Having triumphed in every crucial contest for Republican delegates, Trump’s recent win in South Carolina, in addition to previous successes in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, is expected to heighten the pressure on Haley.
As Trump’s former representative to the U.N. and the governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, Haley may face mounting calls to exit the race.
Nikki Haley suffered a significant setback in her home state as she was defeated by former President Donald Trump in the South Carolina Republican primary on Saturday. This loss raises significant questions about her future political prospects.
Immediately following the closure of the polls at 7 p.m., The Associated Press, CNN, and NBC projections declared Donald Trump as the victor. This result was expect
ed, given Trump’s commanding lead in the polls and his assertion that the race was effectively concluded. Having secured victories in all early states, the former president is poised to clinch the nomination, despite the majority of delegates remaining undecided.
“We expected this but not this soon” He made the statement in Columbia, South Carolina, shortly after news of his victory broke.
He also said that The Republican party was “more United than ever before”. Since his 2016 campaign, Trump has maintained strong popularity in South Carolina, easily surpassing Haley, the former governor and U.N. ambassador under his administration.
Despite her aspirations to defy expectations, Haley’s defeat by the very voters who are familiar with her will undoubtedly intensify doubts about her suitability.
South Carolina as a safe heaven for Republicans
South Carolina’s primary, traditionally the first in the South, has consistently served as a reliable predictor for Republican nominees.
Since 1980, all but one Republican winner in South Carolina’s primary has gone on to secure the party’s nomination, with Newt Gingrich being the sole exception in 2012.Despite some South Carolinians who previously supported Haley during her governorship now backing Trump, her home-state advantage didn’t materialize.
Reflecting on Haley’s candidacy, Davis Paul, 36, remarked, “She’s accomplished some positive things, but I doubt her readiness to compete against someone like Trump. Few, in my opinion, are up to that challenge. ”
At Haley’s headquarters on Saturday evening, her supporters waved her signs in front of a large screen displaying Trump’s speech, obstructing the view. Nonetheless, this gesture couldn’t diminish the sting of defeat.
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