Posted on 02/24/2024 5:21:31 PM PST by Libloather
Donald Trump took another step towards a general election rematch with Joe Biden by decimating Nikki Haley in her home state in the South Carolina Republican primary.
The result was called just seconds after polls closed in an embarrassing night for Haley who has vowed to stay in the race even as her path to the nomination rapidly closes.
Trump declared his swift victory at his Election Day party held on the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, saying with a smirk: 'This was a little sooner than we anticipated.'
Trump's victory builds on the surging momentum he has built coming out of wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.
But Trump is shifting his messaging from the primary, telling his voters they need to start focusing on the general election in November.
'Nine months is a long time,' he noted of the timeline before the presidential election later this year. 'I just wish we could do it quicker.'
'You know, in certain countries, you're allowed to call your election date,' he added. 'If I had the right to do it, I'd do it tomorrow. I'd say we're having an election tomorrow.'
The former president doesn't want to lose the momentum he feels he has on the heels of his sweeping wins and multiple indictments that he claims are political persecutions.
'South Carolina – thank you very much. Go home, get rest. We have a lot of work ahead of us,' Trump urged in remarks where he never mentioned his remaining Republican rival.
Haley's loss on Saturday marks the first time a Republican candidate has lost their home state presidential primary election in more than 50 years. The previous was Richard Nixon, who lost California's primary to Ronald Reagan – who was also from California.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“We unfortunately have an open primary in South Carolina.”
I was not aware of that. I think open primaries are bad.
Would a union accept non-union persons voting in the selection of their leaders? No.
GOP majority state legislatures should outlaw open primaries in their state.
I wish the RNC could even disqualify the delegates achieved in open primaries, in an effort to force states to change their laws.
“Independents” have no right to complain. They can register for a party, or not, their choice. But they have no right to choose candidates for a party they are not registered in.
Groups push for Democrats, independents to vote against Trump in South Carolina GOP primary. Here’s why
They don’t like her in SC. They call her an idiot. It’s no surprise Trump won there. Congratulation President Trump!
Kasich won Ohio, but Trump beat Rubio in Florida while he was still an active candidate, plus I’m sure there are countless other examples.
Only caveat is, the people who voted for Nikki are unlikely to vote for Trump in the Fall. They are either cross-over Democrats or RINOs who will skip the general election out of spite
All the way to the bank.
I guess Haley’s strategy is to stay in the race then assert at the Republican convention that she has earned the VP spot. Party insiders might try to bargain with Trump over it on the notion of unifying the pro-Trump and RINO factions. Trump tried mollycoddling the Old Guard in 2020 (Chris Christie as transition manager; Reince Priebus as Chief of Staff) and got royally screwed.
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