Joseph Bustos | (TNS) The State

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Democrats will hold their First in the Nation presidential primary Feb. 3. Whether anyone believes it is truly competitive is in the eye of the beholder.

President Joe Biden, speaking at the state Democratic Party’s First in the Nation celebration Saturday, looked toward the general election, using his remarks to point to his administration’s record and criticize former President Donald Trump

One of Biden’s primary challengers, Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips, pushed for Democrats to move on to the next generation of leaders in the party. Self-help author Marianne Williamson also remains in the race after discussing with reporters whether she has the money to continue her campaign.

Ultimately the race to a majority of delegates for the August Democratic National Convention kicks off Feb. 3.

In the last week before primary election day, the party and the Democratic candidates are making their final pitches to voters to participate in the primary and not sit at home or cross over to the Feb. 24 GOP primary.

Biden’s weekend visit to Columbia comes in the lead-up to the official kickoff of the Democratic Party’s presidential nominating process.

Biden was interrupted three times during his 23-minute speech, but chants of “four more years” drowned out the demonstrators.

During his speech, Biden ticked off accomplishments during his administration as his argument for another term in office, including bringing down inflation, a growing economy, a manufacturing boom, bringing down the cost of insulin to $35 a month for seniors, low Black unemployment, investments in HBCUs, and appointing the first Black woman to the United States Supreme Court and more Black women to the appeals courts and circuit courts.

“All the progress we’ve made comes down to a simple proposition — promises made and promises kept,” Biden said.

During his speech, Biden compared Trump to President Herbert Hoover for the economic downturn that occurred during the pandemic.

“In recent weeks, we’re starting to see real evidence that American consumers are (feeling) real confidence in our economy. Let me tell you who else is noticing that: Donald Trump,” said Biden, who pointed to how the former president said he would want to see the economy crash this year. “How can anyone, especially a former president, hope for an economic crash that would devastate millions of Americans? … Donald Trump knows this economy is good and strong again and getting stronger. He knows what’s good for America is bad for him politically.”

Biden’s visit overshadowed Phillips’ campaigning. It included a stop at Regal Lounge Men’s Barber and Spa in downtown Columbia. He’s also scheduled to speak at St. John’s Baptist Church in Columbia on Sunday.

Biden’s reelection campaign has placed a lot of attention ahead of South Carolina’s primary even though he only has token competition in the Democratic nomination process.

“If you want to have a first in the nation primary, you need at least two candidates on the ballot,” Phillips said.

In the last month, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the 7th Episcopal District AME Church Women’s Missionary Society annual retreat in Myrtle Beach and the annual King Day at the Dome at the South Carolina State House on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

First lady Jill Biden also spoke at SC Educators for Biden in West Columbia and the annual Pink Ice Gala hosted by the Gamma Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at the state fairgrounds.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff visited the lowcountry, which included a stop at Old Grace Chapel A.M.E. Church in Beaufort.

Biden is the overwhelming favorite to win the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary. An Emerson College poll in early January showed the president has 69% of the support in South Carolina.

US Representative Dean Phillips (D-MN) speaks during the South Carolina’s First in the Nation Dinner at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, South Carolina, on January 27, 2024. (Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP) (Photo by KENT NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images)

Phillips is at 5%. Williamson is at 3%. The poll found that 22% of Democratic voters are undecided.

The Democratic National Committee also is pushing to make sure Democratic voters show up to the polls, launching a six-figure media advertising buy in South Carolina and Nevada targeted to voters of color, along with youth and rural voters.

Nevada holds its primary three days after South Carolina. Both states were moved up in order to give Black and Latino voters a greater voice in the nominating process.

“By bringing South Carolina and Nevada to the forefront of our primary calendar, Democrats are uplifting new, diverse voices that for too long have been sidelined and silenced,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison. “With this innovative campaign, we are reaching voters in early states to ensure these primaries are a success, and every South Carolinian and Nevadan can exercise their sacred right to vote.”

Saturday’s dinner started off the final stretch of campaigning before the Feb. 3 Democratic presidential primary.

Biden is looking to ensure another commanding victory, while Phillips and Williamson are hoping to gain traction to justify continuing their campaigns.

Saturday’s dinner was the first time Phillips and Biden were in the same setting since the Minnesota congressman announced his bid for the White House.

When Phillips took to the stage, many attendees were working their way to seats and not paying attention to the congressman. At multiple points Phillips asked for the crowd’s attention.

Despite losing the New Hampshire primary to Biden, who was a write-in candidate, and expecting Biden to handily win the South Carolina primary, Phillips says he will continue in the race after South Carolina’s primary.

Phillips set the expectation of Biden receiving 95% of the vote in the Feb. 3 primary.

Phillips, who first visited the Palmetto State in November, is arguing that Biden’s low approval ratings make him unelectable in November against Trump.

His call for Biden to pass the torch to the next generation of leaders was met with silence from the crowd.

Early in Phillips’ campaign he said he wanted to return New Hampshire to the first primary in the Democratic order, a comment that irked the national party and Democrats in South Carolina.

New Hampshire has a state law that requires it hold the first presidential primary.

“I have great respect for the notion of starting in a state that is more diverse, to ensure that everybody’s voice matters in the very beginning, but while the Democratic Party is kind of focused on this issue, there’s a race to run,” Phillips said in an interview with The State. “And the notion was New Hampshire still did have a primary, and they are Americans, white Americans, Black Americans, Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, Christian Americans, that all were disenfranchised.”

Phillips said he has had trouble finding places to introduce himself to Democratic voters, contending he has not had a chance to make the race competitive.

He did participate for one day in the Democratic Party’s statewide tour to promote the primary and spoke at a Richland County Democratic Party meeting. He met with a group of voters Friday at a mixer in the Vista and went to Steel Hands Brewery on Thursday.

“It’s difficult to find spaces and places to introduce myself,” Phillips said. “And frankly, this is my contention. If South Carolina is going to host the first in the nation primary, I would hope that it creates space and place for candidates to introduce themselves and I’m frustrated right now.”

Biden’s campaign has others stumping on his behalf as well.

Among the surrogates who have been in the state for Biden are California Congressman Ro Khanna, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Khanna, in an interview before his remarks Saturday, said he wants to motivate young and progressive voters to show up for Biden. He says they are needed to form a coalition of voters for the president in the general election.

Khanna said Democrats want to continue to work toward eliminating student loan debt, investing in Black businesses, increasing wages and creating more affordable housing.

“This is why the president needs a second term,” Khanna said. “The lesson I’ve learned from Jim Clyburn, who’s a mentor to many in the House Democratic caucus, is that progress requires continual effort and often comes piecemeal.”

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