Trump wins SC GOP presidential primary, beating out the state's former Gov. Nikki Haley

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

66% : He also had the support of U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., a former presidential candidate who dropped out of the race in November, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and McMaster, the first statewide elected official in the country to endorse Trump in 2016.
64% : In a state where many districts are safe seats in the general election, backing Trump in the presidential primary is more beneficial for Republican lawmakers who potentially face tough primary elections in June.
61% : Trump had the backing of all but one Republican member of the S.C. congressional delegation, and most of the GOP members of the S.C. House of Representatives.
61% : Also Trump was expected to have strong support in the Upstate including Greenville County and in Horry County, where the GOP county party apparatus has been taken over by the Make America
58% : Many rallied around Trump after his win in the New Hampshire primary and polling indicated a large lead in South Carolina.
57% : The Lexington County GOP also endorsed Trump ahead of the primary.
54% : Trump has now won the first four early contests as he has remained the front-runner in the GOP race since announcing his reelection run in November 2022.
51% : "Trump remains in the driver's seat for GOP nominationWinning the S.C. GOP primary is key to any presidential campaign.
51% : "Trump has brand and name ID.
50% : Going into Saturday's primary, Trump held a tight grip on the state's GOP.
47% : "Voters clearly care what they think, and they overwhelmingly chose President Trump," Knoop said.
46% : Trump only went on air in South Carolina roughly a week-and-a-half before the primary.
46% : Trump was expected to run up the score among voters who believe in "America first," evangelical voters, and those who strongly identify with the party, said Scott Huffmon, director of the Winthrop University Poll.
44% : The latest was a New York judge ordering Trump to pay a $355 million fine and bar him from working in real estate in the state for three years only solidified his standing with the Republican base.
43% : Trump consistently led in polls of GOP voters in South Carolina and his grip on the party only strengthened as court appearances and rulings made headlines.
40% : "However, polling indicates that Trump can beat Biden in the electoral college, according to a Decision Desk HQ analysis.
36% : "With such a clear contrast between the results we saw in Trump's four years and Biden's term, there's no debate on why so many people would take Trump back," said Mark Knoop, a veteran political consultant in South Carolina.
34% : "President Trump is an earned media machine that no campaign ad dollars could overcome," Knoop said.-- -- --(Reporter Javon Harris contributed from Columbia, South Carolina.)-- -- --©2024 The State.
32% : "Haley's campaign has argued she has a better chance of winning a general election race against Biden than Trump does, and she performs better than Trump in general election polls against the current president.
26% : "Trump led in the polls early onTrump's lead in the polls from early in 2023 to Saturday's primary also meant his campaign did not have to spend heavily on television advertising.
25% : In 2023, Trump made a handful of appearances in South Carolina.
23% : "There are a lot of Republicans who are still out there right now that do not want Donald Trump in office again.
21% : "And the reality is no matter what all caps rants Trump goes on on Twitter about the polls, he will not defeat Joe Biden in November and he will drag the entire Republican ticket down with him.

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