NEW DELHI: Former US President Donald Trump moved closer to securing the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential race, as he won three state caucuses on Saturday. Trump swept Missouri, Michigan, and Idaho, adding to his delegate lead over his main rival, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Trump has now won every state contest so far and is expected to dominate the upcoming Super Tuesday when 15 states will hold primaries. He needs 1,215 delegates to clinch the nomination, and he currently has 244, while Haley has only 24. Trump’s victories reflect his strong hold over the Republican Party, despite facing impeachment and criticism from some party leaders. He has also benefited from the lack of a unified opposition, as Haley has struggled to gain traction and appeal to the party base.
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Haley has campaigned as a more moderate and pragmatic alternative to Trump, who she accuses of being divisive and damaging to the country’s reputation. She has also highlighted her foreign policy experience and her record as a governor of South Carolina. However, Haley has faced hostility and scepticism from many Trump supporters, who view her as disloyal and out of touch. She has also failed to attract enough media attention and fundraising to compete with Trump’s massive resources and loyal following.
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The next test for Haley will be on Sunday when the District of Columbia will hold its caucuses. She will then face a daunting challenge on Super Tuesday when Trump is likely to win most of the states and cement his status as the presumptive nominee. Trump is hoping to repeat his 2016 upset victory over Democrat Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term in the White House. The two leaders have clashed over a range of issues, including the coronavirus pandemic, the economy, immigration, foreign policy and climate change. The general election will take place on November 3, 2024.
