Second place is just the first place loser, Dale Earnhardt Sr., the NASCAR driver from South Carolina’s northern sister state, once ruled. For former Vice President Joe Biden, anything less than first place in South Carolina’s Democratic primary could be disastrous ahead of Super Tuesday.
Biden’s Get Out the Vote Rally in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Friday evening saw a diverse group, with African-Americans around a quarter of the attendees. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders had just spoken at the same stadium, albeit in a different and much larger arena just the day before.
Recent polls have the former vice president leading the field -- and with Sanders and billionaire Tom Steyer (who was dancing to “Back That Ass Up” at his own Friday night rally) -- with a large following among African-Americans who compose 60 percent of the Democratic electorate.
That lead isn’t something Biden is taking for granted with multiple events in South Carolina in the past few days. Other candidates like former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who have polled in the low single-digits, had little showings in the state opting to focus on the March 3 contest where about a third of the Democratic delegates for the Democratic National Convention are at stake.
It’s mostly older African-American voters who are more convinced about Biden, especially after Rep. Jim Clyburn’s Wednesday endorsement -- a sentiment that showed the night before Primary Day.
For William and Gwen Adamson, 72 and 68 years old, respectively, it was always Biden from the beginning.
“He’s a good person and has a solid background. He doesn’t have to start all over again,” William said.
“He’s kind of been my pick all along. The other candidates — they’re too aggressive, too much pie in the sky. I just don’t think the country is going to go that way. I just think it’s too much,” Gwen said.
Describing themselves as pragmatic voters, some African-American voters said that the more progressive proposals were just too uncertain and too out there at a time when the country is increasingly polarized.
For older voters like the Adamsons, healthcare is the first thing on their minds.
“I like the idea of expanding Obamacare rather than just scrapping it and starting over again. We’re older and it’s important to keep the things that are important for us,” Gwen said.
For Edward Lott, 50-year-old from Union, South Carolina, healthcare is his sole concern.
“My mind is made up, I’m voting for Joe. I love his honesty and what he’s going to do about Medicare. He was my man from the beginning,” Lott said.
For college-aged and younger voters, however, Biden was a candidate they came to after much reflection. Some were originally intending to support more progressive — and younger — faces.
For 39-year-old Travis Watson, candidates like Buttigieg, former presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren were his picks before Friday night. On Saturday, he would be all in for Biden.
“I’m feeling energetic. I think he’s the most electable candidate and represents the middle of the country. I care a lot about criminal justice reform in addition to putting the country back together,” Watson said.
It’s a matter of compromise, Watson admitted.
The ultimate goal for him and many Democrats is to oust President Donald Trump from the White House. The stakes are too high, especially when Trump could nominate two other conservative justices to the country’s highest court, Watson noted.
“It is tough and I do feel that I have to compromise but at the end of the day my drive to have Trump out of the White House overrides my personal issues. Regarding the more progressive candidates, there were some parts that I didn’t like like having to go with a single-payer system. I think Americans should have a choice. I believe Joe will expand Obamacare in a sensible way that moderates, independents and Republicans can get behind,” Watson said.
Biden’s speech, with additional questions, lasted over two hours. Jokingly admitting he couldn’t answer with a simple yes or no, the 77-year-old presidential candidate launched into drawn out monologues. A number of people chuckled when Biden proposed he could take two more questions, a sure sign the rally was nowhere near its end just yet.
High school students from Duncan, a town of 3,000 people, also came to the rally in an effort to become more politically engaged.
Madison Wilber, 17, and Kaley McMillan, 18, were smiling as they were carrying their “Biden” signs with them. Both were not able to register to vote in time for the primary but said they were set on casting their ballots come November, their very first time partaking in the democratic process directly.
“I videotaped Biden’s answers. You can have your script but I want to know how they think on their feet. When you’re arguing your point of view, it’s great, but i’m here to learn the facts. I want to know what he, as an individual, believes,” Wilber said.
McMillan was more certain. Biden was her candidate.
Parents also came with their children to the rally; some came to learn, unable to hide their excitement even though they were years from being able to cast their own ballots.
“I’d vote for Joe Biden,” 12-year-old Tara Littlejohn said as she waited to get a picture with the former vice president. “He’d help the country. I like his personality and I’m still learning.”
Littlejohn’s mother, Krystian, said she was ready to cast her vote on Saturday though it took until the night before to learn who her candidate would be.
“I was between him, Pete and Bernie. I think I was with Bernie because he came here so early and he was the first one we heard from. I love Biden’s tenacity and the fact that with him — he knows what he’s talking about. He’s very factual,” the 49-year-old remarked.
As Kygo’s “Higher Love” blared through the gymnasium Friday night, hundreds began to trickle out to their cars, hoping the transcendent feeling would carry them to their respective polling stations the next morning.
As Krystian McClain and her daughter Courtney walked out of the stadium, they were confident that their candidate would sweep the state, no doubt about it.
“At first I thought about Bernie but something about Biden drew me to him,” said the younger McClain, who volunteers for Biden in Spartanburg.
And as the chilly wind led many to zip up their jackets, McClain confirmed her mind was made up.
“Biden has the integrity and experience and I just think he can get the job done. I did think of other candidates but I just kept coming back to Biden,” the 56-year-old McClain said.