In the upcoming nonbinding Republican primary in Nevada, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is poised to face a significant setback, as CNN projects her defeat to the option of “none of these candidates.” This defeat is particularly embarrassing given the absence of former President Donald Trump from the ballot.
The projected outcome seems to mirror the preference of many GOP voters for Trump, especially in a state where they have the unique opportunity to express dissatisfaction with all listed candidates.
Campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas, responding to the projection, remarked, “Even Donald Trump acknowledges that in the realm of penny slots, the house prevails. We opted not to engage in a game skewed in favor of Trump. Our focus remains steadfast on South Carolina and beyond,” as conveyed in a statement to CNN. Haley is anticipated to secure the second-highest number of votes in the primary.
The Republican primary in Nevada carries limited significance, as state Republicans have chosen to allocate their delegates through party-run caucuses, expected to be dominated by Trump on Thursday. Participants in the primary, including Haley, are ineligible for the caucuses, resulting in minimal competition for Trump.
Nevertheless, the outcome is a noteworthy setback for Haley, who aims to demonstrate her continued viability to Republican donors and voters, leading up to her pivotal showdown with Trump in the South Carolina primary on February 24.
Shifting focus to the Democratic landscape in Nevada, President Joe Biden is forecasted to emerge victorious in the state’s presidential primary, accruing delegates in this early contest as he advances towards securing his party’s 2024 nomination.
For Biden, the Silver State primary on Tuesday follows his recent triumph in the South Carolina primary, marking his first official victory in the 2024 nominating race. Nevada’s first-in-the-West contest now occupies the second slot on the Democratic calendar, a strategic adjustment intended to ensure a diverse electorate plays a prominent role at the onset of the Democratic presidential nominating process.
In a statement on Tuesday night, Biden expressed gratitude, saying, “Nevada Democrats represent the backbone of our nation: the union workers who constructed the middle class, immigrants seeking opportunity, and families of all stripes deserving dignity, personal freedom, and a fair shot at the American dream. Tonight they demonstrated our collective belief in an America where everyone is treated with honesty, decency, dignity, and respect. Where no one is left behind. I am profoundly thankful for their support.”
The Democratic primary ballot featured Biden facing nominal opposition from a dozen candidates, including author Marianne Williamson. Notably absent from the ballot is Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, the president’s other well-known Democratic challenger, who entered the race after the state’s October 16 filing deadline.
Biden spent Sunday in Las Vegas, addressing a rally crowd with the declaration that they will “render Donald Trump a loser once again.”