South Carolina is the fourth and final state to vote early for the 2024 Republican presidential primary, and voters in the state will have a chance to decide on their preferred candidate on Saturday.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley was hoping for a rebound in her home state as she remains the last serious contender trying to thwart former President Donald Trump's chances of a third straight Republican nomination.
But polls leading up to Election Day show Haley trailing the former president by an average of 30 points.
breaks down what to watch on primary election day in South Carolina.
THE FIGHT FOR SOUTH CAROLINA: Former President Donald Trump (left) and Nikki Haley (right) are the final two Republican primary candidates. He held a rally in Rock Hill on Friday while she appeared in Mount Pleasant at the Patriot's Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Signs for former President Donald Trump and his Republican rival Nikki Haley are seen at an intersection in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a day before the Palmetto State's primary election
ELECTION DAY INFORMATION
South Carolina had several days of early voting, allowing voters to go to their polling places to cast their ballots before Saturday from Feb. 12 to Feb. 22.
On Election Day on Saturday, February 23rd, polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. However, voters who are in line at the time of closure will be allowed to cast their ballot.
Depending on how long ballots are processed, the first results will usually be known shortly after the polls close.
Trump is hosting an election night party in the state capital of Columbia, South Carolina, while Haley will address supporters from Charleston after the morning vote at her polling station on Kiawah Island.
WHO CAN VOTE?
South Carolina is holding open primaries, meaning motivated Democrats and independent voters can cast their preferred vote on Election Day.
This also opens up the potential for protest elections.
Some Trump supporters believe Haley could get a boost from support from moderate and left-leaning residents, including registered Democrats.
Registered voters in South Carolina can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary, but not both.
Early voting took place in South Carolina from February 12th to 22nd. A woman in Columbia, South Carolina, participates in early voting on Thursday, the last day to vote before the polls open at 7 a.m. Saturday for Election Day
Trump faithful gathered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Friday afternoon for the ex-president's final rally in the Palmetto State before voting began on Election Day
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA
For Democrats, the South Carolina primary looked a little different this year.
While the state allows Democrats and Republicans to choose the date of their respective presidential primaries, it is typically the fourth caucus state for both major U.S. political parties.
But this year, Democrats decided they wanted the Palmetto State to host the primary — choosing a more diverse primary state than Iowa or New Hampshire.
Biden handily won the Democratic primary in South Carolina on February 3 with 96 percent of the vote.
WHAT SOUTH CAROLINA VOTERS SAY AHEAD OF THE COLLEGE
Even in Haley's hometown of Bamberg, found that a majority of voters going to the polls support Trump.
“I voted for the winner,” said 79-year-old Mike from the Bamberg district on Thursday as he left an early voting site. When pressed on who that was, he said, “Mr. Trump card.'
The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which connects Charleston to Mount Pleasant, is seen in the background of Nikki Haley's final campaign stop in her home state of South Carolina before voting begins on Saturday
A South Carolina voter takes part in early voting in Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday
One topic that caused a stir was Trump's recent statement that Haley's husband – who is in the US military and deployed – was avoiding her because he is in Africa.
“What happened to her husband? What happened to her husband?' the former president asked at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, earlier this month. 'Where is he? He is gone. He knew. He knew.'
Suzanne Zimmermann, a 54-year-old retired teacher from Fripp Island, told she hopes comments like these will change the situation for Haley.
“I know she still has a long way to go,” admitted Zimmermann, who attended Haley’s rally in Beaufort on Wednesday evening.
I hope that people will – especially when he says things like, you know, asking where her husband is – I hope that he continues to shoot himself in the foot enough that people say… why should we want that? ?' Zimmerman added.
Mimbee Ray, a 71-year-old retired office manager from Denmark who knows Haley personally, also brought up the insult to Trump's husband.
She called Trump “too vocal,” adding, “Especially when it comes to criticizing where her husband is.”
A supporter of Nikki Haley attends the former South Carolina governor's final rally in Mount Pleasant on Friday evening
Drone footage shows the scene of Nikki Haley's final rally in South Carolina – at the Patriot's Point Naval & Maritime Museum, located in Mount Pleasant, across from the city of Charleston
“He's fighting in our military. “And then to say our military is stupid or whatever, that just wasn't good,” Ray added.
But for Trump supporters, it was perfectly fine to question Michael Haley's whereabouts.
“And here’s a question. Where is your husband? That's a good question. “Why be insulted,” said Kathy, a 76-year-old Trump supporter from Bamberg County.
WHAT'S NEXT?
If Trump wins South Carolina on Saturday, which is the most likely outcome, the primary will continue if Haley decides to stay in the race.
Ultimately, any candidate who wants to secure the nomination must win 1,215 delegates — and 50 are up for grabs in South Carolina.
Haley has won 17 delegates so far to Trump's 63, after Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and the US Virginia Islands participated this year.
During a “state of the race” speech on Tuesday, Haley stressed that she is “far from” dropping out.
She has repeatedly said she plans to stay in the race until Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 different states will hold primaries simultaneously.
If Saturday's poll predictions come true and Haley loses her home state, her chances of remaining a viable candidate will shrink even further.