GRAND RAPIDS: Donald Trump was dominating early returns in Michigan’s Republican caucuses on Saturday, a presidential nominating contest he was set to win amid simmering internal turmoil.

With 10 of 13 districts reporting results, Trump was trouncing Nikki Haley, his last remaining rival for the Republican nomination, drawing roughly 97pc support, according to a tally reported by the state Republican Party.

The state will be a key battleground in November’s general election, a likely rematch between Trump and US President Joe Biden, a Democrat. Nearly 2,000 party insiders had registered to participate in the presidential caucus in the western Michigan city of Grand Rapids, where they will choose delegates for Trump or former UN ambassador Haley, for the party’s national nominating convention in July.

Republicans will also hold caucuses in Missouri and Idaho on Saturday, among the final contests for Haley to alter the course of the race prior to Super Tuesday on March 5, the biggest day in the primaries, when 15 states and one territory will vote.

With victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, US Virgin Islands and South Carolina under his belt, Trump is far and away the frontrunner in the race, with Haley hanging on thanks to support from donors keen for an alternative to the former president.

For this election cycle, Michigan Republicans have devised a hybrid nominating system, split between a primary and a caucus. Trump won the primary convincingly on Tuesday, securing 12 of 16 delegates up for grabs. He could take all of Michigan’s remaining 39 delegates at stake on Saturday, given that will be up to the roughly 2,000 precinct delegates who form the base of the party that leans heavily toward Trump.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2024