Donald Trump has emerged victorious over Nikki Haley in the critical Republican primary race in her home state of South Carolina, according to projections from Edison Research. This victory further solidifies Trump’s momentum as he advances towards securing a third consecutive presidential nomination and a potential rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.
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Donald Trump Wins Despite Of Criminal Charges
Despite facing numerous criminal charges and Haley’s strong ties to South Carolina as a former two-term Governor, was heavily favored to win the state, consistently holding a significant lead in opinion polls.
Addressing supporters in Columbia, the state capital, shortly after polls closed on Saturday night at 7 p.m., Trump remarked on the unprecedented unity within the Republican Party, stating, “I have never witnessed such a level of cohesion within the Republican Party as we see today.”
During his approximately 30-minute speech, Trump made no mention of Haley. The decisive outcome of the primary will likely amplify calls from Trump’s supporters for Haley, his sole remaining challenger, to withdraw from the race.
Having dominated all five previous contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the US Virgin Islands, and now in Haley’s own state, Trump has effectively closed off any viable path for her to secure the Republican nomination.
Despite this setback, Haley, who previously served as UN ambassador under Trump, remains resolute, indicating earlier this week that she intends to continue her campaign at least until “Super Tuesday” on March 5, when Republicans in 15 states and one US territory are set to vote.
Trump Defeats Nikki Haley
It remained too early in the evening to determine whether Haley would secure a larger-than-expected portion of the vote, potentially allowing her to claim some momentum heading into Super Tuesday.
With just 2.5 percent of the anticipated vote counted, Trump was leading with 63 percent compared to Haley’s 36.8 percent, according to Edison Research.
In recent days, Haley has notably intensified her criticisms of Trump, questioning his mental sharpness and cautioning voters about his prospects in the upcoming November general election.
However, there is little indication that Republican voters are looking beyond Trump for their candidate of choice.
Immigration, a central focus of Trump’s campaign, emerged as the primary issue for voters in the Republican primary on Saturday, according to an exit poll conducted by Edison. Around 39 percent of voters identified immigration as their top concern, while 33 percent cited the economy.
Approximately 84 percent of voters expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the economy, highlighting a potential vulnerability for Biden in the November general election.
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