Nikki Haley to drop out, guaranteeing Donald Trump the Republican nomination

On Wednesday morning, US time, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ms Haley, a former United Nations ambassador and governor of South Carolina, would be ending her campaign.

She’s expected to make a formal announcement on Wednesday.

The newspaper said she was not planning to endorse Mr Trump for the presidency.

“She will encourage Donald Trump, who is close to having the delegates needed to win the Republican nomination, to earn the support of Republican and independent voters who backed her,” The Journal reported.

“She is expected to emphasise that she will continue to advocate for the domestic and foreign policies she supports, and caution against some of the dangers, such as isolationism and a lack of fiscal discipline, that she sees coming from Washington.”

Ms Haley was easily swept aside by Mr Trump in Tuesday’s procession of presidential primaries, winning just one of the 15 states on offer, Vermont.

As things stand, Mr Trump has earned 995 of the 1215 delegates he needs to secure the nomination, with Ms Haley trailing miles behind, with just 89.

“As she exits the race, it is hard to know whether Haley is part of the party’s future or a last gasp of more traditional Republicanism that favours a hawkish foreign policy, fiscal discipline and limited government,” The Journal said in its report.

“The 52-year-old could still have a future in presidential politics, but her sharp criticism of Trump in the final two months of her campaign will likely make that challenging while he still has a hold on the party.”

President Joe Biden, who defeated Mr Trump in 2020’s general election, is trailing him in the polls this time around. His re-election campaign released a statement after the Super Tuesday results warning of Mr Trump’s “dangerous” candidacy.

“The results of last night’s Super Tuesday contests cemented what we have known for some time now: Donald Trump limps into the general election as a wounded, dangerous and unpopular candidate,” said the Biden campaign.

“The Republican nominee is cash-strapped, beleaguered by a host of external issues, and is running on an extreme agenda that is already proving to be a significant liability for key voting blocs that are critical to the pathway to 270 electoral votes.”

Mr Biden, who faces no meaningful opposition for the Democratic nomination, is due to deliver his annual State of the Union speech later this week.

“Building off of last night’s momentum, tomorrow evening’s State of the Union address will provide the American people with the latest example of the stark choice they will be confronted with in November between President Biden, who remains laser-focused on delivering for the American people while running on a historically popular record of accomplishment, and Donald Trump, whose failed record and dark vision for this country is as dangerous as it is unpopular with the voters who will decide this election,” said the campaign.

“The road to victory is about earning, not just asking for, the American people’s support. That means putting in the work in every community, meeting voters where they are about the stakes of this election, and investing everywhere.

“We are confident that the President and Vice President’s vision for unity, freedom, and progress will again defeat Donald Trump’s extremist, dangerous agenda this November.”