He still received more votes than the his opponents. That is considered winning the popular vote. Doesn't matter what the percentage is. What counts is who got the most votes overall.
What counts is who got the most votes overall.
We should beware of glorifying, by making a point of, this notion of popular vote. We're a republic, and elect no official by popular vote of the nations citizens, but only by a sufficient number of state electors. This is intentional, as it helps resist rule by the tyranny of the masses. Direct democracy, on a large scale, leads to corrupt leaders discovering that they can tax the few to buy the votes of the many. Wouldn't want to go there, would you? (tongue in cheek ...)