In the political arena of Washington DC, President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, triumphantly traversed the nation on Super Tuesday, essentially solidifying a November showdown and intensifying pressure on Nikki Haley, the last significant contender in the Republican race, to exit the stage.
Claiming victories in California, Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, both Biden and Trump showcased their electoral prowess. Additionally, Biden secured triumph in the Democratic contests in Utah, Vermont, and Iowa.
Despite Haley’s win in Vermont, which denied Trump a complete sweep, the former president seized other states potentially favorable to her, such as Virginia, Massachusetts, and Maine, known for their substantial moderate voter base, akin to Haley’s previous primary supporters.
Formal nomination as their parties’ presumptive candidates awaits until later this month, but the outcome of the primary’s significant day virtually guarantees a rematch between the 81-year-old Biden and the 77-year-old Trump. Both candidates continue to exert dominance within their respective parties, notwithstanding concerns about their age and a lack of widespread popularity across the broader electorate.
The only setback for Biden on Tuesday was the loss in the Democratic caucus in American Samoa, a diminutive U.S. territory in the South Pacific Ocean. Jason Palmer, a previously obscure candidate, secured victory with 51 votes against Biden’s 40.
Haley, observing the election results in private, refrained from scheduling any future campaign events. Her campaign, acknowledging the results, emphasized the deep concerns among many Republicans regarding Donald Trump. Spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas stated, “Unity is not achieved by simply claiming ‘we’re united.'”
Meanwhile, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, a jubilant victory party unfolded with attendees including staff, supporters, rapper Forgiato Blow, and former North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn. The crowd erupted in cheers as Fox News announced Trump’s triumph in North Carolina’s GOP primary.
“They call it Super Tuesday for a reason,” Trump declared to the exuberant crowd, proceeding to critique Biden on the U.S.-Mexico border and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Biden refrained from delivering a speech but issued a statement, cautioning that Tuesday’s results presented Americans with a clear choice. He highlighted his own accomplishments after defeating Trump, asserting, “If Donald Trump returns to the White House, all of this progress is at risk.”
While the presidential race garnered much attention, down-ballot contests also unfolded. The gubernatorial race took shape in North Carolina, pitting Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson against Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein in a state fiercely contested by both parties.
In California, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and former Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player turned Republican Steve Garvey advanced to the general election race, vying for the Senate seat long held by Dianne Feinstein.
Despite the dominance of Biden and Trump within their parties, polls indicate a desire among the broader electorate for a general election distinct from the 2020 race. A recent AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll revealed that a majority of Americans question the mental acuity of both Biden and Trump for the job.
Brian Hadley, 66, from Raleigh, North Carolina, remarked, “Both of them failed, in my opinion, to unify this country.”
The final days preceding Tuesday underscored the unique nature of this year’s campaign. Instead of crisscrossing states with primaries, Biden and Trump held rival events last week along the U.S.-Mexico border, each aiming to gain an edge in the increasingly contentious immigration debate.
Following a unanimous Supreme Court ruling on Monday, restoring Trump to primary ballots after attempts to bar him due to his role in the Capitol riot, Trump pointed to the 91 criminal counts against him, accusing Biden of weaponizing the courts.
“Fight your fight yourself,” Trump asserted. “Don’t use prosecutors and judges to go after your opponent.”