Unstoppable Trump on way to ‘liberation day’
A majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden
Nikki Haley
Republican challenger
Donald Trump has crushed his final challenger for the Republican presidential nomination in her home state, a victory that keeps him on track to be the party’s candidate by the middle of March.
As soon as the polls closed in the South Carolina primary on Saturday, US media outlets called the contest for the former president.
“This is a fantastic evening, it’s an early evening,” Mr Trump said.
But Ms Haley refused to drop out of the race and “kiss the ring” of Mr Trump, arguing Republicans need to move on from their controversial leader if they want to defeat Mr Biden.
She had vowed to fight on regardless of the outcome but Mr Trump, seeking to move quickly from the primary to the election proper, didn’t mention her once during a victory speech in which he turned his fire on Mr Biden.
“We’re going to be up here on November 5 and we’re going to look at Joe Biden -we’re going to look him right in the eye, he’s destroying our country -- and we’re going to say, ‘Joe, you’re fired. Get out’,” Mr Trump said to cheers at his victory party in state capital Columbia.
Ms Haley has repeatedly questioned the 77-year-old’s mental fitness and warned another Trump presidency would bring “chaos,” but her efforts appeared to do little to damage his standing among Republicans.
“I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president,” she told supporters in a concession speech after polling about 40 per cent of the vote.
“I’m a woman of my word. I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
“I don’t believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden.”
“I know 40 per cent is not 50 per cent, but I also know that 40 per cent is not some tiny group. There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative.”
With another 21 primaries in the next 10 days, Ms Haley added: “They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate, and I have a duty to give them that choice.”
While Ms Haley has recently sharpened her attacks on the former president, Mr Trump has retained a dominant lead in his bid to set up a rematch with Mr Biden in November.
His campaign advisers predicted he would have enough delegates to clinch the nomination sometime between March 12 and March 19, despite all his legal battles.
Mr Trump lost control of his real estate empire this month in a stunning civil fraud case in which he was fined $A692m. Next month, he will face the first of four criminal trials as he fights off 91 charges including over his effort to overturn his 2020 election loss.
As voters cast their ballots in South Carolina on Saturday, Mr Trump gave a rambling 90minute speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland, saying the November election was “our new liberation day”.
“For the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and impostors who have commandeered our government, it will be judgement day,” Mr Trump said. “The unprecedented success of the United States of America will be my ultimate and absolute revenge.”