In the Republican contest held in South Carolina on Saturday, Donald Trump achieved a significant defeating Nikki Haley, further extending his streak of wins as he moves closer to potentially securing a third consecutive presidential nomination and facing Democratic President Joe Biden in a rematch.
Trump has now emerged victorious in all crucial competitions for Republican delegates, building upon his previous successes in states like Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Despite increasing pressure for her to drop out of the race, Nikki Haley remains unwavering in her determination to continue her campaign, despite her loss in the state where she served as governor from 2011 to 2017. As a two-time governor, Haley’s main challenge was to secure victory in her home state, particularly in a one-on-one matchup that allowed independents and Democrats to participate.
However, external factors such as global events and Trump’s own actions seemed to work in her favor, positioning her as a voice of reason for a new generation, while Trump faced scrutiny over his political and legal issues.
Despite facing various legal challenges, Trump was widely anticipated to win in the Southern state, even against Haley, who is a native of South Carolina and had previously served two terms as governor. Both Trump and Biden are already showing signs of gearing up for a showdown in November’s election.
Trump and his supporters have been critical of Biden, accusing him of weakening the United States, particularly citing instances such as the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, Trump has attacked Biden’s handling of issues like high inflation and record-high migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Following Trump’s significant victory, there are expected to be increased calls from his allies for Haley to withdraw from the race. Despite surpassing expectations in opinion polls, Haley remains resolute in her decision to continue her campaign, at least until Super Tuesday on March 5, when Republicans in 15 states and one U.S. territory will cast their votes.
According to Edison Research, Trump secured a substantial lead over Haley with 59.9% to 39.4% of the vote, with approximately 92% of the expected votes tallied. Pre-election statewide polls had already indicated Trump’s lead, averaging at 27.6 percentage points, according to the tracking website 538.
Trump’s dominance was evident across the state, even in Lexington County, which Haley represented in the state Legislature. Despite having previously received support from some South Carolinians, including Trump supporters, Haley did not receive the anticipated advantage of winning her home state in the election.
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