Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden left New Hampshire early to avoid facing his devastating fifth-place primary finish in person, and headed to South Carolina, which was believed to be much friendlier ground. But now it appears the former vice president may not be very confident he’ll win.
MSNBC’s Brian Williams asked Biden after Wednesday’s Democratic debate in Las Vegas how he will do in South Carolina and if there’s “any other place but first for you there?”
"I think that we're gonna see that I do very well there," he responded. "Whether I have to be No. 1, that remains to be seen because we go right into Super Tuesday.”
?? IS JOE BIDEN GIVING UP ON SOUTH CAROLINA? ??
— Francis Brennan (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@FrancisBrennan) February 20, 2020
QUESTION: Is there any other place but first for you there?
BIDEN: "Whether I have to be number one that remains to be seen because we go right into Super Tuesday" pic.twitter.com/zlQs8WlN8G
Williams also asked Biden who he believed House Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn, the most influential Democrat in South Carolina, will endorse.
"Well I think I get the Clyburn endorsement, we'll soon find out," he said.
Clyburn said he knows who he will endorse and has "known for some time now" but he won't reveal his decision before the South Carolina debate on Feb. 25. He also said the candidate's performance in Iowa and New Hampshire has no impact on his endorsement.
Ahead of the Palmetto State’s Feb. 29 primary, RealClearPolitics’ average of polling in the state shows Biden leading by 3.4 percentage points.