CHARLESTON, S.C. — An embarrassing home-state loss received’t deter former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley from standing in the way in which of Donald Trump’s romp to the GOP presidential nomination — at the very least, for now.
Addressing supporters at an election night time watch celebration on Saturday night time, Haley reiterated that she deliberate to remain within the race as a result of she thought Trump would lose in November.
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“I don’t believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden,” she continued, making the case that her efficiency up to now foreshadows issues for Trump’s basic election marketing campaign.
Haley’s unofficial vote share remains to be in flux, nonetheless. She was projected to have received roughly 39% of ballots forged as of 9:30 p.m. ET.
“Nearly every day Trump drives people away,” she stated. “Today we’re getting 40 percent of the vote. That’s about what we got in New Hampshire. I know 40 percent isn’t 50 percent. I also know 40 percent is not some tiny group. There are a huge number of voters in our Republican primary who want an alternative.”
Haley famous that she’ll be campaigning subsequent in Michigan, which votes in its main on Tuesday.
The South Carolina race was referred to as by CNN for Trump at virtually precisely 7 p.m. — earlier than the ballroom on the swanky Hotel Charleston had even opened to Haley’s watch celebration visitors.
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Her supporters whooped and danced when CNN’s stay feed minimize to the ballroom. The temper was full of life, and plenty of Haley supporters appeared undeterred by the fast race name or the state of the race generally.
“I think that everybody here really believes in her message and leadership, and that it’s time to turn the page on leadership in this country,” stated Rachel Geilenfeld, who led the Women for Haley coalition in Iowa.
“This is an unprecedented election and I think that Nikki needs to stay in as long as she thinks it’s the right thing to do,” she instructed HuffPost.
Patricia Thompson, an attendee who described herself as a lifelong Republican, urged Haley to remain within the race so long as potential with a purpose to make an ethical case towards Trump — or at the very least to provide the GOP a fallback choice if he’s by some means pressured to withdraw as a consequence of his authorized points.
“No reason for her not to — hope he chokes on a sandwich,” the 59 year-old from Pennsylvania stated of the previous president. “Even if there’s nothing this time, it gives hope.”
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“My hope is, if he wins, she sticks it out and comes back next year,” she continued, earlier than rapidly including: “Trump had better go to jail.”