Biden wins Democratic primary in South Carolina, rival Steyer quits

WASHINGTON - US. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden declared victory in the party's primary in the state of South Carolina on Saturday, as incoming results consistently indicated his overwhelming lead.

With 85 percent of the precincts having reported results, Biden, the former vice president of the United States, gained 48.4 percent of the votes as of press time, trailed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who got 19.9 percent.

"This campaign is taking off," Biden told a cheering crowd as he declared victory.

After finishing previous nominating contests in three states disappointingly, Biden is counting on a win in South Carolina, where he has an appeal especially to African American voters, to shore up momentum.

"We need you, we want you, there's a place for you in this campaign," Biden said. "If Democrats nominate me, I believe we can beat Donald Trump."

After winning 27 delegates in South Carolina, Biden's delegate total amounted to 42, second only to Sanders' 52 among all Democrats remaining in the race. The delegate votes in caucuses and primaries resemble the electoral college in the general election.

Sanders, who lost by a slight margin to former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg in the Iowa caucuses but scored back-to-back wins in New Hampshire and Nevada, conceded defeat in South Carolina, stressing no one will win all the states while congratulating Biden on his victory.

"We did not win in South Carolina. That will not be the only defeat. There are a lot of states in this country and nobody can win them all," Sanders said.

"I want to congratulate Joe Biden on his victory tonight," he added. "And now we're on to Super Tuesday in Virginia."

Billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, Buttigieg, and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren ranked third through fifth respectively, current results showed.

Steyer later announced his exit from the presidential race. "I said if I didn't see a path to winning that, I'd suspend my campaign," he said. "And honestly, I can't see a path where I can win the presidency."