2024 Republican Primary Polls: Donald Trump has moved one step closer to securing the Republican presidential nomination following a significant victory over Nikki Haley in South Carolina.
After securing a 20-point victory in his primary opponent’s home state, the ex-president focused on the upcoming general election in November, without acknowledging Ms. Haley’s determination to continue her campaign. The potential rematch with his White House successor looms on the horizon.
Mr. Trump expressed determination to confront Joe Biden directly, stating, “We will confront Joe Biden face to face. He is causing harm to our nation – and we will tell him ‘leave, Joe, you’re dismissed’.”
Mr. Trump praised the unity within his party following the outcome on Saturday, declaring, “There has never been a sense of solidarity like this. I have never witnessed the Republican Party so united.”
This represented a change from his reaction to the primary in New Hampshire last month, where he criticized Ms. Haley for “delivering a speech as if she emerged victorious”.
Ms Haley, a former two-term governor of South Carolina, graciously congratulated her opponent on his victory in her speech.
Despite receiving around 40% of the vote, she expressed determination not to give up, highlighting that this significant portion of voters in Republican primaries are seeking an alternative candidate.
Emphasizing that her campaign is not driven by personal political ambitions, she stated, “I’m not backing down when a majority of Americans express disapproval towards both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”
She confirmed her commitment to continue in the race until at least Super Tuesday on 5 March, when voters in 16 states will participate in the primaries.
Asserting her integrity, she declared, “I stand by my word,” and announced plans to visit Michigan the following day, followed by campaigning in Super Tuesday states throughout the upcoming week.
The Trump campaign has confidently stated that the former president is on track to secure enough delegates to officially secure the nomination in the upcoming month.
Despite facing significant challenges, Ms Haley’s campaign is still active, largely due to generous contributions from wealthy donors. This financial support has remained steady even in the face of unfavorable odds.
In January alone, Ms Haley managed to raise $16.5m, marking her highest monthly fundraising total to date and surpassing Mr Trump’s figures.
Mr Trump wasted no time in delivering his victory speech immediately after the race was called, emphasizing his belief that the primary race has concluded. This move prevented Ms Haley from speaking before him, as she had done in New Hampshire.
Surrounded by a group of supporters at the Columbia state fairgrounds, Mr Trump expressed his gratitude for their backing. The former president’s victory over Ms Haley was evident in the exit polling conducted by the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, which showed his popularity across different demographics. Emphasizing the challenges that lie ahead, Mr Trump, 77, acknowledged the hard work that awaits.
The former president continues to face numerous legal challenges and is set to undergo the first of four criminal trials next month. Additionally, he is now responsible for over $500 million, the combined sum from two recent civil trial verdicts in New York. One trial pertains to allegations of sexual assault and defamation, while the other involves business fraud.
As the upcoming presidential race shapes up to be the most expensive in US history, Mr. Biden has gained a significant financial advantage over his opponent. Consequently, Mr. Trump has increasingly relied on donations to cover his mounting legal expenses.
Fortunately for him, the Republican Party seems poised to offer assistance. By endorsing key allies to lead the national committee, he has solidified his control over the party. Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law and chosen co-chair of the Republican Party, has pledged to utilize every available party fund to support his legal defense.