NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Inside of the Charleston Area Convention Center, the Nikki Haley campaign packed a ballroom. In the hallway, the campaign had a merchandise stand and volunteers with clipboards looking to recruit additional people to help Haley’s presidential efforts.
Outside of the building, supporters of former President Donald Trump waived flags and signs to greet Haley supporters as they entered.
The Haley rally capped off the first day of month-long campaign ahead of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, which could ultimately launch a candidate to the nomination.
Trump’s victory in New Hampshire and former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s decision to stay in the race sets up more than 30 days of intense campaigning and one-on-one match-up for South Carolina Republicans.
It’s also a dynamic of the former ambassador to the United Nations directly taking on her former boss in a state where a favorite daughter is competing against a widely-popular former president.
During the next month, expect the state to be flooded with television ads, emails, door knockers and radio advertisements, and potentially a mudslinging fight.
Also it’s a race where the Republican establishment is rallying around the former president creating an underdog dynamic for someone who’s ability to win statewide was previously doubted.
Winning the S.C. GOP primary is key. Since 1980, the winner of the South Carolina primary has gone on to win the Republican Party’s presidential nomination every time except for 2012.
The primary can serve as a graveyard for many presidential campaigns and a booster rocket for others, SC GOP Chairman Drew McKissick said.
And by Feb. 24 is done, with interest and attention at high levels, the primary could draw 1 million voters, McKissick said.
“What we can expect is a memorable, hard fought campaign between two people who know each other well and more importantly are also well known to the…
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