With 36% of the vote in, Donald Trump is leading the South Carolina Republican primary with 59.3% of the vote, totaling 182,783 votes. Nikki Haley follows with 40.1% of the vote and 123,442 votes. The race has already been projected in favor of Donald Trump.
Out of the 50 delegates at stake, 38 have been allocated to Donald Trump so far. There are 12 delegates yet to be assigned. Donald Trump has now accumulated 101 delegates, surpassing the 100 mark. To secure the Republican Party nomination, a candidate needs 1,215 delegates.
Despite Haley's 40.1% vote share, which represents a significant loss compared to Trump's lead, her campaign remains focused on competing in Super Tuesday states without specifying where they anticipate victory. Exit polls indicate that 72% of voters would be satisfied if Trump secures the nomination, while 78% of Haley supporters express dissatisfaction with Trump as the nominee.
As the vote count continues, Haley's percentage has dropped below 40%, currently standing at 39.6%, while Trump maintains a lead with 59.8% of the vote with 39% of the vote counted. In previous races, Haley garnered 43% of the vote in New Hampshire, aiming to improve her performance in subsequent contests.
While Trump dominates among conservative and very conservative voters, concerns arise regarding his appeal to moderate-leaning voters, particularly those aligned with Haley. The general election outlook remains uncertain, with potential implications for Trump's candidacy based on voter sentiments and preferences.
