Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley walks to the stage at a campaign event after being introduced by U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Camden, S.C. Haley has sharpened her attacks on former President Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner, as the two prepare to face off in South Carolina's Republican primary on Feb. 24. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump interacts with supporters after speaking during a rally in the closing weeks ahead of South Carolina's Feb. 24 Republican presidential primary on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, in Conway, S.C. Trump is backed by a number of South Carolina elected officials who have endorsed him over former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who also served as the state's governor, in the GOP primary campaign. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley walks to the stage at a campaign event after being introduced by U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Camden, S.C. Haley has sharpened her attacks on former President Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner, as the two prepare to face off in South Carolina's Republican primary on Feb. 24. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)
The contest takes place on Haley’s home turf. She was South Carolina's governor for six years before stepping down in 2017 to serve as U.N. ambassador when Trump was elected president. Despite her history, Haley faces strong headwinds in a state where Trump has the support of most of the party establishment, has held a substantial lead in recent polls and enjoys high popularity among the conservative base.
The South Carolina primary is usually an indicator of which candidate will win the Republican presidential nomination. Since the modern version of the state’s primary began in 1980, all but one GOP primary winner has gone on to win the party’s nomination. The lone exception was Newt Gingrich in 2012.
Polls will close statewide at 7 p.m. EST. South Carolina has an open primary system, which means any registered voter may participate in any party’s primary. But voters may only participate in one party’s presidential primary, so people who voted in the Democratic primary on Feb. 3 may not vote in the Republican contest.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
