In the South Carolina Republican primary, Donald Trump secured a decisive victory on Saturday, outpacing his rival, Nikki Haley, in her home state. His momentum carries him forward toward the nomination and a potential White House rematch with Joe Biden.
Donald Trump has achieved a clean sweep of the initial four significant nominating contests, capitalising on a year of dominant poll performance. His substantial lead appears to be nearly insurmountable as we approach the “Super Tuesday”, which involves voting across 15 states in just 10 days.
CLOSER TO NOMINATION: Donald Trump touted his win in South Carolina against Nikki Haley, and didn’t shy away from sending a bold message to President Biden. https://t.co/KBhGSjMuVM pic.twitter.com/fViyiGX5Gv
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 25, 2024
Despite Nikki Haley’s repeated questioning of the 77-year-old former president’s mental fitness and her warnings about the potential chaos of another Trump presidency, her efforts seemed to have minimal impact on his standing within the Republican party.
The margin of victory was not immediately clear, but it was anticipated to be significant. Major US networks swiftly declared the winner within seconds of the polls closing.
Former President Donald Trump South Carolina primary night remarks: "This was a little sooner than we anticipated. An even bigger win than we anticipated. I was just informed that we got double the number of votes that has ever been received in the great state of South Carolina. pic.twitter.com/T4EdzUJr4r
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 25, 2024
However, she found herself unable to engage in a political arena that favored Donald Trump’s distinctive blend of right-wing “America first” populism and personal grievances, even amidst the backdrop of his four indictments and numerous civil lawsuits.
Trump’s unapologetic approach resonated with a significant portion of the electorate, overshadowing any legal challenges he encountered. Despite her own accomplishments and qualifications, Nikki Haley faced an uphill battle against the prevailing winds of Trump’s political brand.
Donald Trump had already secured a commanding victory in Iowa, winning by a substantial margin of 30 points, and in New Hampshire, where he triumphed by 10 points. Additionally, a dispute in Nevada resulted in the real estate tycoon running unopposed in the official contest. His dominance in these early primary states solidified his position as a formidable contender in the race.
The central focus in South Carolina was consistently on the extent of Donald Trump’s victory. Analysts debated whether Nikki Haley narrowing the gap to 15 points or less would be considered a successful outcome for her campaign.
However, Trump’s aides have made their intentions clear, they aim to sideline Nikki Haley well before the Republican National Convention in July. Their expectation is that the party will unite behind the front-runner, especially in light of his upcoming criminal trials starting on March 25.
ALSO READ | Donald Trump says he strongly supports IVF after Alabama court ruling
