Biden vs. Trump: What is Super Tuesday and why it's crucial for US election
Photo: Joe Biden and Donald Trump (collage by RBC-Ukraine)
The current president of the United States, Joe Biden, and the former president, Donald Trump, are winning in almost all states on Super Tuesday when primary party election are held in 15 states and one US territory. During these primaries, the candidates who will be nominated for the presidency by the Democratic and Republican parties in the election that will take place in November of this year are determined.
CNN, Voice of America, BBC, NBC News, and The Guardian articles were used in preparing the material.
What is Super Tuesday and why it's important
Super Tuesday refers to the Tuesday at the beginning of February or March in a year of presidential election in the United States. It is the day when the largest number of states hold primaries to select delegates for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. These delegates, in turn, nominate candidates for the position of President of the United States.
This year, on Tuesday, March 5, primary party election took place in 15 states and one US territory. These included voting in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and American Samoa.
Super Tuesday will indicate the current standing of the two main rivals in the race for the White House - Joe Biden, representing the Democrats, and Donald Trump, the leading candidate for the Republicans.
As noted by the media, this year's election in the USA promise to be a rematch for Trump after his defeat four years ago.
Delegates
According to the results of each vote, candidates who occupy the top positions are awarded the votes of so-called delegates, who then officially vote for the nomination of candidates at the conventions of both parties this summer.
This year, Republicans have a total of 2,429 delegates. To be declared the winner of the nomination, a candidate from the party must gather at least 1,215 delegates.
In the Democratic Party this year, there are 3,934 delegates. That means the winner of the nomination must receive at least 1,968 votes.
In some states, intra-party election took place before Tuesday.
On Super Tuesday in 15 states and American Samoa, Democrats are competing for 1,420 delegates, while Republicans can obtain a maximum of 865 delegates.
Donald Trump
According to preliminary data, former US President Donald Trump won in 14 out of 15 states by a large margin within the Republican Party.
According to CNN's calculations, he secured victories in Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Maine, Texas, Alaska, Arkansas, Alabama, Colorado, Minnesota, Massachusetts, California, and Utah.
Only in the state of Vermont did former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley get victory. However, according to observers, after Super Tuesday, she practically has no chance of obtaining the party's nomination.
After counting nearly all votes during Super Tuesday, CNN reports that Trump received approximately 961 delegates out of 1,215 needed (preliminary results), while Haley has 86.
Joe Biden
Meanwhile, Biden won in California, Virginia, North Carolina, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa (where voting took place by mail), and Vermont.
Thus, the incumbent US President won all previous election except in American Samoa, where he lost to a lesser-known candidate, entrepreneur Jason Palmer.
CNN calculated that Biden currently has 1,501 delegates out of 1,968 needed (preliminary results) for the presidential nomination.
Final results and candidates' comments
As the East Coast of the United States and American Samoa span six time zones, the final results will not be immediately known.
The first data will start coming in after the closing of polling stations on the East Coast on Tuesday evening.
After the announcement of preliminary results in most states on Super Tuesday, Trump addressed supporters gathered at his Mar-a-Lago residence. He declared it an "amazing night."
"This has been a day that we've been waiting for," Trump said, dedicating most of his speech to criticizing his opponent Biden.
At the same time, Trump did not mention his opponent Nikki Haley in his speech.
In turn, Biden addressed voters urging them to defend democracy.
"Every generation of Americans will face a moment when it has to defend democracy. Stand up for our personal freedom. Stand up for the right to vote and our civil rights. This is our moment. This is our fight. Together, we will win," Biden noted.
In his statement, the incumbent President of the United States also praised the work of his administration during his first term in office, but warned that Trump's second term in office would "drag us backwards into the chaos, division, and darkness that defined his term in office."
"Four years ago, I ran because of the existential threat Donald Trump posed to the America we all believe in. He (Trump) is driven by grievance and grift, focused on his own revenge and retribution, not the American people," Biden added.
Date of election
First, the two leading parties of the United States must determine their candidates at their national conventions. Republicans are expected to officially nominate their candidate on July 15, 2024, and Democrats on August 19. After that, debates and campaigning will take place throughout the fall.
Election Day in the United States is set for November 5, 2024. By January 6, 2025, the voters' voices must be officially counted in Congress, and the inauguration of the elected president will take place on January 20.
