South Carolina 2024 Republican primary: Trump aims for victory despite former governor Haley’s stand – live updates

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks to reporters after voting in the South Carolina Republican primary on 24 February

LIVE – Updated at 23:51

Polls close at 7pm ET in South Carolina, where Donald Trump is expected to notch another primary victory despite Nikki Haley’s home-state advantage.

23:51Lauren Gambino

Greeting from Nikki Haley’s primary night event in Charleston, which is being held in the chandelier ballroom of a luxury downtown hotel.

Supporters have adopted Haley’s “happy warrior” mentality. Her team is still selling “barred permanently” shirts and “women for Haley” pins in the lobby – a sign of the steady stream of donations that is sustaining her longshot campaign.

Inside, Fox News is on the big screens with the volume on loud. The network just interviewed Trumpworld spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt from the former president’s campaign night event in Columbia. In the interview, which blared across the ballroom, Leavitt derided Haley as “delusion.” Shortly after the interview aired, the Haley campaign muted the TV and turned on the music.

23:41Joan E Greve

Vincent DiMauro, 80, cast a ballot for Nikki Haley this afternoon at the main branch of the Charleston county public library because he believes Donald Trump represents a threat to the nation.

“I want to see the country survive, and I don’t think it will under Trump,” DiMauro said. “He’s totally out of control. He has no respect for other human beings.”

While acknowledging that he did not agree with Haley on every single issue, DiMauro said he would absolutely support her over 81-year-old Joe Biden.

“I’m 80. I can’t be president. I know what my limitations are,” DiMauro said. “He’s just not mentally or physically capable of performing the job as it should be over the next four years.”

23:35

Voting began at 7am in South Carolina, and is set to wrap up in less than 30 minutes. Here are some scenes from across the state today as Republican voters cast ballots:

Trump aims for victory in South Carolina primary as former governor Haley makes stand

23:24

Good evening, US politics blog readers. Donald Trump is likely about an hour away from notching another win in his quest to clinch the Republican presidential nomination, this time in South Carolina, where voters have spent the day casting ballots in the GOP primary. Polls close at 7pm ET in the Palmetto State, which is, of course, the home of Nikki Haley, the former governor who is Trump’s last remaining major rival for the GOP nomination. She may have roots in the state, but surveys have repeatedly shown Trump with a major lead over Haley, who has yet to win a single state in the nomination process thus far, but insists she will not quit her campaign. Surprise are always possible, and we’ll find out soon if any are in store for tonight.

Here’s what else we’re looking for from South Carolina’s Republican primary:

How much support will either candidate receive? While Haley insists she does not plan to quit, a terrible showing will nonetheless up pressure on her to exit the race.

What do exit polls tell us about Haley’s base of support? There are signs from previous states like New Hampshire that Haley’s voters are more moderate than Trump. Should he win the nomination, its unclear if they will come out for the former president in swing states where their votes matter most.

What more will Trump say, should he win? He already made headlines earlier today, when he vowed his election would be “judgment day” for his enemies.