The technology entrepreneur who beat President Biden to the top spot in American Samoa's Democratic caucus on Super Tuesday never campaigned on island collection until he received a flood of emails announcing his shock victory. I didn't even know that.
The surprise victory in the territory's caucuses, with just 91 votes cast, thrust little-known businessman and political candidate Jason Palmer into the spotlight.
According to the local Democratic Party, Mr. Palmer received 51 votes to Mr. Biden's 40.
“I knew I had won when I started getting texts from friends and campaign staff and my phone started dying,” Palmer, 52, told The Associated Press late Tuesday night.
Palmer, a Baltimore native, did most of his campaigning through a screen, not even visiting the area until after the successful caucuses.
“I've been campaigning remotely, doing town halls on Zoom, talking to people, listening to their concerns and what's important to them,” he said.
But he has shown some level of commitment to the campaign, lending $500,000 of his own cash to the campaign in order to make a very long run for president.
“You can't take money with you when you die,” he said. “But you can change the world while you're here.”
Palmer said voters want a president who is “more 21st century” than 81-year-old Joe Biden.
The budding politician celebrated the small victory in a post on X late Tuesday, calling it an honor and thanking the “incredible community” that supported him.
“This victory is a testament to the power of our voices. Together, we can rebuild the American Dream and shape a brighter future for everyone,” he tweeted.
“Every American deserves an advocate who will champion their cause and make their voices heard. Whether it’s tackling climate change, strengthening health care, or improving education, American territory “Samoan aspirations resonate with the long-awaited change we all seek,” he said in another post.
Mr Palmer ended up winning a total of four delegates out of the six he would have received from a chain of islands with populations of less than 50,000.
Biden, on the other hand, performed well in the remaining primaries, as expected.
Palmer has worked for numerous companies and nonprofit organizations, primarily in technology and education, including Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Residents of U.S. territories vote in primaries but have no representation in the Electoral College.
American Samoa also helped another businessman, former New York City mayor and billionaire Mike Bloomberg, win the 2020 Democratic primary.
It was Bloomberg's only victory on Super Tuesday.
