Biden and Trump Lead Super Tuesday Races, Nearing a November Rematch
The Super Tuesday races on the political stage have once again brought President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, to the forefront. They both emerged victorious in multiple states, solidifying their positions as the leading contenders for a November rematch. The results have put pressure on Nikki Haley, the last major rival of Trump, to consider leaving the Republican race.
Both Biden and Trump secured victories in several key states, including Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. Additionally, Biden also won the Democratic primaries in Utah, Vermont, and Iowa. Haley managed to win in Vermont but faced defeat in other states that were considered favorable to her. Despite her valiant efforts, the former president carried Virginia and Maine, which have significant moderate voter populations that have previously supported Haley.
Although neither Trump nor Biden can be officially declared as their parties’ presumptive nominees until later this month when more states have voted, the outcome of Super Tuesday has made their rematch highly likely. Both candidates, aged 81 and 77 respectively, continue to dominate their parties despite concerns about their age and lack of broad popularity across the general electorate.
The only setback for either candidate was Biden’s defeat in the Democratic caucus in American Samoa. Previously unknown candidate Jason Palmer secured 51 votes compared to Biden’s 40. While Haley has criticized both Biden and Trump for being too old to return to the White House, her campaign website does not list any upcoming events. However, her aides maintain that the mood at her watch party during election night was “jubilant.”
Trump celebrated his victories at his Mar-a-Lago estate with a packed victory party attended by staff and supporters, including rapper Forgiato Blow and former North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn. The crowd erupted with joy as Fox News announced Trump’s win in North Carolina’s GOP primary. In his speech, Trump attacked Biden over the U.S.-Mexico border and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Biden, on the other hand, did not deliver a speech but issued a statement emphasizing the clear choice Americans now face and highlighting his own accomplishments in defeating Trump. He warned that if Trump were to return to the White House, all the progress made would be at risk, calling Trump driven by grievance and focused on revenge rather than the American people.
While much attention has been on the presidential race, there were also significant down-ballot contests taking place. In North Carolina, the governor’s race shaped up between Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, as both parties fiercely contested the state in preparation for November. California voters were selecting candidates for the Senate seat previously held by Dianne Feinstein, and Los Angeles saw a progressive prosecutor fighting to fend off a strong reelection challenge, which could provide insight into the politics of crime.
Polls indicate that despite Biden’s and Trump’s dominance within their parties, the broader electorate is not eager for a repeat of the 2020 race. A recent AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll revealed that a majority of Americans do not believe either Biden or Trump possesses the necessary mental acuity for the job. Many voters expressed dissatisfaction with both candidates’ failure to unify the country.
The final days leading up to Super Tuesday showcased the unique nature of this year’s campaign. Instead of traditional barnstorming across primary states, Biden and Trump held rival events along the U.S.-Mexico border, each trying to gain an advantage in the heated immigration debate. The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to restore Trump to primary ballots after attempts to ban him for his role in the Capitol riot further fueled the competition between them.
Biden is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address before campaigning in key swing states like Pennsylvania and Georgia. Despite facing over a dozen major Republican challengers, Trump now only contends with Haley, his former U.N. ambassador. Haley has maintained strong fundraising efforts and secured her first primary victory over the weekend in Washington, D.C., a predominantly Democrat-run city with few registered Republicans. Trump dismissively referred to Haley as the “crowned queen of the swamp.”
While Trump’s victories have been dominant, they have revealed vulnerabilities with influential voter blocs, particularly in college towns like Hanover, New Hampshire, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. These areas, along with others with high concentrations of independents, have shown resistance to Trump’s appeal. For example, Trump did not carry Minnesota in his otherwise impressive Super Tuesday performance in 2016.
Some voters expressed their concerns by voting for Haley as a course correction for the Republican party. Seth De Penning, a conservative-leaning independent from Minnesota, voted for Haley due to concerns about Trump’s temperament and character. However, it would be an upset for Haley to win any Super Tuesday contests, and a Trump sweep would only increase pressure on her to abandon the race.
Biden also faces his own challenges, including low approval ratings and polls indicating that many Americans, including a majority of Democrats, do not want to see him run again at 81 years old. His recent primary win in Michigan was marred slightly by an “uncommitted” campaign organized by activists who disagreed with his handling of Israel’s conflict in Gaza. Similar protest votes are being pushed in other states like Minnesota, which has a significant Muslim population.
Despite concerns about their age and mental acuity, Biden’s aides remain confident that skeptical voters will eventually come around once it becomes apparent that either Trump or Biden will be elected in November. Trump, who is now the same age Biden was during the 2020 campaign, has also faced questions about his own fitness with recent verbal slips. However, ardent Trump supporters remain unfazed, with one attendee at a Trump rally in Virginia confidently stating that Trump would “eat him up” in a debate against Biden.
As the Super Tuesday races come to a close, Biden and Trump are once again poised for a November rematch. The results have set the stage for an intense battle between two candidates with a significant age gap but an unwavering hold on their respective parties. As the campaign progresses, it remains to be seen whether the broader electorate will be satisfied with this repeat or demand a new generation of leadership.
