25-2-2024 (SOUTH CAROLINA) Former President Donald Trump triumphed in the South Carolina Republican primary on Saturday (Feb 24), clinching a decisive win over rival Nikki Haley in her home state. This latest success cements Trump’s path towards securing the nomination and sets the stage for a potential White House rematch with Joe Biden.
By sweeping all four major nominating contests, Trump has effectively translated his consistently high poll numbers into an almost insurmountable lead as the race heads towards the crucial “Super Tuesday” in just ten days, encompassing 15 states.
Despite Haley’s determination to continue her campaign regardless of the outcome, Trump, eager to shift focus from the primary to the general election, made no mention of her during his victory speech. Instead, he directed his attention towards Biden, stating, “We’re going to be up here on Nov 5 and we’re going to look at Joe Biden – we’re going to look him right in the eye, he’s destroying our country – and we’re going to say, Joe, you’re fired. Get out.” The crowd responded with enthusiastic cheers at his victory party in the state capital of Columbia.
Throughout the campaign, Haley repeatedly questioned the mental fitness of the 77-year-old former president and warned against the potential “chaos” that another Trump presidency could bring. However, her efforts seemed to have little impact on Trump’s standing among Republicans.
Although the exact margin of Trump’s victory has yet to be determined, it is anticipated to be significant, with major US networks declaring the race in his favor seconds after the polls closed.
David Darmofal, a politics professor at the University of South Carolina, believes that the swift projection of Trump’s victory solidifies his position as the “presumptive Republican nominee for president.” He also suggests that this quick call may intensify pressure on Haley to withdraw from the race.
Haley, who served as a popular governor of South Carolina in the 2010s and is the sole woman in the Republican contest, aimed to exceed expectations in her own backyard and use that momentum to propel her into Super Tuesday. However, she faced an uphill battle in a state that favored Trump’s right-wing populism centered around “America first” principles and personal grievances, even amidst the legal challenges and civil lawsuits he faces.
Trump had already secured a 30-point victory in Iowa and a 10-point victory in New Hampshire, while a dispute in Nevada resulted in him running unopposed in the official contest.
The key question in South Carolina was always the margin of Trump’s victory. Analysts suggested that if Haley could narrow the gap to 15 points or less, it would be considered a good night for her.
In her concession speech, Haley gracefully congratulated Trump and affirmed her commitment to continue her presidential campaign, regardless of the South Carolina outcome. She stated, “I’m a woman of my word. I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”
However, Trump’s aides have made it clear that they want to eliminate Haley long before the Republican National Convention in July. They anticipate the party will rally behind the frontrunner, particularly in light of his impending criminal trials starting on March 25.
Trump made it evident on Saturday that his focus extends beyond Haley, as he anticipates a likely showdown with Biden in November. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference just before the voting booths closed, Trump devoted much of his time to criticizing Biden rather than addressing Haley.
Haley, a traditional conservative who advocates for limited government and a robust foreign policy, argued that a Trump presidency would be marred by scandal from its inception. She highlighted “disgusting” comments Trump had made to Black conservatives on the campaign trail, while also pointing out his controversial reaction to the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny and his threat to encourage Moscow to attack NATO nations.
Despite her claims of performing better than Trump in hypothetical matchups against Biden, this argument seemed to fall on deaf ears. Nevertheless, Haley has pledged to remain in the race through Super Tuesday. Analysts believe she is building her profile for a potential run in 2028, positioning herself to step in should legal or health issues impede Trump’s candidacy.
One Republican voter, Julie Taylor, expressed admiration for Haley, describing her as an “incredible role model” who exemplifies strength and courage by refusing to give up.
