Former President Donald Trump aims to solidify his dominance in the Republican presidential race on Super Tuesday, facing his lone challenger, Nikki Haley, in contests across 15 states. Despite facing criminal charges, Trump has emerged victorious in nearly all previous primaries, narrowing the Republican field to just two candidates.
While Trump won’t secure the nomination outright on Tuesday, a strong performance would significantly diminish any remaining suspense. More than one-third of Republican delegates, including over 70% needed for nomination, are at stake in these contests.
A third consecutive nomination for Trump would set the stage for a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in the November election. Meanwhile, Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador, faces skepticism about the viability of her campaign, particularly after losing her home state of South Carolina.
Haley’s allies see potential victories in states like Virginia, Massachusetts, and Vermont, with more affluent, college-educated voters who favor her candidacy. These states, not requiring primary voters to be registered Republicans, have seen support for Haley from independent and moderate voters in earlier contests.
Trump’s advisers anticipate eliminating Haley mathematically by March 19, coinciding with the start of Trump’s criminal trial in New York related to hush money payments during the 2016 campaign. Haley, while failing to halt Trump’s momentum, underscores potential vulnerabilities for him in a general election, citing unease among independents and moderate Republicans about a second Trump term.
Despite her recent victory in Washington, D.C., Haley faces an uphill battle against Trump’s popularity. Supporters argue she could attract Never Trumpers, while opponents dismiss her as a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only). The recent US Supreme Court ruling prevents states from removing Trump from ballots based on a constitutional amendment, but it also highlights Trump’s ongoing legal challenges and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
