Analysis-Trump struggles to unify Republicans ahead of matchup with Biden
By James Oliphant and Nathan Layne
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Far from uniting the Republican Party as he claims he has, Donald Trump has been unable to win over a substantial bloc of voters he may need if he is to take back the White House in a repeat election match-up against President Joe Biden.
After winning South Carolina’s Republican primary vote on Saturday, Trump is firmly on track to secure the party’s nomination in the coming weeks.
But rival Nikki Haley’s better-than-expected showing in South Carolina exposed weaknesses on Trump’s flank, particularly among more traditional Republicans and moderate voters.
Some experts say those voters are more likely to be alienated by Trump's hardline policies on immigration and other issues and his racist rhetoric. The possibility of Trump being convicted on some of the numerous state and federal charges he faces may also deter some of those voters.
Trump has recently described migrants as «poisoning the blood» of the country. Over the weekend, he claimed at an event that Black voters like him because of his multiple indictments, comments that triggered a swift backlash.
Haley won about 40% support in South Carolina after taking about 43% of the vote last month in the New Hampshire primary. In both cases, she was bolstered by independents and some Democrats who took part in the primary to back her over Trump.
Haley insists she will fight on and argues that a large swath of Republicans continue to reject Trump.
“There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative,” she wrote in a fundraising pitch to supporters on Sunday.
Haley says she will stay in the race through «Super Tuesday» on March 5, when 15 states and one U.S.
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