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Biden Loses American Samoa Primary, Becomes First Incumbent President to Lose Since Jimmy Carter

Incumbent President Joe Biden faced an unexpected setback as he lost the Democratic primary in American Samoa to little-known candidate Jason Palmer, marking the first time in 44 years that an incumbent president has suffered such a defeat.

Palmer’s Surprising Victory

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Jason Palmer’s victory in the American Samoa primary, where he secured 51 out of 91 ballots cast, came as a surprise to many.

Successful Night for Biden

Credits: Depositphotos – KIEV, UKRAINE – Dec 08, 2015: Vice president of USA Joseph Biden during his speech in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Kiev — Photo by palinchak

His win tarnished what was otherwise a successful night for Biden, who secured a series of primary victories across the United States.

Significance of the Loss

Credits: DepositPhotos – President of the United States Joe Biden delivers remarks at the 2022 DNC Summer Meeting. National Harbor, Maryland, USA. September 8, 2022. President of the United States Joe Biden delivers remarks at the 2022 DNC Summer Meeting. — Photo by thenews2.com

Biden’s loss in the primary to Palmer carries historical significance, as he becomes the first sitting president since Jimmy Carter in 1980 to lose a primary.

Carter’s Eventual Loss

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While Carter managed to win the Democratic primary overall in 1980, he lost the election in a crushing defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan.

Delegate Allocation

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Out of the six delegates at stake in the American Samoa primary, Palmer secured four, while Biden managed to secure only two.

American Samoa

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American Samoa, a small U.S. territory in the South Pacific, played a pivotal role in Palmer’s victory. Despite its relatively small population, the territory’s primary results attracted attention due to the upset.

Palmer’s Campaign Financing

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Campaign finance records reveal that Palmer loaned his presidential campaign over $500,000 of his funds despite being relatively unknown on the national stage.

Palmer’s Reaction

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Following his victory, Palmer urged Biden to “pass the torch to the next generation of Americans” in an interview with CNN. He also claimed that the country is “sleepwalking into a Trump election.”

Focus on Young Voters

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Palmer added: “… I’m running to energize young voters and also center-left, center-right people with a positive vision of what we can do in the next four years.”

Not Visited American Samoa

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Palmer mentioned that he had not yet visited American Samoa physically, though he “did multiple virtual town halls and spoke with the nationals there.” 

Trump’s Victory Celebration

Credit: DepositPhotos – 12.07.2018. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM. Press conference of Donald Trump, President of United States of America, during NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) SUMMIT 2018 — Photo by gints.ivuskans

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump and front-runner for the Republican GOP candidacy celebrated his string of victories on Super Tuesday.

Trump welcomed his wins, indicating the momentum within the Republican Party.

Biden’s Response

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Biden took to social media to address the primary results, rallying supporters against what he described as Donald Trump’s extreme agenda.

He wrote on X: “Every generation of Americans will face a moment when it has to defend democracy. This is our fight.”

Democratic National Convention

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The 2024 Democratic presidential candidate will be formally selected at the party’s National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, scheduled from August 19 to 22.

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