Joe Biden clinches Democratic nomination
CBS News has estimated Joe Biden has secured more than 1,991 delegates, enough to clinch the Democratic nomination. This is based on estimates from additional reported votes that have continued to come in from previous primaries held on Tuesday.
In a post on Medium Friday night, Biden wrote that this is a "difficult time in America's history" and said "the country is crying out for leadership."
Biden called it an "honor" to compete for the nomination against "one of the most talented groups of candidates the Democratic party has ever fielded — and I am proud to say that we are going into this general election a united party."
"I am going to spend every day between now and November 3rd fighting to earn the votes of Americans all across this great country so that, together, we can win the battle for the soul of this nation, and make sure that as we rebuild our economy, everyone comes along," Biden continued.
Biden picked up a sizable delegate haul in Tuesday's primaries in District of Columbia, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Dakota, CBS News projected.
Many of the 2020 primaries were delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. There were no primaries held between March 17 and April 7, with contests rescheduled and expanded to become vote-by-mail.
Biden became the presumptive nominee on April 8, when Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign after losing the Wisconsin primary. At one point, there were more than 20 Democrats vying for the nomination.
Bo Erickson contributed reporting.