Former US President Donald Trump has emerged victorious over Nikki Haley, his sole remaining contender in the 2024 Republican presidential race, securing a significant win in the crucial party primary conducted in her home state of South Carolina, as indicated by projections from Edison Research. This outcome extends Trump's unbroken string of successes as he progresses toward clinching a third consecutive presidential nomination, positioning himself for a potential rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.
Predictions heavily favoured Trump in the Southern state, with multiple opinion polls consistently indicating a substantial lead for him despite facing various legal challenges and Haley's status as a native of South Carolina who previously served two terms as Governor.
Addressing supporters in Columbia, the state capital, moments after polls closed on Saturday night, Trump emphasized the remarkable unity within the Republican Party without making any direct reference to Haley throughout his approximately 30-minute speech.
The decisive outcome is likely to intensify pressure on Haley, Trump's final challenger, to withdraw from the race, amplifying calls from Trump's allies for her exit.
Trump has swept all five contests thus far, encompassing Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the US Virgin Islands, and now, South Carolina, leaving Haley with little to no viable path to securing the Republican nomination.
Despite facing an uphill battle, Haley remains resolute in her commitment to persist with her campaign at least until "Super Tuesday" on March 5, when Republicans in 15 states and one US territory are slated to cast their ballots.
It remains too early to determine whether Haley will garner a larger-than-anticipated share of the vote, which could potentially enable her to assert some momentum heading into Super Tuesday.
Trump currently leads with 63 per cent of the vote compared to Haley's 36.8 per cent, with only 2.5 per cent of the expected vote counted, according to data from Edison Research.
In recent days, Haley has escalated her criticisms of Trump, questioning his mental acuity and cautioning voters about the potential repercussions of his presidency.
Nonetheless, there is limited evidence to suggest that Republican voters are inclined to rally behind any candidate other than Trump.
Immigration emerged as the primary concern for voters in the Republican primary on Saturday, reflecting Trump's emphasis on the issue throughout his campaign. Approximately 39 per cent of voters identified immigration as their foremost concern, surpassing the 33 per cent who prioritized the economy.
Moreover, an overwhelming 84 per cent of voters expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the economy, underscoring a significant potential vulnerability for Biden in the upcoming general election.
However, exit polls also underscored Trump's vulnerabilities, with nearly one-third of voters indicating that they would consider him unfit for the presidency if convicted of a crime. Trump faces multiple legal challenges, including allegations of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and conspiracy charges related to efforts to overturn Biden's victory in 2020.
Both Trump and Biden have already shifted their focus toward the November election, with Biden portraying Trump as a grave threat to the nation. Ahead of the primary results, Trump delivered a speech to conservative activists near Washington, portraying a bleak picture of America under Biden's leadership and framing the upcoming election as a pivotal moment for the country.
Trump asserted that his victory over Biden in November would represent a "judgment day" for the United States, characterizing it as his "ultimate and absolute revenge."
As speculation mounts over Trump's potential running mate, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy emerged as frontrunners, each garnering 15 per cent support in a poll of activists at the conservative conference.
Despite Haley's efforts to mobilize independent and Democratic voters in her favour through South Carolina's "open" primary system, exit poll data suggests limited success in attracting non-Republican voters, indicating that the electorate remained largely conservative-leaning, akin to the 2016 primary.
While some voters like Kelli Poindexter, a Democrat, opted for Haley in a bid to counterbalance Trump's support, others like Kevin Marsh, a Republican, reaffirmed their allegiance to Trump, citing trust and ideological alignment as decisive factors in their voting decisions.
