CHARLESTON: Donald Trump and Nikki Haley go head-to-head on Saturday in South Carolina’s Republican primary, with the ex-president set to trounce his former charge in her home state as he closes in on the nomination.

Haley was a popular governor of the state before becoming Trump’s UN ambassador in 2017, but her old boss is backed by the local party establishment and nearly two-thirds of voters in opinion polling.

Since the early nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire in January, the rhetorical fire has intensified between the two as the primary narrowed into a two-horse race.

But seeking to demonstrate that he is looking beyond Haley, Trump has vowed to show President Joe Biden and the Democrats “that we are coming like a freight train in November,” when the general election will be held.South Carolinians do not have to indicate party allegiance when they register to vote, and are allowed to have their say in either the Democratic or the Republican primary.

Haley — a more traditional conservative who espouses limited government and a muscular foreign policy — will hope for votes from moderates, but the tactic did little for her as she lost to Trump in each of the first four nominating contests.

Voters in South Carolina capital Columbia were complimentary about both candidates, although one voter felt Haley wasn’t ready for the highest office and another criticized Trump for being divisive.

“He’ll go after people that don’t agree with him.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2024