Former President Donald Trump continued his winning streak by securing a resounding victory in the South Carolina primaries. This marks his fourth consecutive primary win, solidifying his strong momentum as he moves forward to the next battleground in Michigan on Tuesday.
Nikki Haley, the two-term governor of South Carolina and former United Nations ambassador in Trump’s administration, faced a resounding defeat in the unofficial vote count. The race was decided mere minutes after the polls closed at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. With all counties reporting their results, Trump emerged as the clear winner with a commanding lead of 59.8% to 39.5% among the more than 636,000 votes cast.
In the Democratic primary held on February 3rd, over 131,000 votes were cast, with an overwhelming 96% of voters selecting President Joe Biden. It’s important to note that South Carolinians do not register by party and had the freedom to vote in either primary, but not both.
South Carolina holds approximately 3.3 million registered voters and is allocated nine out of the 538 Electoral College votes in the upcoming general election in November.
In the South’s inaugural Republican primary, the key prize was the allocation of 50 delegates for the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, scheduled for July 15-18. Out of these, Trump emerged victorious and secured 29 delegates as the overall winner in the state. In addition, he also won 15 out of the remaining 21 delegates, which were assigned three each to the winners in the seven individual congressional districts.
“I’ve never witnessed such unity within the Republican Party as I am seeing right now,” Trump declared in a triumphant speech right after the polling stations closed. “Go ahead and celebrate for about 15 minutes, but then it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work.”
In a remarkable feat, the 45th president of the United States secured victories in the caucuses and primaries of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and now South Carolina. This makes him the first Republican candidate since 1976 to achieve such a clean sweep at the beginning of the primary and caucus calendar. It is worth noting that since 1980, only Newt Gingrich in 2012 managed to win South Carolina’s Republican primary without ultimately securing the national nomination.
“There’s a significant number of voters who express their desire for an alternative,” Haley stated confidently in Charleston following the conclusion of the race. “I made a pledge that regardless of the outcome in South Carolina, I will persist in my campaign for the presidency. I am someone who keeps her promises. I won’t abandon this battle at a time when the majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”
According to Haley, only four states have voiced their opinions.
“In the upcoming 10 days,” she emphasized, “we have 21 states and territories expressing their voice. It is crucial to provide them with a genuine option. We simply cannot bear the consequences of another four years of Biden’s shortcomings.”
Donald Trump, at the age of 77, has built his campaign around key issues such as immigration, inflation, energy, a foreign policy that prioritizes America’s interests, and a desire for revenge following his loss to Biden in 2020.
During his victory speech, Trump expressed his concern about the ongoing situation at the U.S. border with Mexico, stating that no country could endure what the United States is currently facing. He emphasized that the reputation of the country has suffered, making it a laughing stock globally. However, he expressed his determination to restore respect for the United States, vowing that it would be respected like never before.
During his campaign in Rock Hill on Friday, Trump accused Haley of remaining in the race to benefit the Democrats. On the other hand, Haley’s supporters view Trump, with his 91 criminal charges, as the preferred choice of the Democratic party to go against their candidate.
Later in the evening, Trump addressed a friendly crowd at the Black Conservative Federation Gala in Columbia and made remarks about race that sparked partisan critiques.
Haley, aged 52, visited Greenville on Tuesday, emphasizing her campaign to rescue the nation. She focused on critical issues such as education, the economy, immigration, homicides, fentanyl, and foreign policy. On Saturday morning, she cast her vote in Kiawah Island after a busy day on Friday with various stops, including Moncks Corner.
Haley believes that Trump’s presence in the general election will only lead to chaos and make him unelectable. However, this viewpoint contradicts national polls, including The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll. According to a recent Marquette Law School national poll, Haley is projected to defeat Biden with a 58% to 42% margin, while Trump is predicted to secure a victory over Biden with a narrow 51% to 49% lead.
Before Saturday, Real Clear Politics’ polling average indicated that Trump was leading Haley in South Carolina with a margin of 63% to 32%. On a national level, Trump’s lead expands to 75% to 17%.
Haley’s campaign manager, Betsy Ankney, confirmed on Friday that they have made a significant investment in advertising for Super Tuesday states. The primary schedule for March 5th consists of 15 Republican and 14 Democratic primaries. Despite repeated questions about Haley’s potential withdrawal from the race, the campaign is showing its commitment to competing in these crucial contests.