In a resounding victory that cements his dominance over the Republican party, former President Donald Trump has convincingly defeated rival Nikki Haley in the South Carolina presidential primary.
The home-state loss for Ms Haley, who served as South Carolina's governor from 2011 to 2017, delivers a crushing blow to her campaign and significantly narrows her path to the 2024 Republican nomination. Despite investing substantial time and resources in the state, she failed to dent Mr Trump's formidable support base.
A Commanding Performance
Mr Trump's victory was called by The Associated Press the moment polls closed at 7pm EST, a testament to the overwhelming nature of his win. Early exit polling and precinct results showed the former president performing strongly across virtually all demographic groups and regions of the state.
This triumph follows Mr Trump's previous wins in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the US Virgin Islands, putting him on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory toward securing the Republican nomination for the third consecutive presidential election.
Haley's Uphill Battle
Despite the disappointing result, Ms Haley addressed supporters in Charleston on Saturday evening, vehemently declaring she has no intention of ending her campaign. "I'm a woman of my word," she stated, highlighting that she had previously promised to continue through South Carolina's primary.
The former UN ambassador now faces increasingly difficult mathematics as the race turns toward the multi-state Super Tuesday contests on 5 March, where 874 delegates will be awarded in a single day.
The Road Ahead
Political analysts note that while Ms Haley's determination is notable, the financial and structural challenges of mounting a national campaign against Mr Trump's well-established machinery are substantial. Her ability to attract independent and moderate Republican voters has yet to translate into breakthrough victories in early voting states.
All eyes now turn to 5 March, when 15 states and one territory will hold their nominating contests, potentially determining the final outcome of the Republican primary race.
