TRUMP GROWS PRIMARY LEAD AS VOTERS SNUB FORMER GOVERNOR
▶ Warning sent to Biden after crushing victory in South Carolina’s Republican nominee contest
Donald Trump won an overwhelming victory over his rival Nikki Haley in South Carolina’s Republican primary on Saturday, continuing his march to the nomination and a White House rematch with President Joe Biden in November.
This is Mr Trump’s fourth primary victory, giving him a clean sweep and what is likely to be an insurmountable lead going into “Super Tuesday” on March 5, when primaries will take place in 15 states.
Mr Trump, seeking to move quickly from the primaries to the general election, did not mention Ms Haley at all during his victory speech, turning his fire instead 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 former president’s mental fitness, and warned that another Trump presidency would bring “chaos”, but her efforts appeared to do little to damage his standing among Republicans.
Mr Biden reacted to the South Carolina result by warning Americans of “the threat Donald Trump poses to our future as Americans grapple with the damage he left behind”.
As she congratulated Mr Trump in her concession speech, Ms Haley reminded supporters that she had already vowed to fight on, regardless of the outcome.
“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,” she said. The margin of victory was not immediately clear, but US networks felt able to call the race within seconds of the polls closing, suggesting that there was little doubt over the outcome.
Ms Haley, a popular governor of South Carolina between 2011 and 2017, had hoped to outperform expectations in her home state and ride into Super Tuesday with wind in her sails.
But she was never able to compete in a battleground that preferred Mr Trump’s brand of right-wing “America first” populism and personal grievance over the four criminal indictments and multiple civil lawsuits he faces.
Mr Trump’s campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita said a series of high-profile endorsements of his campaign had played a critical role in defeating Ms Haley.
Mr Trump secured the endorsements of a range of influential Republicans in South Carolina, including officials, mayors and sheriffs.
These included state governor Henry McMaster, former ambassador to Switzerland Ed McMullen and Justin Evans, who previously ran Ms Haley’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
“We were facing a two-term governor. That necessitated a show of force. We needed endorsements to stop donors and voters taking a look at Nikki,” a Trump campaign adviser was quoted as saying by Reuters.
In January, Mr Trump’s campaign received a boost with the endorsement of Tim Scott, one of South Carolina’s two senators. Mr Scott, who had initially challenged Mr Trump in the presidential race but dropped out in November, is seen as an influential voice in the state.
His endorsement has added value, because it was Ms Haley who appointed him to his Senate seat in 2013.
Mr LaCivita also said Mr Trump’s campaign had used the data of thousands of voters who had attended his rallies.
Before his victory in South Carolina, Mr Trump had already won Iowa by 30 points and New Hampshire by 10, while a dispute in Nevada enabled him to run unopposed.
US networks felt able to call the race within seconds of the polls closing, suggesting little doubt over the outcome