Donald Trump easily defeated his rival Nikki Haley in the Republican Party competition in South Carolina, which ended in the early hours of Sunday morning (Lisbon time), with her obtaining 59.8% of the votes compared to 39.5% for Haley, after 99% of the votes were counted, according to what the agency reported. Reuters. Edison Research. The former president thus consolidated his streak of victories towards a third nomination as a presidential candidate.
Trump's victory began with leadership 63% versus 36.8%, It has been mentioned previously in various Polls It was made before the election, despite the numerous criminal charges against him and the fact that South Carolina is the home state of Haley, who served two terms as governor there.
“I have never seen the Republican Party as united as it is now,” Trump told his supporters in Colombia, the state capital, a few minutes after the polls closed at 7 p.m. (12 a.m. in Lisbon). In a half-hour speech, he did not mention former President Nikki Haley even once.
Haley commented on her vote share, saying: “Forty percent is not a small group.” “There are a large number of voters in our Republican primaries who say they want an alternative.”
The lopsided result will reinforce calls by Trump allies for Haley, the only remaining contender, to withdraw from the race. So far, the former has dominated all five races in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the US Virgin Islands and now Haley's home state, leaving the latter with almost no margin for the Republican nomination.
A defiant Haley, who was ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration and who in recent days has launched several attacks against the businessman, insisted this week that she would continue her campaign at least until “Super Tuesday,” on March 5, when the Republican time comes. In 15 states and one US territory they go to vote.
Immigration, the issue on which Trump focused his election campaign, was the No. 1 issue for voters in South Carolina, according to a poll conducted by Edison at the polls. About 39% cited this issue, compared to 33% who said the economy was their primary concern.
Nearly 84% of voters said the economy is neither good nor bad, highlighting what could be a major potential weakness for Biden in the general election in November.
But again, opinion studies also highlighted the vulnerabilities of the winner himself: Nearly a third of voters said Trump would not be fit for the presidency if convicted of a crime.
