Following former President Donald Trump’s victory over her in her native South Carolina on February 24, the outlook for GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley remains bleak. Not only did Haley suffer a significant loss in her home state, but she also experienced a setback in the form of diminished financial backing from a major GOP donor-funded organization. Conversely, Trump received a substantial endorsement, further bolstering his standing within the party.
According to a report from Just the News, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), who holds the position of the Senate’s second-ranking Republican and serves as a key deputy to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), publicly endorsed Trump in a statement to Fox News. Simultaneously, a notable Koch-backed organization withdrew its financial support for Nikki Haley’s campaign.
Thune emphasized the significance of the primary outcomes in South Carolina, asserting that they unequivocally position Donald Trump as the presumptive Republican nominee for the upcoming pivotal presidential election. He underscored the stark choice facing the American electorate, stating that the options are clear: Donald Trump or Joe Biden. Additionally, Trump commended the decision of Americans for Prosperity Action, a pro-free market group backed by Charles and David Koch, to cease funding Nikki Haley’s campaign.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump penned a message highlighting the withdrawal of support from Americans for Prosperity. He remarked, “Americans for No Prosperity just announced their discontinuation of support for Nikki ‘Braindead’ (Birdbrain?) Haley. Charles Koch and his organization were played for fools right from the start!”
In an email initially disclosed by Politico, Emily Seidel of AFP Action conveyed to the organization’s staff the rationale behind terminating financial backing for former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor, Nikki Haley. Seidel explained that the group held the belief that no external entity could significantly alter the trajectory of Haley’s path to victory.
Despite suffering a resounding defeat, with Trump securing approximately 60 percent of the vote compared to her 40 percent, Haley affirmed her commitment to continue her presidential bid during a statement on Saturday evening.
“I made it clear earlier this week that regardless of the outcome in South Carolina, I am committed to staying in the race. I stand by my word. I refuse to surrender this fight, especially when a majority of Americans express dissatisfaction with both Donald Trump and Joe Biden”, stated Haley resolutely.
She continued, emphasizing the significance of her 40% share of the vote: “Forty percent is not an insignificant number. There exists a substantial portion of voters within our Republican primary who are seeking an alternative option. I reiterated earlier this week my unwavering commitment to running for president, regardless of the outcome in South Carolina. My word is my bond”.
Addressing both Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, Haley remarked, “One of them labels fellow Americans as fascists, while the other denigrates them as vermin. They are not championing our country’s future; instead, they are inciting division among us”.
In response to his significant victory, Trump indicated that he had shifted his focus away from Haley.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump expressed uncertainty regarding Haley’s continued participation in the race, stating, “I’m not sure if she’s even really in the race at this point”. He emphasized his heightened focus on defeating President Joe Biden in the upcoming fall election.
Reflecting on his historic victory in South Carolina, Donald Trump shared his gratitude for receiving the largest vote tally in the state’s history. He noted that he was currently in the company of Senator Lindsey Graham, who informed him that their vote count had surpassed the previous record by double, attributing this achievement to the support of the American people and his efforts to “Make America Great Again”.
When questioned about whether Haley should consider dropping out of the race, Trump responded, “I’m really not thinking about that… I’m not thinking about it”.
“I’m focused on defeating Joe Biden,” he conveyed to the outlet. “As for whether Nikki Haley is still in the race, I’m not certain because, you know, I’ve achieved record-setting results in every state. I’m not entirely convinced of her active participation in the race”.
CNN reported that Trump had secured an additional 44 delegates ahead of the RNC’s nominating convention scheduled for this summer.
Prior to the primary on Saturday, Trump showcased dominance in various primaries and caucuses across states including Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the US Virgin Islands.
Expressing gratitude following his victory in South Carolina, Trump remarked, “I’m greatly honored by the election results. We’re consistently setting records in every state”.
