This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51653084
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| South Carolina primary: Where we are in the Democratic race | South Carolina primary: Where we are in the Democratic race |
| (6 days later) | |
| The Democratic race is moving south as voters in South Carolina have their say on who should be the party's White House nominee. | The Democratic race is moving south as voters in South Carolina have their say on who should be the party's White House nominee. |
| We're still a long way off knowing who will take on Donald Trump in the autumn, but after the three contests so far - Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada - Senator Bernie Sanders leads, trailed by ex-mayor Pete Buttigieg. | We're still a long way off knowing who will take on Donald Trump in the autumn, but after the three contests so far - Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada - Senator Bernie Sanders leads, trailed by ex-mayor Pete Buttigieg. |
| Former Vice-President Joe Biden is looking at the state - and its African-American voters in particular - as a life raft for his floundering campaign. | |
| Whoever wins on Saturday evening will gain both delegates and crucial momentum into the spring. | Whoever wins on Saturday evening will gain both delegates and crucial momentum into the spring. |
| Here's what to look out for in the next leg of the 2020 election. | Here's what to look out for in the next leg of the 2020 election. |
| A quick refresher | A quick refresher |
| It's primary season in America. | It's primary season in America. |
| Starting with the Iowa caucuses in February, all the way to a Puerto Rico primary in June, the party nominee will be chosen through a series of contests in every US state and territory. | Starting with the Iowa caucuses in February, all the way to a Puerto Rico primary in June, the party nominee will be chosen through a series of contests in every US state and territory. |
| In all likelihood, the Republican nominee will be Trump. But for Democrats, it's still a toss-up. The remaining eight candidates are hoping to win an unbeatable majority of 1,990 delegates nationwide - awarded through caucuses and primaries - to guarantee their nomination. | In all likelihood, the Republican nominee will be Trump. But for Democrats, it's still a toss-up. The remaining eight candidates are hoping to win an unbeatable majority of 1,990 delegates nationwide - awarded through caucuses and primaries - to guarantee their nomination. |
| South Carolina's voters will cast the final votes before so-called Super Tuesday next week, when a third of delegates will be chosen. | South Carolina's voters will cast the final votes before so-called Super Tuesday next week, when a third of delegates will be chosen. |
| One person to watch | One person to watch |
| Analysis by the BBC's Anthony Zurcher | Analysis by the BBC's Anthony Zurcher |
| Joe Biden was once the clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. A few weeks ago, after a string of defeats, his campaign teetered on the edge of electoral abyss. Now the former vice-president is scrambling his way back into contention. | Joe Biden was once the clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. A few weeks ago, after a string of defeats, his campaign teetered on the edge of electoral abyss. Now the former vice-president is scrambling his way back into contention. |
| While the campaign is reluctant to admit it, the South Carolina primary - the first in the southern US, with an electorate that better reflects the diversity of the Democratic Party than Iowa or New Hampshire - is make or break for Biden. | While the campaign is reluctant to admit it, the South Carolina primary - the first in the southern US, with an electorate that better reflects the diversity of the Democratic Party than Iowa or New Hampshire - is make or break for Biden. |
| "If you send me out of South Carolina with a victory," Biden said on Wednesday, "there will be no stopping us." | "If you send me out of South Carolina with a victory," Biden said on Wednesday, "there will be no stopping us." |
| That remains to be seen. This much is certain, however. | That remains to be seen. This much is certain, however. |
| Win, and Biden's campaign lives to compete in the state contests ahead. Lose, and it's just about time to lower the curtain on his half-century career in American politics. | Win, and Biden's campaign lives to compete in the state contests ahead. Lose, and it's just about time to lower the curtain on his half-century career in American politics. |
| Read more from Anthony here. | Read more from Anthony here. |
| One number | One number |
| As it stands, Senator Bernie Sanders sits at the top of the Democratic pile in terms of delegate count. | As it stands, Senator Bernie Sanders sits at the top of the Democratic pile in terms of delegate count. |
| He is 20 delegates ahead of his nearest competitor, Pete Buttigieg, who trails with 25, followed by Joe Biden's 15. | He is 20 delegates ahead of his nearest competitor, Pete Buttigieg, who trails with 25, followed by Joe Biden's 15. |
| With months to go and thousands of delegates left unclaimed, a mere 20-delegate difference may not seem like much. But the small sum belies Sanders' increasingly formidable lead. | With months to go and thousands of delegates left unclaimed, a mere 20-delegate difference may not seem like much. But the small sum belies Sanders' increasingly formidable lead. |
| The 78-year-old solidified his frontrunner status last week after claiming a decisive victory in Nevada. | The 78-year-old solidified his frontrunner status last week after claiming a decisive victory in Nevada. |
| And, importantly, entrance polls show he won a commanding 53% of the Hispanic vote. This could mean there's more good news coming for Sanders as he moves to votes in both California and Texas next week - both diverse and delegate-heavy states. | And, importantly, entrance polls show he won a commanding 53% of the Hispanic vote. This could mean there's more good news coming for Sanders as he moves to votes in both California and Texas next week - both diverse and delegate-heavy states. |
| One question | One question |
| What does this all-white candidate field get wrong about African American voters? | What does this all-white candidate field get wrong about African American voters? |
| One thing to watch for | One thing to watch for |
| South Carolina Republicans won't get a primary on Saturday, but some will vote anyway. | South Carolina Republicans won't get a primary on Saturday, but some will vote anyway. |
| It is one of 15 states with an open primary, meaning that Democrats, Republicans and independent voters alike can all cast their ballots in the Democratic contest. | It is one of 15 states with an open primary, meaning that Democrats, Republicans and independent voters alike can all cast their ballots in the Democratic contest. |
| And some conservative groups, like Operation Chaos, are taking advantage - encouraging Republicans to cast a ballot for Bernie Sanders. | And some conservative groups, like Operation Chaos, are taking advantage - encouraging Republicans to cast a ballot for Bernie Sanders. |
| The "primary purpose" is to protest open primaries, said Christopher Sullivan, an organiser for Operation Chaos. | The "primary purpose" is to protest open primaries, said Christopher Sullivan, an organiser for Operation Chaos. |
| But, as Sullivan sees it, there's also a fringe benefit: disrupt the Democratic race. | But, as Sullivan sees it, there's also a fringe benefit: disrupt the Democratic race. |
| So why Sanders? | So why Sanders? |
| Senator Sanders is the candidate that the Democratic establishment "least wants", Sullivan says. "I think it will prolong the pain of the Democratic primary for the Democrats." | Senator Sanders is the candidate that the Democratic establishment "least wants", Sullivan says. "I think it will prolong the pain of the Democratic primary for the Democrats." |
| The actual influence of this so-called "party raiding" on results is thought to be nominal, but will likely be a talking point as Saturday's primary unfolds. | The actual influence of this so-called "party raiding" on results is thought to be nominal, but will likely be a talking point as Saturday's primary unfolds. |
| One voter | One voter |
| Nicholas Judd, 18, Aiken, South Carolina | Nicholas Judd, 18, Aiken, South Carolina |
| I have yet to choose a candidate that I support, or even a party as I am a moderate, centrist independent. I will wait to hear from both nominees in the lead up to the general election to decide whether to vote for the main party nominees or to write in a candidate that I can morally support. It seems that there are too many candidates that I do not like instead of one that I can actually support. | I have yet to choose a candidate that I support, or even a party as I am a moderate, centrist independent. I will wait to hear from both nominees in the lead up to the general election to decide whether to vote for the main party nominees or to write in a candidate that I can morally support. It seems that there are too many candidates that I do not like instead of one that I can actually support. |
| What's at stake in the election, I believe, is for America to find its voice as a unified state. Regardless of the outcome, I believe the biggest and most important task for the country is to find healing and unity from the tumultuous past four years. | What's at stake in the election, I believe, is for America to find its voice as a unified state. Regardless of the outcome, I believe the biggest and most important task for the country is to find healing and unity from the tumultuous past four years. |
| What matters to voters in your state? Email askamerica@bbc.co.uk | What matters to voters in your state? Email askamerica@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |