US election 2024: 6 key takeaways from Nevada and Virgin Islands caucuses
What the Nevada and Virgin Islands caucuses indicate: Key takeways
The state caucuses and primaries ahead of the 2024 presidential election have started to clearly indicate who will face off in the final showdown in November to enter the White House as the 47th President of the United States. Former President Donald Trump is leading the GOP primary, competing with his only in-party opponent, Nikki Haley. On the other hand, President Joe Biden is seeking a re-election bid and runs without firm opposition from his party. As the upcoming presidential election is crucial to both Biden and Trump, let us delve into six takeaways from the latest caucuses in Nevada and the Virgin Islands.
1. Trump closes in on GOP nomination
Decisive victories in Nevada and the Virgin Islands have put Trump on a winning streak after Iowa and New Hampshire. The former President is projected to win all four delegates from the Virgin Islands, along with 26 delegates from the Silver State. He needs to secure 1,215 to become the GOP nominee. His continuous decisive victories likely ensure the possibility of grabbing the party nomination for a third time.
2. Trump set to meet turnout expectations in Nevada
Nevada interestingly had both caucus and primary for the GOP. Trump chose the former, whereas Haley decided to run in the primary. According to Decision Desk HQ, around 37,000 people turned out to vote for the ex-President, with 63% reporting. Nevada's Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony said on X that the caucuses had a "massive turnout". The numbers will effectively make Trump outpace the "none" option, which his GOP opponent could not achieve. The Associated Press projected around 60,000 people backing the Republican frontrunner.
3. Special counsel report overshadows Biden's Nevada win
Followed by the landslide victory in South Carolina, sitting president Biden won the Nevada Democratic primary on February 6, securing nearly 90% votes. However, his win was largely overshadowed by a special counsel report. DOJ's Robert Hur, on February 8, released a 388-page report on Biden withholding classified documents. But it made headlines for labeling Biden, 81, as an "elderly man with a poor memory". The bombshell report raised concerns regarding the incumbent's cognitive fitness and memory, questioning his ability to perform presidential responsibilities.
4. A highly likely Biden-Trump rematch
Nevada and Virgin Islands caucuses have dispelled all doubts regarding the possibility of a Biden-Trump rematch in November. The incumbent and his predecessor have been the clear frontrunners in their respective party primaries right from the beginning. Haley no longer poses any competition to the former President, whereas Biden hardly had any in-party solid competition from the outset. However, both candidates have their own personal hurdles to overcome. Trump grapples with numerous legal issues, including ongoing hearings on his eligibility to hold office due to the alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Meanwhile, Biden must demonstrate fitness for a second term
5. Nikki Haley downplays Trump's decisive victory in Nevada
Haley, who chose to run in the Nevada primary instead of the caucus, refused to admit Trump's victory in the Silver State. Instead, the former UN ambassador claimed she "didn't bother to play a game rigged for Trump". Additionally, she chose not to campaign in Nevada, where primary candidates could not get any of the delegates. Instead, she stepped up campaigns in her home state, South Carolina, where the former President shows a clear lead.
6. Nikki Haley's campaign struggles to survive
Despite being the only candidate, Haley had an embarrassing defeat in the Nevada primary. Shockingly, the ballot option for "none of these candidates" outvoted the former South Carolina Governor. Her decision to continue in the race after losing in the Granite State so far has not reflected positively in her presidential bid. The former UN Ambassador has failed to gain momentum ahead of the February 24 primary in South Carolina after Nevada's loss.
