In a significant political showdown, former US President Donald Trump clinched a decisive victory in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, outpacing Nikki Haley, the state’s former governor and his last standing GOP competitor. The victory was announced by The Associate Press as the polls closed at 7 pm, based on an extensive survey of the Republican electorate in South Carolina by AP VoteCast, which echoed the pre-election forecasts favoring Trump.
Despite the setback, Nikki Haley, who served as South Carolina’s governor from 2011 to 2017 and later as the UN ambassador, remains undeterred. She vows to continue her campaign efforts leading up to Super Tuesday on March 5th. Trump, addressing his supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference, framed the upcoming November election as a pivotal “judgment day” and positioned himself as a “proud political dissident.” He painted a grim picture of America’s future under a potential second term for President Joe Biden, rallying his base with promises of a new dawn for hardworking Americans.
“Nov. 5 will be our new liberation day for hardworking Americans. But for the liars, cheaters, fraudsters, censors, and imposters who have commandeered our government, it will be judgment day,” Trump declared, eliciting a wave of applause from the audience. With confidence, he added, “When we win, the curtain closes on their corrupt reign and the sun rises on a bright new future for America.”
On the eve of the primary, Trump confidently addressed a rally in Rock Hill, downplaying any concerns about the election’s outcome. “Tomorrow you will cast one of the most important votes of your entire life, and—honestly—we’re not very worried about tomorrow,” he stated.
The primary race, initially marked by minimal confrontations in its early stages in Iowa and New Hampshire, has since evolved into a direct contest between Trump and Haley, with both camps intensifying their rhetorical attacks. Despite Haley’s formidable political background and her role as Trump’s UN ambassador, she faced an uphill battle against Trump’s widespread support within the party and his dominance in the polls.
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