Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, Joe Biden prevailed on Super Tuesday. Though the final delegate count is yet to come, the overall picture is clear — and can safely be deemed a gut punch for the Bernie Sanders campaign.

In the span of less than forty-eight hours, prospects for the former vice president seemed to transform, while the blowout hoped for and anticipated by Sanders supporters seemed to evaporate almost as suddenly. With the most contests won, Biden has his first ever delegate lead in a presidential race. But, perhaps more importantly, he now has a potentially powerful narrative of momentum on his side. This seems to have been the deciding factor in many of last night’s races, with huge numbers of Biden voters swinging to him late or even on election day itself following his weekend victory in South Carolina. This, more than Biden’s actual delegate lead, may represent the biggest hurdle for Sanders and his movement in the weeks ahead.

The aftermath of South Carolina, which saw centrist candidates and constituencies alike close ranks around Biden as the last viable anti-Sanders option, suggests Biden’s appeal — though perhaps short on substance — is all too real in an electorate where some clearly view him as a safe and familiar vehicle in the upcoming fight against Donald Trump.