EXPLAINER

Palmer received towards Biden in American Samoa, however had by no means visited the South Pacific territory earlier than the caucus.

President Joe Biden received each Democratic contest on Tremendous Tuesday — besides one; American Samoa. Of the 91 votes forged in American Samoa, a US territory within the South Pacific, Palmer received 51 and Biden received 40.

Right here's what we find out about Palmer and American Samoa's win.

Who’s Jason Palmer?

Along with being a hopeful politician, Palmer, a resident of Baltimore, is an entrepreneur. He’s actively concerned in quite a few companies and non-profit organizations, focusing primarily on issues associated to know-how and schooling. The candidate mentioned he believes voters are on the lookout for a presidential candidate who embodies a extra twenty first century perspective than Joe Biden.

In February, Palmer distanced himself from Biden on international coverage and referred to as for a cease-fire in Gaza within the video which was printed on X.

“Israel's relentless assaults on the folks of Gaza are inhumane,” Palmer mentioned. “We have to withhold all army help from Israel till a ceasefire is adopted, we’ve to be pro-peace in that area,” he added.

Did he ever have a hope of profitable towards Biden?

Palmer launched his bid for the White Home in November. On his official marketing campaign web site, he acknowledged that he had a really low probability of profitable.

“I do know I'm an extended shot candidate with little probability of profitable,” Palmer mentioned.

“Incumbent presidents nearly all the time win the nomination from their occasion. Because of this, our marketing campaign is much less targeted on profitable, and extra targeted on concepts, options and altering the dialog,” he added.

On his web site, Palmer explains that he selected to run within the Democratic major “as a result of (1) I'm a Democrat, and (2) we don't need to play a spoiler function on this election.”

However Palmer, 52, additionally mentioned he had by no means visited American Samoa earlier than his victory over Biden.

“I've been dwelling remotely, doing Zoom city halls, speaking to folks, listening to their considerations and what issues to them,” he mentioned. In keeping with marketing campaign finance data, Palmer personally loaned his marketing campaign greater than $500,000.

“You may't take the cash with you if you die,” he mentioned. “However you’ll be able to change the world whilst you're right here.”

After Tuesday's victory, he thanked the group for supporting X. “I discovered I received as a result of my cellphone began ringing with buddies and marketing campaign staffers texting me,” he advised the Related Press.

The place is American Samoa?

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the US positioned within the South Pacific ocean, about midway between Hawaii and New Zealand.

The territory is barely bigger than Washington, DC, and consists of 5 primary islands and two coral atolls. In keeping with the Central Intelligence Company (CIA) of the US, about 46,620 residents reside on the islands.

American Samoans have illustration within the Electoral Faculty, however they don’t have the precise to vote in November's nationwide election – as do Americans in different US territories, together with the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. In all, 3.5 million Individuals – 98 p.c of whom are ethnic or racial minorities – shouldn’t have the precise to vote within the presidential election.

Is that this the primary time that American Samoa has produced a shock end result?

No. In 2016, voters opted for unattached delegates as a substitute of casting their ballots for Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.

In 2020, Michael R Bloomberg, the previous mayor of New York Metropolis, secured a victory within the area, which represents his solely triumph within the marketing campaign.



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