GOP contest shifts to critical South Carolina primary after Trump notches another dominant win

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Republican presidential contest is shifting to a critical two-week phase ahead of the South Carolina primary, which may prove to be the last chance for Nikki Haley to blunt Donald Trump’s march to the nomination.

Enjoying a difficult day for President Joe Biden and fresh off another dominant win in the Nevada caucuses, Trump was in Pennsylvania Friday evening to address the National Rifle Association. He’ll use the forum at the Great American Outdoor Show to highlight his support of gun rights, a major priority for GOP voters. From there, the former president will be in South Carolina this weekend where he and Haley will hold dueling campaign events ahead of the state’s Feb. 24 primary.

Trump hopes that a commanding win in the first-in-the-South race will deliver a devastating blow to Haley, who has yet to win a GOP contest. Haley, who was elected South Carolina’s governor twice, is betting that a home state advantage will lift her to a strong performance that could keep her in the race through Super Tuesday on March 5, when more than a dozen states will hold contests awarding a massive swath of the delegates needed to capture the GOP nomination.

“We’re leading everybody,” Trump said late Thursday following his Nevada victory. “Is there any way we can call the election for next Tuesday? That’s all I want.”

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