GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Republicans across America are picking former President Donald Trump to lead them.
March 2 marked another series of electoral wins for President Trump in his quest to secure the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Some dramatically illustrated just how popular he is with both the base and with Republican caucus-goers, people at the junction between the grassroots and the establishment.
He triumphed in Missouri, Michigan, and Idaho, capturing all the delegates at stake that day and setting the stage for more key races in the days to come on Super Tuesday.
As President Trump’s lead grows, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is facing tougher delegate math than ever—though one ongoing contest could work out in her favor.
‘Show Me State’ Shows Trump Deep Loyalty
President Trump won Missouri’s Republican caucus, held in Clay County, with 100 percent of the vote in all 114 of the state’s counties.
The Associated Press called the race for President Trump at 12:40 p.m. ET with only 5 percent of the total having been counted.
That means all 51 bound delegates from the state to the Republican National Convention (RNC) will go to him.
“THANK YOU, MISSOURI,” President Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Missouri Republicans have spoken loud and clear today, affirming their trust in President Trump’s leadership,” said Missouri Republican Party Chairman Nick Myers in a release on the outcome.
In Missouri as elsewhere, major Republican politicians have thrown in with the all-but-presumptive nominee. That includes Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), who, almost two years after President Trump endorsed “Eric” in his race against Eric Greitens, spoke on the president’s behalf on March 2.
Warring Michigan Republicans Come Together for Trump
Elsewhere in the Great Midwest, Michigan’s Republican Party has been riven by conflict over who’s in charge.
The main convention in Grand Rapids, led by party chair Pete Hoekstra, nearly faced competition from a rival Detroit event headed by Kristina Karamo, who has contended that her removal as party chair in a January vote was improper.
Yet, a judge recently ruled in favor of Mr. Hoekstra, the man endorsed by President Trump, and Ms. Karamo canceled that planned convention. Other splinter events in the state received comparatively little attention as March 2 wore on.
The big story was another extremely strong showing for President Trump in all thirteen districts at stake in Grand Rapids.
By roughly 3 p.m. ET, the unofficial tally showed him way ahead of Ms. Haley in every single one, with 100 percent of the vote in a few. That included District 9, which had a protracted meeting marked by conflict against the backdrop of the state GOP leadership battle.
Once certified, the results should mean all remaining 39 Michigan delegates go to President Trump. Twelve of 16 delegates at stake in Michigan’s primary late last month went to him, while the remainder went to Ms. Haley.
“We need to come together or we’re not going to win,” David Schell, a Republican belonging to the North Oakland Republican Club, told The Epoch Times.
A Strong MAGA Signal from Idaho
President Trump’s third big win of the day came from the Mountain West.
He repeated a 2020 feat by winning Idaho’s Republican presidential caucus, held in lieu of its primary after lawmakers canceled that event without rescheduling it.
The Associated Press’s projection came in just before 7 p.m. ET, soon after the president took the stage at a rally in Richmond, Virginia.
With 77 percent of the vote counted, almost 85 percent of Republican voters chose President Trump, while 13.5 percent chose Ms. Haley. All 32 of the state’s delegates to the RNC must go to President Trump.
Notably, President Trump’s March 2 caucus wins have been substantially bigger than his victories in Michigan, South Carolina, and New Hampshire, where he triumphed in more open primaries that throw up fewer obstacles to crossover voting by Democrats or liberal-leaning independents.
DC and North Dakota
Ms. Haley might have an easier time in Washington, D.C.’s Republican primary, which began on March 1 and lasts until the evening of March 3.
The former United Nations ambassador came to the heavily Democratic city to speak on March 1, holding an event at the Madison Hotel, the sole location where would-be primary voters can cast their ballots. Her appearances drew listeners from nearby states.
After the District of Columbia’s primary is finished, the local GOP will dole out its 19 delegates on a proportional basis.
The contest is also closed. Only individuals who registered as Republicans by Feb. 16, 2024 can participate.
Another coming contest, North Dakota’s March 4 Republican primary, may be less fertile ground for Ms. Haley, if the results out of Idaho, Missouri, and Michigan are any indication.
Both of the state’s Republican senators, Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, have endorsed President Trump.
Super Tuesday Looms
The last few days have been merely the appetizer before the main course: Super Tuesday, which may be Ms. Haley’s last stand against the former president.
Republican caucuses and primaries will take place that day in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Democrats will hold contests in all those states except Alaska as well as in American Samoa. In addition, the results of Iowa’s mail-in presidential primary, which started in January, will finally be tallied.
Out of the 2,429 Republican delegates to the RNC, 854 will be decided on Super Tuesday—about 35 percent. A roughly comparable percentage of Democratic delegates will be awarded based on the results that day as well.
While President Trump cannot secure a majority of delegates on Super Tuesday, he could rack up an even more commanding lead over Ms. Haley, particularly in the many states that are winner-take-all, either for any winning result or above a certain threshold. With those factors in mind, the map looks good for President Trump, and he looks set to become presumptive nominee later this month.
From The Epoch Times
