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(NewsNation) — Donald Trump cruised to victory in South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary Saturday, moving one step closer to the GOP nomination and a rematch with President Joe Biden.
“I have never seen the Republican party so unified as it is right now,” Trump said before a cheering crowd of supporters Saturday evening.
In his victory speech, the former president took the opportunity to emphasize his top priority: securing the U.S.-Mexico border.
“No country could sustain what’s happening to the United States of America,” he said of the surge of migrants entering the country, vowing to “straighten things out” and “fire” President Joe Biden in November.
The former president has now won every contest where Republican delegates have been up for grabs. Trump held a commanding 30-point polling lead over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley heading into the night and the race was called shortly after polls closed.
However, the final result appears likely to be closer than recent polling suggested.
As of Saturday night, Trump had earned 60% of the vote to Haley’s 39%, with 90% of counties reporting, according to Decision Desk HQ.
“This is not a gigantic victory,” said NewsNation’s senior political contributor George Will. “A gigantic victory would have knocked [Haley] out.”
Despite losing in her home state, Haley doubled down on her promise to remain in the race during a speech to supporters.
“I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” she said, adding that she doesn’t think Trump can beat Biden.
The Palmetto State’s two GOP senators, Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham, took the stage with Trump. Scott, who ended his White House bid in November, is rumored to be a potential Trump running mate.
Historically, South Carolina’s primary has been a reliable predictor of the eventual GOP nominee. In all but one primary since 1980, the Republican winner in the state has gone on to earn the party’s nomination.
That’s bad news for Haley, who was banking on a momentum-shifting performance to close the gap on Trump, who had already picked up wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.
Now, a Biden-Trump rematch looks increasingly inevitable.
Saturday’s result comes a few weeks after President Joe Biden cruised to victory in South Carolina’s Democratic primary. As of now, the president doesn’t have a serious challenger in his party.
Several recent polls have shown Trump leading Biden in key battleground states.
Haley and Trump now head to Michigan for the last major primary contest before Super Tuesday on March 5 when roughly one-third of Republican delegates are up for grabs.