Donald Trump won a resounding victory in the South Carolina GOP primary. Trump scored close to 60% of the vote, beating Haley by 20 points. As Haley’s home state, South Carolina was a symbolic point that she had to win if she wanted to stay in the race.
In his victory speech, Trump dismissed Haley’s candidacy, saying that the contest was not a real race. Instead, he was focusing his full attention on beating Biden in the general election. Fox News says:
Former President Trump said he is not sure Nikki Haley is “even really in the race” after winning yet another Republican primary Saturday night, telling Fox News Digital that he is focused on beating President Biden in the general election in November.
The Fox News Decision Desk declared Trump the winner of the South Carolina Republican Primary just moments after the polls closed Saturday night. Trump defeated former two-term South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in her home state, and came another step closer to clinching the 2024 GOP nomination.
Trump has won every single contest against Haley so far, also winning the support of South Carolina’s elected officials in the process. With Super Tuesday less than 10 days away, Trump could lock in the nomination very quickly. The Hill says:
The former president is 4-for-4 in primary contests so far. Here, in South Carolina, he hammered Haley in the state where she twice won election as governor.
At Trump’s victory speech in Columbia, the degree to which the state’s GOP establishment had rowed in behind him was clear. Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) both spoke briefly on his behalf, as did Gov. Henry McMaster (R).
Niki Haley staying in the race has benefits for both candidates. Trump can continue to score wins, solidifying his legitimacy in the Republican Party and against his legal issues. Haley can continue to fundraise, and potentially swoop into the nomination should something happen to Trump. Still, many Republicans are growing to distrust her, and might not vote for her anyway should Trump have to drop out of the nomination.
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