Haley gets surprise win over Trump

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley narrowly won the Republican primary in Vermont, her first victory out of 15 states on Super Tuesday and the only time a Republican woman has prevailed in a state presidential primary.

Haley beat former president Donald Trump in the state, the Associated Press reported, in a close race. It was her second victory in the Republican nomination battle – she also captured the Washington DC Republican primary on Monday.

Nonetheless, Trump was far ahead in the delegate battle and well on his way to securing the GOP nomination, while questions are swirling around whether Haley would continue in the race. She had committed to doing so until yesterday’s Super Tuesday.

While Trump is now closer to securing the Republican nomination, Haley’s victory in Vermont will bolster her delegate count.

The state has far more registered independents and Democrats compared to Republicans, and anyone can choose which primary to cast their ballots in. Turnout was higher in the Republican primary, however. US President Joe Biden won the Democratic primary with 49,625 votes, with 79% of the votes counted.

Haley’s victory was a shock to some who had expected Trump to easily sweep all 15 contests on Super Tuesday.

Vermont GOP chair Paul Dane said he was not surprised to see a much narrower margin, since he believed Trump had been overperforming in primary polling. “I was expecting a very close race like this,” he said.

University of Vermont political science professor Alex Garlick said the state had typically supported moderate Republicans, lending an edge to Haley. In addition, anti-Trump sentiment likely drew Democratic and independent voters into the Republican contest. –