Haley spends tens of millions in South Carolina forward of main
Nikki Haley has vowed to not drop out of the race earlier than Super Tuesday, a day when Republican contests shall be held in 15 U.S. states and one territory, American Samoa.
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Palm timber and politics had been main the day on Saturday within the Palmetto State as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is preventing for an upset in opposition to GOP frontrunner Donald Trump within the Republican main.
The 2024 contest in Haley’s home state is essential as she tries to build momentum within the lead as much as Super Tuesday on Mar. 5. An unique Suffolk University/USA TODAY ballot launched earlier this week discovered that, amongst these very more likely to vote within the state’s Republican main, Trump leads Haley by a near 2-1, 63%-35%.
Meanwhile, Trump has already turned his consideration to the overall election and can spend most of Saturday within the nation’s capital. He will fly to Columbia, S.C. for a main watch get together within the night.
Keep up with the USA TODAY Network’s dwell updates from the South Carolina GOP main and test again right here for outcomes.
A 12 months after calling for “retribution” in opposition to political opponents, former President Donald Trump informed the identical conservative group he now needs a brand new type of “revenge.”
“Success shall be our revenge,” Trump stated in delivering a model of his stump speech on the Conservative Political Action Conference close to Washington, D.C.
It was at CPAC final 12 months that Trump informed delegates “I’m your retribution” in opposition to numerous opponents.
In this CPAC speech, Trump additionally described himself as a “proud political dissident,” as he protested the 91 indictments and 4 prison circumstances pending in opposition to him.
Earlier this week, Trump in contrast himself to actual Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, the opposition chief who died this month in a Russian jail.
That comparability drew ridicule from Haley, who’s opposing Trump in right now’s South Carolina main.
“It’s all about him,” Haley informed Fox News on Wednesday. “It’s been the issue with Donald Trump. He is obsessive about himself.”
–David Jackson
All eyes on South Carolina, however Nikki Haley to stay round no less than via Super Tuesday
Results out of South Carolina’s Republican main right now maintain excessive stakes for former U.N. ambassador and South Carolinian Nikki Haley, however no matter outcomes she has pledged to stay round for no less than one other 10 days.
Haley has pledged to remain within the race via Super Tuesday, March 5, when an avalanche of delegates shall be awarded from voting throughout 15 states and the territory of American Samoa. Along with appearing as a litmus take a look at for Haley’s skill to spherical up assist in her home state, South Carolina’s main will set the stage going into Super Tuesday and supply a burst of momentum to the successful marketing campaign. The states holding main elections on March 5 embody Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia.
After South Carolina Feb. 24, Michigan’s main is up subsequent Feb. 27, earlier than Super Tuesday the next week.
Former president Donald Trump is predicted to seize the GOP nomination as soon as once more this 12 months, after amassing massive wins in earlier primaries and caucuses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.
— Kathryn Palmer
Former president Donald Trump in contrast his authorized battles to the injustices Black Americans face within the authorized system at an occasion sponsored by the Black Conservative Federation Friday.
At the occasion, Trump recommended − inaccurately − that he’s widespread with African American voters. He stated his 91 prison indictments and mug shot had been a part of the rationale.
“Lots of people stated that’s why the Black individuals like me, as a result of they’ve been damage so badly and discriminated in opposition to, and so they truly seen me as I’m being discriminated in opposition to,” he informed the group, of which about two-thirds had been Black Americans and one third had been white individuals.
Haley blasted Trump for his feedback on main day, calling them “disgusting.”
“That’s what happens when he goes off the teleprompter,” she informed reporters after casting her vote within the main. “That’s the chaos that comes with Donald Trump.”
− David Jackson
How a lot assist from Black voters does Trump have?
Trump inaccurately recommended at an occasion sponsored by the Black Conservative Federation Friday that he’s widespread with Black voters.
But a USA TODAY Suffolk ballot revealed on Jan. 1 confirmed Trump with the assist of solely a small sliver of Black voters – 12%.
His assist amongst Black Americans has not elevated considerably from the 2020 election.
— Sudiksha Kochi
Trump’s VP shortlist: GOP hopefuls audition for quantity two spot
Though Trump hasn’t but received the Republican nomination, that hasn’t stopped political observers and his fiercest supporters from guessing who the previous president might select as his working mate.
Trump informed Fox News final month that he’s not in a rush to decide on somebody and that his choice received’t have “any impact at all” within the 2024 election. But some Republicans have seemed to be jockeying for the spot.
At the 2024 CPAC convention, potential vice chairman picks together with Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Arizona Senate race candidate Kari Lake every took turns praising the previous president.
Sen. Tim Scott, who has additionally been floated as a possible decide, has vigorously campaigned for the previous president regardless of Haley appointing him to the Senate in 2012 when she was governor of South Carolina.
Trump referred to as Scott the “greatest surrogate” he’s ever seen at a rally in South Carolina Friday.
— Sudiksha Kochi
A distinguished supporter of Trump warmed up the group on the Conservative Political Action Conference by calling for pardons and commutations for the rioters of Jan. 6, 2021.
Tom Fitton, president of the conservative group Judicial Watch, referred to these arrested for storming the U.S. Capitol as “hostages;” the attack was an unsuccessful try and cease the electoral vote rely that elected President Joe Biden.
CPAC delegates cheered Fitton’s name.
Trump, who has mentioned the potential of pardons for J6 rioters, addresses CPAC later right now.
− David Jackson
Outside her polling place on Kiawah Island, S.C. Haley informed reporters she was laser centered on turning out the vote in South Carolina and Michigan, which holds its main on Feb. 27 and making it via a weeklong push main into Super Tuesday.
“That’s so far as I’ve thought, when it comes to going ahead. We’ve placed advert buys, we have gone and put out the general public schedule of the place we will be, and so we will carry on going,” Haley stated.
− Francesca Chambers
The main comes two weeks after Trump’s extraordinary attack on Haley’s husband Michael.
During a rally in Conway, S.C., Trump mocked Michael Haley’s absence from the marketing campaign path− by no means thoughts that he’s a service member who’s deployed abroad.
“Where’s your husband?” Trump stated at one level. “Oh, he’s away … He’s away … What occurred to her husband? What occurred to her husband?! Where is he?! … He’s gone! He knew! He knew!”
In the times since, Haley has described Trump’s feedback as “disgusting,” and an attack on all army personnel.
While South Carolina may be very a lot a pro-military state, the Trump attack appears to have had little affect; he nonetheless holds massive leads in pre-primary polls.
The similar day that Trump mocked him, Michael Haley himself weighed in with a social media put up. It contained a meme that learn: “The difference between humans and animals? Animals would never allow the dumbest ones to lead the pack.”
− David Jackson
For Haley this main contest is deeply private. It was the state she as soon as ruled and the one she calls home.
Accompanied by her mom and surrounded by members of the family, Haley arrived at her polling place on Kiawah Island, S.C. Haley addressed reporters outdoors after casting her vote and stated she was blessed to be surrounded by household and to “have this second.”
Haley is first lady of colour to be a serious candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. Watching her mom, who was born in India, forged a poll for her daughter for President of the United States, “tells us every little thing we have to find out about how blessed we’re to be on this nation,” Haley stated.
For the final 4 weeks, Haley has been attempting to fireside up her supporters and prove basic election voters who do not sometimes vote in GOP primaries. Haley has dedicated to staying within the race no matter Saturday’s end result, however it is going to be rather a lot more durable if she loses.
− Francesca Chambers and Megan Smith
As she tries to return again in opposition to Trump, Haley is urging South Carolina Democrats and independents to prove for her in Saturday’s main.
“This is an open main,” Haley informed Fox News this week. “Basically it means anyone can vote in a main so long as you did not vote within the Democrat main on February third in South Carolina.”
Trump has mocked the notion, saying Democrats should not be allowed in Republican primaries, particularly in a conservative state like South Carolina.
Democratic leaders have additionally discouraged get together members from serving to Haley.
Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison, a South Carolinian, informed reporters this month that Haley did nothing for Democrats throughout her years as governor.
Said Harrison to Haley: “You didn’t do something for us, so we aren’t gonna bail you out.”
But as of Saturday, some voters may not be listening to the Democratic Party’s marching orders.
Hannah James, 18, of Travelers Rest, on the City Hall precinct, stated she was a left-leaning Democrat who voted for Haley.
“I made a decision that if it got here right down to having a Republican president, I’d quite have Haley over Trump,” James stated.
− David Jackson and Terry Benjamin
Trump and his surrogates − together with Donald Trump, Jr. − have spent many of the South Carolina marketing campaign speaking about points past the first, together with their dispute with Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell.
During an look in North Charleston, S.C., the younger Trump mocked McConnell’s well being points, describing the Trump antagonist as “Mitch the Glitch,” and referring to his near-catatonic episodes.
“Can we discover somebody who would not freeze up?” Trump Jr. stated. “It’s like Windows 92. Buffering, buffering, buffering.”
His attack adopted a remark Donald Trump Sr. made this week about his compatibility with McConnell.
“I don’t know that I can work with him,” Trump stated Tuesday throughout a Fox News city corridor.
McConnell, in the meantime, has stated little about Trump’s re-emergence because the get together’s presidential nominee.
− David Jackson
Jorge Lara, 43, of Greer, S.C. was one of many first individuals in line to vote at 7:30 a.m. at Riverside High School and selected Haley as his candidate.
Lara, who initially grew up in Cuba, stated it was his first time voting in any main and can vote in opposition to Trump. He believes “our democracy could also be in peril.”
“I come from a rustic the place it was a dictatorship,” Lara stated. “I see Trump’s leanings and cozying as much as dictatorships and form of accepting the Russian habits, betraying our allies. This is essential for me. Today’s not a lot a few vote for Nikki Haley, or for any specific politician, it’s a vote in opposition to Trump.”
Trump or Haley? South Carolina voters put together for GOP main
On the eve of the 2024 South Carolina Republican main, voters share their ideas about Donald Trump and Nikki Haley.
Klay Peterson, 72, of Roebuck, S.C. stated he was voting for Trump due to his dealing with of the U.S.-Mexico border.
“The border is primary. Having been in legislation enforcement for over 40 years, I’m involved with security and crime in our nation,” Peterson stated. “We don’t know what their intentions are and I’m anxious we’ll need to pay that worth.”
− Terry Benjamin and Joanna Johnson, Greenville News
Unless the polls in South Carolina are very fallacious, Trump will defeat Haley in her home state − a really uncommon incidence for candidates that make it to the highest of the ticket.
In all however one main since 1980, the Republican winner in South Carolina has gone on to be the get together’s nominee.
Back in 2016, as Republican candidates chased the front-running Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich each received their home state primaries.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, nevertheless, misplaced his home state main to Trump, and rapidly withdrew from the race.
Haley, the previous governor of South Carolina, says she is staying within the race no matter what occurs Saturday – however it is going to be rather a lot more durable if she loses.
− David Jackson and AP
Although it is main day in South Carolina, Donald Trump travels to the Washington, D.C., space on Saturday for a reprise of one among his most notorious speeches.
It was on the Conservative Political Action Conference final 12 months that Trump vowed “retribution” in opposition to his political opponents, and urged his voters to affix him.
“In 2016, I declared, ‘I am your voice,” Trump told CPAC delegates a year ago. “Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.”
This year’s CPAC speech is scheduled for the early afternoon at National Harbor, Md.
Trump then heads to Columbia, S.C., for a primary watch party on Saturday night.
− David Jackson
When do polls close in South Carolina?
Polls for South Carolina’s Republican presidential main will shut at 7 p.m. ET.
The state additionally allowed early voting for the election. Registered voters had been eligible to submit an early poll by Thursday, Feb. 22. Absentee ballots should have been submitted and obtained by the county voter registration workplace by Feb. 3.
The state has an open main, which permits registered voters of any get together – Republicans, Democrats or independents – to take part within the Republican contest. Anyone who participated within the state’s Democratic presidential main, nevertheless, are barred from additionally voting within the GOP election.
− Karissa Waddick
Is Joe Biden competing in South Carolina?
President Joe Biden competed within the South Carolina Democratic main, which took place on Saturday, Feb. 3. Biden received with roughly 92% of the vote in a landslide victory over his longshot challengers, self-help writer Marianne Williamson and House Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. Williamson and Phillips every obtained about 2% assist.
The subsequent main Democratic main takes place in Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 27. It is on the identical day because the Michigan Republican main.
− Karissa Waddick
Where do Nikki Haley, Donald Trump stand in Republican polls?
Trump has notched victories in each main nominating contest up to now and is main in most state and nationwide polls. A RealClearPolitics common of South Carolina polls reveals the previous president forward of Haley within the state 62% – 37%, a margin of roughly 25 factors.
Haley has stated that she must carry out higher in her home state than she did in New Hampshire, the place she garnered 43% of the vote.
“I don’t suppose it essentially must be a win, but it surely definitely must be higher than what I did in New Hampshire, and it definitely must be shut,” Haley stated of her South Carolina prospects throughout an interview with NBC.
Haley has pledged to stay within the GOP main race till March 5, the date often called Super Tuesday when voters in additional than a dozen states head to the polls.
− Karissa Waddick
