Donald Trump defeated Nikki Haley in the South Carolina GOP Primary that was held on Saturday, Feb. 24. Trump’s victory comes after successes in the Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada Primaries.
According to the Associated Press, Trump gained 59.8% of the votes and 47 delegates in South Carolina. Despite campaigning in her home state, Haley earned 39.5% of the votes and three delegates.
The question now remains: when will Haley drop out of the race? She is currently trailing Trump by 90 delegates. No major-party nominee has lost in their home state since 1972 – if Haley were to win the nomination, she’d break that streak.
Yet, even with that seemingly black mark against her in terms of support from voters, the former Governor of South Carolina vows to remain in the race until at least Super Tuesday.
Following her loss in her home state on Saturday night, Haley defiantly addressed a crowd of her supporters.
“I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” Haley said. “South Carolina has spoken. We’re the fourth state to do so. In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. 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.”
Super Tuesday will occur on March 5 and will likely be Haley’s last chance to compete with Trump. Fifteen states and one territory will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for the GOP nominee they want to see challenge President Biden this November. According to US Today, Haley is currently planning a major ad buy in Michigan and a multi-state tour in preparations for Super Tuesday.
“There has never been a spirit like this,” Trump said at his rally following the South Carolina results. “I have never seen the Republican Party so unified.”
While the votes point towards a majority Trump-supporting party, a few polls suggest that some Republican voters may lean away from the ex-president if he is found guilty in one of four of his ongoing criminal cases, the Wall Street Journal reports. Thus, critical support that Trump needs to fuel his campaign may be lessened if such cases end unfavorably for him.
Both Trump and Haley will look forward to the upcoming Republican primaries, including Idaho on March 2 and 15 states and one territory on March 5 (Super Tuesday).
While Super Tuesday is always a day that could be defined as go big or go home, the stakes are extra high for Haley and her campaign. The results of these ever-so-critical primaries will determine the future of Haley’s campaign.
