Joe Biden Makes Emotional South Carolina Comeback, Credits State for Saving His Path to the White House

Former President Joe Biden returned to South Carolina on Friday for a buoyant “thank-you” celebration with state Democrats, framing the visit as proof that his 2020 comeback state still “has my back”. Taking the stage in Columbia, Biden pounced on fresh polling that shows Donald Trump’s favorability sliding, telling supporters that “voters are remembering who delivered for working families” while previewing an aggressive mid-term campaign swing. Party insiders say the former president hopes South Carolina’s diverse electorate can once again act as a springboard for Democrats across the Sun Belt. At an evening fundraiser hosted by Rep. Jim Clyburn, Biden grew reflective, crediting the Palmetto State for rescuing his 2020 primary bid and urging donors to “never give up on the power of hope,” a line that drew extended applause from longtime allies. Adding to the everyman optics, the 83-year-old politician skipped Air Force transportation and booked a commercial flight out of Reagan National, enduring weather-related delays alongside ordinary passengers—a tableau his aides quickly amplified on social media to contrast with Trump’s gilded jet-set image. Strategists see the South Carolina trip as part of a broader “respect the base” tour designed to energize Black voters, union households and moderate independents ahead of the 2026 midterms. Biden’s advisers argue that tying economic gains, infrastructure groundbreakings and the administration’s cancer moonshot to local stories can blunt GOP culture-war attacks while reminding swing-state voters of kitchen-table achievements. Health speculation continues to swirl after Biden disclosed an aggressive form of prostate cancer last year, yet aides insist his regimen of treatment and exercise “is going better than expected,” pointing to a packed itinerary that includes stops in Michigan and Arizona next week. Behind the smiles, close confidants concede the former president often wrestles with the uphill task of reclaiming the national narrative. “You think we can actually come back from this?” he recently asked an adviser, a question that underscores both his determination and the stakes of the coming campaign cycle. Still, Friday’s raucous crowd offered a tangible reminder of Biden’s enduring bond with a key Democratic firewall. If he can translate that energy into turnout—especially among younger and rural Black voters—party officials believe the “comeback kid” of 2020 could once again become the closer Democrats need in 2026.