Haley vows to ‘keep fighting’ despite loss in South Carolina 

GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley vowed to stay in the primary race Saturday and “keep fighting” against former President Trump, even after he won in her home state of South Carolina. 

Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, and other news outlets called the Palmetto State for the former president shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. EST. Trump was expected to handily win against Haley based on polling averages ahead of the race. 

“I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president,” Haley told supporters after the race was called early for Trump.

“I’m a woman of my word,” she added. “I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”

Trump’s win in South Carolina marks the third state in a row that the former president won where both his name and Haley’s appeared on the GOP ballot, delivering another blow to the former U.N. ambassador, who’s facing increasing questions around her candidacy.  

Yet, the results in South Carolina did little to deter Haley as she spoke to supporters. 

“Does anyone seriously think Joe Biden or Donald Trump will unite our country to solve our problems?  One of them calls his fellow Americans ‘fascists.’ The other calls his fellow Americans ‘vermin?'” she asked. “They aren’t fighting for our country’s future. They’re demanding we fight each other.”

“The younger generation — my children’s generation — knows it better than anyone. They deserve better. They deserve leadership,” she added. “And so I will keep fighting—for them and for you and for all of America.”

Haley’s remarks offered a contrast to Trump’s, where he instead placed his focus on the general election. The 2024 presidential race increasingly looks like a rematch between Trump and President Biden. 

“We’re going to be up here on November 5, and we’re going to look at Joe Biden, and we’re gonna look him right in the eye,” Trump told his supporters. “He’s destroying our country and we’re gonna say ‘Joe, you’re fired. Get out. Get out, Joe. You’re fired.’”