By Mike McCombs
The Island News
There was no fairy tale ending in the South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary on Saturday, Feb. 24 for former S.C. Governor Nikki Haley.
Predicted to lose by more than 30 percentage points to former president Donald Trump, Haley did better than expected, but still lost by roughly 20 percent.
But in Beaufort County, maybe Haley knew what she was doing visiting the county four times since early December. Not only did Haley turn in a strong showing in Beaufort County, she won the county.
Statewide, the number of primary voters fell short of the GOP prediction of one million at 756,922, but turnout was good, nonetheless … 23.34%.
Trump topped his former U.N. Ambassador, 59.79% to 39.52%. But that was hardly the 36-point margin the latest Winthrop polls had predicted.
In Beaufort County, the results were decidedly different. Haley came out on top of Trump, 55.43% to 43.88%. And it wasn’t because Trump voters didn’t show up. In fact, the county’s voter turnout was higher that the state’s overall turnout at 26.85%.
Despite failing to win a primary, Haley has vowed to staty in the race until at least Super Tuesday – March 5, when 16 states and territories are contested.
Michigan’s GOP presidential primary was held Tuesday – Haley was trailing by 30 percentage points as of press time. Idaho, Missouri and Michigan’s convention are set for Saturday, March 2, followed by Washington D.C. (March 3) and North Dakota (March 4). Super Tuesday (Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia) looms on March 5.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
