Aiexpress – Nikki Haley emerges victorious in Republican primary, securing her first win of the 2024 campaign
Donald Trump’s dominance in the GOP voting contests was temporarily halted by her victory on Sunday. However, it is expected that the former president will secure several hundred more delegates in the upcoming Super Tuesday races this week.
Despite experiencing early losses, Haley has made it clear that she intends to stay in the race until the end, specifically through those contests. However, she has chosen not to mention any specific primary where she feels confident about her chances of winning. Even after her defeat in her home state of South Carolina last week, Haley has remained unwavering in her belief that voters in future primary states should have an alternative option to Trump, despite his current strong position in the campaign.
Haley emerged as the victor on Sunday night, as declared by The Associated Press, following the release of the results by D.C. Republican Party officials. She managed to secure all 19 delegates up for grabs.
In the city of Washington, the Democratic party holds significant influence, making it one of the most heavily Democratic jurisdictions in the United States. With a mere 23,000 registered Republicans, the city’s political landscape is predominantly Democratic. This was evident in the 2020 general election, where Democrat Joe Biden secured an overwhelming victory, capturing 92% of the vote in the district.
Shortly after Haley’s victory, Trump issued a statement sarcastically congratulating her for being named the “Queen of the Swamp” by lobbyists and DC insiders who are determined to preserve the failed status quo.
“We want to ensure that we reach out to as many people as possible and personally engage with each and every one,” stated Haley.
During her campaign speech, where she criticized Trump for the federal deficit, a rallygoer made a bold statement, exclaiming, “He cannot win a general election. It’s madness.” This remark resonated with Haley, as she firmly believes that she has the ability to prevent Biden from serving a second term, whereas Trump cannot.
Haley, despite running as a self-proclaimed conservative, has demonstrated a stronger appeal to voters who lean towards moderation and independence.
According to a survey conducted by AP VoteCast, which surveyed over 2,400 voters participating in the South Carolina GOP primary, it was found that 40% of Haley supporters identified themselves as moderates. In contrast, only 15% of Trump supporters described themselves as moderates. The survey also revealed that 80% of Trump supporters identified as conservatives, while approximately half of Haley’s supporters shared the same conservative views.
In the 2020 reelection campaign, Trump emerged as the sole candidate in the D.C. primary, securing an uncontested victory. However, it is worth noting that in the previous election cycle, he had placed third, trailing behind Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Rubio’s triumph was one of the three victories he managed to secure in his ultimately unsuccessful 2016 bid. Notably, more moderate Republicans like Mitt Romney and John McCain had also claimed victory in the city’s primaries during their respective campaigns in 2012 and 2008, which eventually propelled them to secure the GOP nomination.
