CHARLESTON, S.C.—Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a key supporter of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s 2024 campaign in her home state, had a simple message after her loss in the state primary was called.
“The people spoke for Trump,” he told The Epoch Times.
With 66 percent of the vote counted, the former United Nations ambassador had 38.6 percent of the vote. Former President Donald Trump had 60.8 percent, according to The Associated Press.
Mr. Norman, who has campaigned for Ms. Haley across the state, stressed that both President Trump and Ms. Haley “love America.”
“What she will have to do … is make a decision,” he told The Epoch Times regarding Ms. Haley’s next steps.
“What she’ll do is count the delegates up,” he said when asked about her possible moves following Super Tuesday on March 5, when a large number of delegate-heavy Republican contests will be decided.
In her speech after losing the primary in her home state, Ms. Haley reaffirmed her plans to campaign in Michigan on Feb. 25, which holds its primary on Feb. 27, as well as in Super Tuesday states.
“At the end of the day, everybody will come together, whether it’s [for] Nikki Haley or Donald Trump,” Mr. Norman predicted.
Ms. Haley stressed that she’s staying in the race because she presents a viable alternative to both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
“We need to beat Joe Bidden in November. I don’t believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden,” she said.
“Today, in South Carolina, we’re getting around 40 percent of the vote. That’s about what we got in New Hampshire too. I’m an accountant. I know 40 percent is not 50 percent. But I also know 40 percent is not some tiny group,” she said, at around 8:30 p.m. ET when results had her showing just below 40 percent.
“I’m not giving up this fight” when the majority of Americans don’t support President Trump or President Biden, she said.
President Trump, meanwhile, did not mention Ms. Haley at all during his victory speech, held shortly after the race was called at 7 p.m. Instead, he focused his fire on President Biden.
“We’re going to look at Joe Biden, and we’re gonna look him right in the eye—he’s destroying our country—and we’re gonna say, ‘Joe, you’re fired! Get out, get out, Joe!’”
The Trump campaign earlier on Feb. 24 took aim at Ms. Haley for staying in the race, calling her President Biden’s “biggest surrogate.”
