meaningful contest of the Democratic presidential race after a shake-up last year moved the state to the first-place slot in the presidential nominating calendar.

And while Biden likely has the win in the Palmetto State locked up, the primary will give his campaign an idea of how his message resonates with voters, especially Black voters, which made up 60% of South Carolina’s Democratic electorate in 2020.

“Let’s finish what we started,” Biden said, urging the crowd to turn out on Feb. 3. “Organize, mobilize, and vote. Let’s remember who we are. We’re the United States of America.”

Early voting for South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary is underway and runs through Feb. 2.