Former US President Donald Trump tightened his grip on the Republican nomination for the White House defeating Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador and the only other candidate in the field, by a crushing margin in the South Carolina primaries. But he did not achieve what he wants so desperately now -- end this race and pivot to the race against his general election rival President Joe Biden.
Trump has taken an unassailable lead in the Republican primaries and is all but certain to be the Republican nominee unless he is convicted in some of the criminal cases going on against him. His exit from the race, if it comes to that, will throw the race into a tizzy. If Haley is still around at that stage she could stake claim to the nomination as the only candidate standing, but the party may want to go with someone else.
Trump did not name Haley in his victory speech on Saturday and talked about unity in the Republican party and restoring global respect for America, which is a theme that he taps often, along with shutting the border to migrants.
Haley made clear in her speech, she is not giving up. “I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run. I’m a woman of my word,” she said. “I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”
South Carolina was touted as a make-or-break contest for Haley being her home state, where she was born, raised and became a politician and two-term Governor. A defeat in the home state would be fatal to her campaign, it was said. And acutely conscious of the talk, Haley had said before that she would stay in the race no matter what happened in the primaries tonight.
The votes were still being counted at the time of this report. Trump was ahead with about 59 per cent of the votes polled and Haley was at around 40 per cent. “I'm an accountant,” she said. “I know 40 per cent is not 50 per cent but I also know 40 per cent is not some tiny group.”
Haley’s long-shot campaign survived the night, but the question everyone's asking is how long can she hold on; more importantly, how long will donors continue to put money into her election effort despite dismal outcomes in the primaries. She continues to raise huge sums of money and she out-raised the former president last month.
Tripura BJP to Focus on Organisational Strength Ahead of Upcoming Polls
BJP state president Abhishek Debroy has said that strengthening the party organisation at every level will remain the BJP's top priority as it prepares for the upcoming electoral battles in the state.
Governor Urges Mass Participation in Anti-Drug Drive at Tripura University
Calling drug addiction one of the most serious challenges confronting society, Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu urged citizens to join hands in the fight against narcotics, stressing that a drug-free society can only be achieved through collective public participation.
IGP holds review meeting in Gomati, stresses on intelligence-based policing
Tripura Police’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Law and Order Branch, Manchak Eppar, IPS, visited the Gomati District Police Headquarters to assess the district’s law and order situation, crime prevention strategies and the overall progress of policing activities.
Stolen auto recovered from in Bishramganj, police launch probe
Bishramganj Police have recovered a stolen CNG auto-rickshaw from a rubber plantation near the new petrol pump area along the National Highway late Saturday night.
Auto Drivers Protest Traffic Enforcement in Kamalasagar
Tension briefly flared in the Lembutuli area of Kamalasagar on Sunday after an enforcement drive against the use of black window films (sun-control films) on vehicles led to a confrontation between Bishalgarh Police and auto-rickshaw drivers.
Garbage dumping row triggers protest in Kamalpur
Alleged dumping of garbage into a privately owned pond in Rishipara under Ward No. 2 of the Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat in Dhalai district has sparked outrage among local residents, who have demanded immediate intervention by the administration to address the growing environmental and public health concerns.
Police personnel accused of performing duty under influence of alcohol at Mata Bari; Probe Demanded
Allegations that a police personnel was performing duty under the influence of alcohol at the revered Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, Gomati district, have triggered widespread concern, with the incident drawing significant attention on social media.
Woman dies, minor injured after car crashes into house in South
A 45-year-old woman lost her life and a 10-year-old girl was injured after a WagonR car allegedly went out of control and hit them near Kalachhara Railway Station in South Tripura district on Sunday morning.