The Win That Biden Needed

477

February 6, 2024

Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
(Germany) on 04 February 2024
by Sofia Dreisbach (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Mallory Matsumoto. Edited by Mitchelle Lumumba.

Joe Biden’s commanding win in the South Carolina primary is a start. But it is far from a sign that the American president can relax in the fight against Donald Trump.

When it comes to the U.S. primaries these days, it’s all about Trump. After resounding victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, the reprise of a contest against Biden in November seems set. That makes the incumbent's decisive win in South Carolina even more important.

Not that there ever would have been any question, given the lack of serious competition. But an endorsement of about 96% of the vote is the message that Biden needs these days. Especially in a state with a large percentage of Black voters. Without them, the Democrats would be lost come November.

Where Biden Still Can’t Compete with Trump

To date, Biden’s balance sheet is modest. As an incumbent, he is unpopular at a historic level. He is polling behind Trump in important states, and at 81, a majority of Americans consider him too old.

The Democratic base cannot compete with the raucousness of Trump’s fans. At least, not yet. If all goes as he hopes, South Carolina is just the start of Biden’s fight.

Der Sieg, den Biden brauchte
Joe Bidens fulminanter Sieg in der Vorwahl in South Carolina ist ein Anfang. Doch er ist noch lange kein Zeichen dafür, dass der amerikanische Präsident im Kampf gegen Trump aufatmen kann.

Geht es in diesen Tagen um die amerikanischen Vorwahlen, geht es vor allem um Donald Trump. Nach haushohen Siegen in Iowa und New Hampshire scheint die Wiederauflage eines Rennens gegen Joe Biden im November ausgemacht. Umso wichtiger ist für den Amtsinhaber jetzt der überlegene Sieg in South Carolina.
Nicht dass dieser mangels ernsthafter Konkurrenz grundsätzlich infrage gestanden hätte. Doch eine Zustimmung von rund 96 Prozent ist die Botschaft, die Biden dieser Tage brauchen kann. Noch dazu in einem Bundesstaat mit einem hohen Prozentsatz schwarzer Wähler. Ohne sie wären die Demokraten im November verloren.
Was Biden Trump noch nicht entgegensetzen kann
Bislang ist Bidens Erfolgsbilanz bescheiden. Als Amtsinhaber ist er historisch unbeliebt, in Umfragen liegt er in wichtigen Bundesstaaten hinter Trump zurück, und eine Mehrheit der Amerikaner befindet ihn mit 81 Jahren für zu alt.
Dem Jubel der Trump-Fans hat er an der demokratischen Basis nichts entgegenzusetzen. Noch nicht. Denn geht es nach seinem Stab, beginnt Bidens Kampf mit South Carolina erst richtig.
Das fulminante Wahlergebnis kann dabei nicht über die Schwierigkeiten hinwegtäuschen. Die niedrige Wahlbeteiligung könnte daran liegen, dass Bidens überlegener Sieg von vornherein sicher war. Oder aber ein Zeichen dafür sein, dass manche Wähler des Präsidenten tatsächlich überdrüssig sind.

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