If Nikki Haley loses in the primary today, it would mark a significant historical moment in the realm of presidential nominations. Since 1972, no major party nominee has ever lost their home state primary. This trend underscores the importance of a victory for Haley if she aims to secure the GOP nomination.
In the South Carolina primary, there are 50 delegates at stake. Of these, 29 delegates are awarded to the candidate who emerges as the statewide winner. Additionally, three delegates are allocated to the victor of each of the seven U.S. House districts in the state. This means that a strong performance by a candidate could potentially result in winning all 50 delegates, as the system is not proportional like in Iowa or New Hampshire.
Looking at the broader delegate math needed to clinch the Republican nomination, the pace is expected to pick up rapidly in the coming weeks. By March 12th, 56% of the GOP delegates will have been allotted, bringing the race closer to the crucial threshold of securing 50% plus one of all delegates. Most upcoming contests are structured in a way that favors the winner, with many states awarding most or all of their delegates to the candidate who comes out on top.
As the primary season progresses, the calendar will see a swift series of contests that could significantly impact the delegate count. The shift towards winner-takes-all or winner-takes-most systems in many states underscores the strategic importance of securing victories in key primaries to amass the necessary delegate support for a successful nomination bid.
