By Chris Megerian, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden was sweeping each Democratic contest on Super Tuesday — apart from American Samoa.
He fell brief there to a beforehand unknown candidate named Jason Palmer. Out of 91 ballots solid within the territory’s caucus, Palmer received 51 and Biden received 40, in line with the native social gathering.
“I found out that I had won because my phone started blowing up with friends and campaign staffers texting me,” Palmer mentioned in an interview late Tuesday.
Palmer, 52, mentioned he by no means visited the territory earlier than the caucus.
“I have been campaigning remotely, doing Zoom town halls, talking to people, listening to them about their concerns and what matters to them,” he mentioned.
The consequence will hardly derail Biden’s march towards his social gathering’s nomination. Only six delegates have been at stake within the U.S. territory, a tiny assortment of islands within the South Pacific with fewer than 50,000 residents. Palmer received 4 delegates and Biden two.
On the day earlier than the caucus, Palmer posted on X that “Washington D.C. is long overdue for a president who will be an advocate for American Samoa.” His account consists of footage of younger individuals holding selfmade marketing campaign indicators.
Palmer is a Baltimore resident who has labored for varied companies and nonprofits, usually on points involving expertise and schooling. He mentioned voters need “someone who is more of the 21st century than Joe Biden” to function president.
According to marketing campaign finance information, Palmer has loaned his marketing campaign greater than $500,000 of his personal cash.
“You can’t take the money with you when you die,” he mentioned. “But you can change the world while you’re here.”
Residents of U.S. territories vote in primaries however would not have illustration within the Electoral College.
American Samoa has been the location of quixotic victories earlier than. During the 2020 Democratic primaries, billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s solely win got here within the territory.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”