Trump wins South Carolina in race for Republican nomination

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy emerged as the favorites for Trump's vice presidential nomination, according to a poll of activists at the conservative convention. Each of them received 15 percent support.

Haley, whose foreign policy credentials are central to her campaign, has focused in recent days on Trump's stance toward Russia following the death of Alexei Navalny, the main opposition leader there.

He criticized Trump for waiting several days before commenting on Navalny's death and then failing to blame Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also condemned Trump's recent comments that he would not protect NATO allies from Russian attack if he felt they did not spend enough on defense.

Haley had hoped that South Carolina's “open” primary, which allows registered voters to vote, would boost turnout among independents and even some Democrats who are determined to stop Trump.

But data from the Edison exit poll showed that only 21 percent of voters considered themselves moderate or libertarian, which is slightly more than the 19 percent who said the same in the party's 2016 primaries.

Kelly Poindexter, a Democrat and transcriptionist who lives in Columbia, voted for Haley “just, maybe, to cancel out one of Donald Trump's votes.”

“I think he's dangerous,” Poindexter said. “I think she's a threat. And if the Democrats come out and vote for Nikki, it takes a vote away from them.”

But Kevin Marsh, a 59-year-old Republican and truck driver who lives in Columbia, said he voted for Trump on Saturday because he has more confidence in him than Haley.

“He's more globalist and I can't support that,” Marsh said.

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