WASHINGTON — In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden, who was dominating every Democratic contest on Super Tuesday, stumbled in American Samoa.
Unexpectedly, a relatively unknown candidate named Jason Palmer outperformed Biden in the territory’s caucus. With a total of 91 votes cast, Palmer secured 51, leaving Biden trailing with 40, as reported by the local party.
“The news of my victory reached me through a flurry of texts from friends and campaign staff,” Palmer shared in a late-night interview on Tuesday.
At 52, Palmer confessed that he had never set foot in the territory before the caucus. “My campaign was conducted remotely. I engaged with the people through Zoom town halls, listening to their concerns and understanding what matters to them,” he explained.
Despite this minor setback, Biden’s journey towards securing his party’s nomination remains largely unaffected. The U.S. territory, a small cluster of islands in the South Pacific with a population of less than 50,000, had only six delegates up for grabs. Both Palmer and Biden walked away with three delegates each.
On the eve of the caucus, Palmer took to the social platform X, previously known as Twitter, to express his advocacy for American Samoa. “Washington D.C. is long overdue for a president who will be an advocate for American Samoa,” he posted. His account features images of young supporters with homemade campaign signs.
A resident of Baltimore, Palmer has a diverse professional background, having worked for various businesses and nonprofits, primarily focusing on technology and education. He believes voters are looking for “a president who embodies the 21st century more than Joe Biden.”
Campaign finance records reveal that Palmer has invested over $500,000 of his personal funds into his campaign. ”You can’t take the money with you when you die,” he stated. “But you can change the world while you’re here.”
While residents of U.S. territories participate in primaries, they do not have representation in the Electoral College.
Interestingly, American Samoa has a history of unexpected victories. During the 2020 Democratic primaries, the territory was the only place where billionaire Michael Bloomberg emerged victorious.
I disagree with this outcome.
Jason palmer deserves the win.
Jason Palmer deserved the win.
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