Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley refused to quit the presidential race Saturday following an overwhelming defeat in her own state.
The Associated Press called the contest for the Republican frontrunner Donald Trump shortly after polls closed “further consolidating his path to a third straight GOP nomination.” The former president has now carried every race for delegates as he heads for a rematch with the Democrat incumbent.
Haley spoke to supporters in Charleston as Trump was declared the winner 60 percent to 40 percent at the time of her speech.
“I know 40 percent is not 50 percent, but I also know 40 percent is not some tiny group,” Haley said, pledging to stay in the race following the humiliating 20-point upset in the state she served two terms as governor.
“I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president,” Haley added. “I’m a woman of my word.”
The next Republican primary will be held in Michigan on Tuesday, where Haley said she’s headed “tomorrow.”
“And we’re headed to the Super Tuesday states throughout all of next week,” she said, in reference to the 16 states and territories with GOP nominating contests scheduled on March 5.
Trump spoke to supporters with a victory speech in Columbia.
“I have never seen the Republican Party so unified,” Trump said, calling the night a “fantastic evening.” “We’re going to say Joe, ‘You’re fired.’” The former president didn’t mention his former U.N. ambassador by name.
Haley has remained defiant in the campaign despite losses in the five state and territory nominating contests for delegates at the Republican National Convention this summer. Earlier this month, the former governor lost the primary in New Hampshire by 11 points after she placed a distant third in the Iowa caucuses. In Nevada, the lone challenger standing to the former president lost the symbolic primary to “none of these candidates.” Trump won the Nevada caucuses awarding him the majority of delegates.
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