COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Donald Trump graced college football rivalry weekend to revel in the adoration of his supporters in a state and region crucial to his presidential prospects. It was also an opportunity for him to upstage his Republican opponent Nikki Haley on her home turf at the Clemson-South Carolina football game.
The prevailing atmosphere in Columbia’s Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night was filled with chants of “We want Trump! We want Trump!” from fans gathered for the annual Palmetto Bowl, the state’s biggest sporting event of the year, while Haley, a Clemson alumna and trustee who was twice elected South Carolina Governor, was conspicuously absent.
Trump, who is currently the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, was a guest of Gov. Henry McMaster, Haley’s successor. The entourage, including South Carolina’s senior U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, aimed to exhibit local political force at a game featuring Haley’s alma mater.
McMaster stepped into the governor’s office in 2017 when Trump appointed Haley as the United Nations ambassador. Graham and Haley were close allies over the years; now both back Trump, who enjoys a substantial lead in polling among Republican primary voters at both a national and state level.
At halftime, Trump, accompanied by McMaster, made a grand appearance at the field, drawing a mix of cheers and boos as they toured around the stadium and posed for photos. ESPN’s broadcast on the SEC Network featured the former president sitting with McMaster during the game.
Earlier, Trump’s campaign announced that he had secured more endorsements from South Carolina legislators than all opposing candidates combined, a show of formidable political strength in the state where he’s trying to dominate. This was highlighted by the aggressive display of more than a half-dozen electronic billboards around Columbia, with messages noting Trump’s 2020 election loss, and his legal cases against it.
There was also the presence of vendors hawking Trump-related merchandise and fans rallying with a “Let’s Go Brandon!” chant — a thinly veiled insult directed at President Joe Biden.
In response to the approaching primary battle, Haley’s spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas expressed her momentum and resilience as a candidate, all part of her upholding her reputation for overcoming odds.
Drawing from his previous interactions, Trump promised a full win in South Carolina, noting the significant delegate lead he built here from his victories in 2016, setting the tone for his current dominance among Republican primary voters.
Trump’s sports cameo at college football games adds an intrinsic layer of sentimentality to his political presence not shared in other arenas, such as when he attended the Iowa State-Iowa game in Ames, Iowa, earlier this fall. In this, he struck a pose both aspirational and politically relevant, demonstrating his multifaceted public persona.
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Barrow reported from Atlanta.
