US Primary's 'Tuesday Man' Biden... Will the Momentum Grow?

Likely to Win More Than Half in Mini Tuesday Primaries Following Super Tuesday
Victory Reports Already from 3 Locations

▲Former Vice President Joe Biden [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Former Vice President Joe Biden has once again gained momentum in the Democratic presidential primary. Following 'Super Tuesday' on the 3rd, he continued his winning streak on 'Mini Tuesday' on the 10th (local time), solidifying his frontrunner status. Notably, Biden also showed a lead in Michigan, the biggest battleground of Mini Tuesday.

According to local U.S. media such as The New York Times (NYT), as of 9:30 PM on the 10th (local time), Biden is considered to have effectively won in Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri. The primary was held in six states: Michigan (125 delegates), Missouri (68 delegates), North Dakota (14 delegates), Washington (89 delegates), Idaho (20 delegates), and Mississippi (38 delegates). Biden took first place in all three states where vote counting had begun.

Biden’s support from both Black and white working-class voters in these areas appears to have been a decisive factor in his vote count. Mississippi’s population is 70% Black.

Especially significant is Biden’s victory in Michigan, regarded as the key battleground, which is seen as recognition of his solid general election competitiveness. Michigan, along with Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ohio, is part of the 'Rust Belt,' a declining industrial region near the Great Lakes. It voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election and for President Trump in 2016. In the 2016 Democratic primary, Senator Sanders narrowly defeated Hillary Clinton by 1.4 percentage points in Michigan, making Biden’s win there even more meaningful.

Michigan, a region densely populated by white blue-collar workers, has been considered unfavorable territory for moderate candidates like Biden. Senator Sanders attacked Biden for supporting the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to appeal to voters in this area. Sanders is also trailing in polls in Florida (219 delegates), where the primary will be held on the 17th, making a Michigan victory crucial.

Biden’s win in Michigan is attributed to securing support not only from Black voters, who make up 20% of the population, but also from white working-class voters. He emphasized his own Rust Belt roots (Pennsylvania) and highlighted his backing from steel unions, which helped him attract votes from the working class.

So far, former Vice President Biden has secured 664 delegates, while Senator Sanders has 573 delegates, 91 fewer than Biden. The 'magic number' of delegates needed to secure the presidential nomination is 1,991.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.