Notable Quote of the Day

“This year’s Democratic primary in South Carolina might be the most important competition in the contest’s short history. Since first becoming a binding primary in 1988, the state’s contest has become a bellwether for an important constituency: Southern African American voters. Though most Southern states aren’t competitive in general elections, Southern African Americans form the base of the Democratic Party and are essential to its success, even if pundits more frequently focus on swing states and suburban voters.

That is why the winner in South Carolina has won the Democratic nomination every year except 1988 and 2004. If a Democratic candidate can’t appeal to these crucial African American voters, he or she is unlikely to win the nomination or the presidency.”

– Robert Greene II, assistant professor of history at Claflin University

Democrats

• Spending in the presidential election has exceeded $1 billion, including $247 million spent on Super Tuesday states.

• On Thursday night, the Iowa Democratic Party announced the results of the partial recount requested by Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders. Buttigieg led Sanders by .04% in state delegate equivalents and is projected to receive 14 pledged delegates to the national convention. Sanders is projected to receive 12, Warren 8, Biden 6, and Klobuchar 1. The Associated Press said it would not call a winner in the race because of concerns with the accuracy of the results.

• The South Carolina Democratic primary takes place on Saturday. It is the final primary event before Super Tuesday on March 3. Fifty-four pledged delegates are at stake. Absentee voting in South Carolina surpassed 2016 levels two days before the primary with 50 percent more ballots cast, according to The Post and Courier.

• Joe Biden is campaigning in North Carolina, Alabama, and Virginia over the weekend. He will make his first appearance on Fox News this election cycle on Sunday.

• The Michael Bloomberg campaign released a medical report on Bloomberg’s cardiac health on Thursday. Bloomberg is holding a GOTV campaign rally in Texas on Sunday.

• Buttigieg is campaigning in Texas on Sunday. VoteVets made a seven-figure ad buy to support Buttigieg in Super Tuesday states.

• Tulsi Gabbard is holding a town hall in South Carolina on Friday and will campaign in California over the weekend.

• Amy Klobuchar is campaigning in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina on Saturday. She made a $4.2 million ad buy across the Super Tuesday states.

• Sanders is holding rallies in Massachusetts on Friday and California on Sunday. He has spent roughly $16 million on ads in Super Tuesday states.

• Tom Steyer is campaigning in South Carolina and California over the weekend.

• Elizabeth Warren will campaign in Arkansas and Texas on Saturday. Persist PAC is spending an additional $9 million to support Warren in Super Tuesday states, bringing its total support this election to $14 million.

Republicans

• Donald Trump is holding a rally in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Friday. His campaign made a five-figure digital ad buy targeting Indian Americans.

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What We’re Reading

• The New York Times: Democratic Rivals Are Fighting Over Obama. He Has Some Opinions.

• Politico: GOP scramble is on to succeed Donald Trump in 2024

• The Washington Post: South Carolina may well determine whether Democrats can win the presidency

Flashback: February 28, 2016

Tulsi Gabbard resigned from her position as the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and endorsed Bernie Sanders.