But his overwhelming victory on Saturday in South Carolina, where he defeated Nikki Haley in her home state, makes it all but official.
The Republican nominating contest isn’t a competition.
The stakes were extraordinarily high: Many of his Republican opponents see Mr. Trump as, at best, unelectable and, at worst, a threat to the foundations of American democracy.
And yet, as the campaign has moved through the first nominating contests, the race has not revealed Mr. Trump’s weaknesses, but instead the enduring nature of his ironclad grip on the Republican Party.
“I think the party will be done with Trump when Trump is done with the party,” said David Kochel, a longtime Republican strategist who is opposed to Mr. Trump.
Persons:
Donald J, Trump, Nikki Haley, It’s, ”, David Kochel, “
Organizations:
Republican, Republican Party, Capitol, Trump, Mr
Locations:
Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire, New York City