Biden, Trump set to secure nomination in Tuesday’s runoffs, clearing the way for a rematch
Joe Biden and Donald Trump hope to clinch their parties’ presidential nominations with key wins in a slate of state primaries on Tuesday as the 2024 battle for the White House reaches a new phase.
Neither Biden, a Democrat, nor Trump, a Republican, faces significant opposition in primary contests in Georgia, Washington state, Mississippi and Hawaii. The only question is whether they will earn the necessary number of delegates in each state to reach the 50% national threshold to become their parties’ potential nominees.
Whether it’s Tuesday night or in the coming days, the 2024 presidential contest is on the brink of a defining moment that will solidify a general election rematch between Biden and Trump. And that rematch – the first featuring two American presidents since 1956 – will surely deepen the country’s severe political and cultural divisions in the coming eight-month conflict.
On the eve of Tuesday’s primaries, Trump acknowledged that Biden will be the Democratic nominee, even as he launched a new attack on the president’s age.
“I think he’s going to be the nominee,” Trump said of Biden on CNBC. “I am his only rival other than life, life itself.”
Biden also turned much of his attention to Trump, whom the Democratic president described as a grave threat to democracy, during a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Monday night. He also signaled a stronger presence on the campaign trail.
“I look forward to hosting more events like this,” Biden said. Later he joked about his age. “I know I don’t look it, but it’s been a while since I did.”
Georgia leads four states heading into Tuesday’s primaries.
The state was a decisive battleground in the last presidential election — so close that Trump found himself guilty of “getting 11,780 votes” there and overturning Biden’s victory.
But as both candidates try to show strength in the key swing state, Biden and Trump are struggling with glaring flaws.
Trump faces 91 felony counts in four criminal cases involving his handling of classified documents and other alleged crimes, including his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. He also faces sharp questions about his policy plans and ties to some of the world’s most dangerous dictators. Trump met privately on Friday with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has rolled back democracy in his country.
Biden, 81, is working to reassure skeptical voters that he is still physically and mentally capable of thriving in the world’s most important job.
He is also dealing with dissent within his party’s progressive base, which is angry that he has not done more to stop Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Last month in Michigan, a related protest “uncommitted” vote attracted more than 100,000 votes and actually secured two Democratic delegates.
Before Tuesday’s vote, lawn signs scattered across Seattle urged primary participants to vote “uncommitted”, with some signs reading, “Over 30,000 dead. Vote for ceasefire by Tuesday 3/12 “
The situation is similar in Georgia, where local politicians and religious leaders are pressuring Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“The most precious tool we have to hold this president accountable for his harmful policies is our vote,” said Rami Al-Kabra, a Palestinian Muslim American and deputy mayor of Bothell, a city about 13 miles northeast of Seattle. Are, said. Tuesday’s voting.
Biden formally enters Tuesday with 102 delegates, out of the 1,968 delegates needed to become the presumptive Democratic nominee. There are 254 Democratic delegate contests at stake Tuesday in Georgia, Mississippi and Washington state, in addition to party-run contests for Democrats in the Northern Mariana Islands and abroad, which will conclude that day.
With no major opponent, Biden is on pace to reach that figure.
Meanwhile, Trump is also on his way to reach his magic figure.
As of Sunday, Trump was 137 delegates short of the 1,215 delegates needed to win the Republican nomination at the party’s national convention this summer. There are 161 Republican delegates at stake Tuesday in Georgia, Mississippi, Washington state and Hawaii.
With a strong showing on Tuesday, Trump could sweep all the delegates in Georgia, Mississippi and Washington state. Hawaii allocates delegates proportionally so that other candidates can win some even with a smaller share of the vote.
While it is not certain he will achieve that goal, Trump’s campaign has not planned a big victory party, as happened last week when hundreds of people flocked to his Mar-a-Lago club for a Super Tuesday celebration. Packed with drinks and passed out hors d’oeuvres.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – The Associated Press)