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By Chauncey K. Robinson and Al Neal
Right on the heels of the Nevada caucus, the South Carolina Democratic Primary will take place this Saturday, Feb. 29. Voters will have Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Tom Steyer, Amy Klobuchar, and Tulsi Gabbard to choose from on the ballot, while all but Gabbard have qualified for the debate in South Carolina on Feb. 25. On stage but not on the ballot will be billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
The big question right now is whether Sanders can repeat his recent Nevada, New Hampshire, and Iowa wins in South Carolina, where Biden is still seen as the leading contender. Black voters, who make up a large voting bloc in the state’s Democratic primary, have for months been seen as Biden’s stronghold. What exactly is the terrain in South Carolina, and why is the small state still an important primary to pay attention to? We take a look at a number of factors which could make the state an essential win to capture the Democratic presidential nomination.
The power of Black voters
The first two states in the 2020 nomination contest, Iowa and New Hampshire, each had a voting population that was more than 90% white. Nevada was more diverse, with a sizable Latino population. South Carolina, however, stands out as the place that will give the first glimpse into the mindset of a key voting bloc of the Democratic Party—Black voters....
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