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Former President Donald Trump romped in South Carolina’s GOP primary on Saturday, dealing Nikki Haley, the state’s former governor, a particularly painful loss.
With more than 85% of the expected votes counted as of late Saturday, Trump took about 60% compared to Haley’s 39%. Trump had been projected to win by double digits before the primary, based on 538’s polling average, but the reality of the defeat marks a significant setback to any hopes Haley had of defying the odds and clinching her party’s nomination.
“I know 40% is not 50%,” she acknowledged in election night remarks while vowing to continue campaigning in other states.
Trump’s win is sure to ramp up speculation that Haley should suspend her own bid. But as she did again on Saturday, she has repeatedly rejected efforts to push her out before Super Tuesday in early March, though her future after that remains much less clear, in her own words.
And Trump’s victory — as in the other early voting states for the nomination — masked smaller but persistent problems with Republican voters outside his base who could be important in a general election.
Trump hands Haley a stinging defeat
Trump has already defeated Haley in Iowa and New Hampshire, while Haley also lost to “none of the above” in Nevada’s primary, which Trump sat out in favor of winning the state’s caucuses.
But his win in Haley’s home state by such a big margin underscores how unsuccessful she was in winning over fellow South Carolinians after months of predicting a a strong performance there.