After Jimmy Carter's defeat in 1980, Joe Biden experienced an unexpected setback in the Democratic primary in American Samoa, losing to relatively unknown candidate Jason Palmer. This loss came despite Biden's success in other primaries that night.
The upcoming 2024 presidential election will see a rematch between Ridon and Donald Trump, who secured their party nominations. Trump faced a surprising defeat in Vermont to former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, while Biden also stumbled in American Samoa.
In the American Samoa primary, Palmer, a resident of Maryland, received 51 out of 91 votes, surpassing Biden's 40. With only six delegates at stake, Palmer claimed four delegates, leaving two for Biden.
American Samoa, a small U.S. territory in the South Pacific with around 44,620 residents as of 2023, played a significant role in Palmer's campaign. Reports on campaign financing revealed that he personally contributed over $500,000. Palmer learned of his victory through a flood of messages, stating, "My phone started blowing up with friends and campaign staffers texting me."
Historically, Jimmy Carter, who lost 12 primary battles to Ted Kennedy in 1980, was the last sitting president to face such a defeat. Despite Carter's overall primary win, he suffered a substantial loss to Ronald Reagan in the subsequent presidential contest. The only victory in the 2020 American Samoa Democratic primary went to Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City.
In a CNN interview, Palmer urged Biden to "pass the torch to the next generation of Americans" and expressed concerns about America "sleepwalking into a Trump election." He emphasized his campaign's focus on energizing young voters and those across the political spectrum with a positive vision for the future.
Despite Joe Biden's widespread primary victories, Jason Palmer's unexpected win has raised concerns among voters regarding Biden's age.
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