Donald Trump consolidated his hold on the Republican presidential nomination with significant victories in the “Super Tuesday” primaries, positioning himself for what appears to be an inevitable rematch with President Joe Biden in November.
Fifteen states, including California and Texas, held nominating contests on this pivotal day of the 2024 race, as both candidates aimed for a second term in the White House.
Among the first ten states called, Trump secured a clean sweep of victories over Nikki Haley, including in Texas, and comfortably carried Virginia. This success significantly reduced one of his challenger’s potential opportunities to win a state. Despite the anticipation surrounding Super Tuesday, much of its suspense had already dissipated, as both Biden and Trump had essentially locked up their parties’ nominations before a single ballot was cast on Tuesday.
Despite being a former UN ambassador, Haley has been unable to present significant challenges to Trump’s path to the nomination, having lost every state since her distant third-place finish in the initial Iowa contest in January.
Trump, who has faced impeachment twice, lost the popular vote by seven million in 2020, and is currently confronted with 91 felony charges across four jurisdictions, possesses a unique profile among US presidential candidates. However, his appeal among working-class, rural, and white voters is anticipated to propel him towards the nomination, with victories expected in most of the 15 contests on offer Tuesday, if not a complete sweep.
According to polling averages from RealClearPolitics, the 77-year-old Trump holds a two-point lead over Biden in a hypothetical one-on-one matchup.
Haley appears poised to secure only a small fraction of the delegates required to clinch the nomination, given her limited support base consisting mainly of affluent, suburban university graduates.
“Today’s her last day,” remarked physicist Andrew Pugel at a polling station in Huntington Beach, California, suggesting that Trump should consider making Haley his running mate to “unite the country.”
Trump’s victories on Super Tuesday included Maine, one of three states that had attempted to bar him from the ballot due to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his alleged incitement of the Capitol assault, for which he was impeached.
The Supreme Court dismissed the expulsion effort on Monday, paving the way for Trump’s inclusion in every state’s ballot.
The states participating in Tuesday’s contests offer 70 percent of the delegates needed for Republicans to select their standard-bearer at the summer convention.
Although Trump would not be able to mathematically secure victory in the contest, his campaign anticipates his anointment no later than March 19.
Biden is a shoo-in for the Democratic nomination, facing minimal competition from two outsider candidates, making his re-nomination a mere formality.
Scheduled to deliver the annual State of the Union address to Congress on Thursday, Biden sees this as an opportunity to outline his campaign platform.
The 81-year-old secured easy wins as polling stations closed on the east coast, swiftly sending out a fundraising email as Trump began accumulating points.
“It’s going to be us vs. the entire MAGA right in this election, and it’s going to take a big team to finish the job,” remarked the president.
With predictions of a low turnout, pop star Taylor Swift urged people to vote in an Instagram post. While not endorsing any candidate, Democrats hope she will publicly support Biden in November.
Trump appears focused on Election Day, bypassing primary concerns, but Haley’s campaign questions whether moderate Republicans are drifting away from him.
Some observers anticipate Haley, 52, to end her campaign after Super Tuesday, though she may choose to continue. She argues that the public has consistently rejected Trump’s divisive approach since 2016, highlighting the “chaos” and legal challenges surrounding him.
The former president has spent nine days in court this year alone, leveraging court appearances to energize his supporters.
Stephanie Perini-Hegarty cast her vote for Biden in Quincy, Massachusetts, emphasizing the need for a leader untainted by corruption and committed to prioritizing the people’s interests.