The biggest prize on Super Tuesday will be delegate-rich California, and a move by the state GOP seven months ago all but guaranteed that former President Donald Trump would take all 169.
If he If the former president simply wins a majority of voters, he will win the entire pot, after the state party backed a pro-MAGA winner-take-all measure.
That will most likely give Trump an insurmountable lead come Wednesday morning, when all Super Tuesday races conclude, although he still won’t be able to surpass the finish line of 1,215 delegates.
Final polls in the state showed Trump with the support of 75.6 percent of California Republicans and his rival Nikki Haley with just 18.4 percent, and Haley spent just one day campaigning in the Golden State.
Voters in Huntington Beach, a city in California’s most conservative Orange County, reflected that result when discussing their presidential preference with DailyMail.com.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump participated in a primary election MAGA Cruise rally from the Trump National Gold Club in Rancho Palos Verdes to Huntington Beach on Sunday. Voters in the area overwhelmingly supported the former president in the Republican Party primaries.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley spent a day campaigning in California last month. Final polls in her state showed her trailing Trump by 57.2 points.
Virginia Fisher, a 73-year-old dental hygienist from Huntington Beach, said during early voting Monday that she supported Trump and Republican Senate candidate Steve Garvey.
“I voted for him twice before and I think he did a lot of good things for us and I feel like it’s all gone to hell,” she said. “And we have to get it back on track.”
Casting a vote for Haley was never a consideration.
“No,” Fisher said. “I just think she’s not as conservative as I’m looking for,” the California Republican explained.
Retiree Bridget Hawley, 80, of Huntington Beach, echoed the sentiment.
He said he chose Trump “because he’s the only one who has done anything for this country.”
Haley was never an option either.
At Huntington Beach’s Main Street library, all but one Republican voter said they had chosen former President Donald Trump over rival Nikki Haley.
Retiree Jodi Thien, 68, was the one who supported Haley’s Huntington Beach Republican DailyMail.com spoke to.
‘No. I never considered it, I don’t really care. But that has nothing to do with it,” she stated. ‘I don’t care about his politics. I don’t care if I like the person or not, if the politics are good, it doesn’t matter.’
Married couple Michael, 32, and Allyssa Mesbah, 29, chose Trump, but said they would vote for Haley in the general election if she miraculously became the nominee.
“I think he’s the undisputed leader of the party right now. Obviously, at this point the race has come down to him and Nikki Haley. “I think Nikki Haley is fine, but I wouldn’t mind seeing another four years of Donald Trump,” said Michael, who works in advertising.
His wife, a dancer, agreed.
‘I’d say I’m on the same page. Four years ago I feel like we were in a better place as a country and I’d like to get back to that instead of where we are now,” she said.
During Election Day voting, all but one Huntington Beach Republican said they were there to support Trump.
Businessman Robb Segal, 69, said he chose Trump and Garvey.
“Donald Trump is going to get this country back on track and Steve Garvey is going to help him,” Segal said.
Segal cringed when Haley’s name came up.
“I don’t like her,” he said.
Segal said she felt Haley didn’t sufficiently express what she wanted to do as president.
“But she’s always criticizing Donald Trump,” he said.
Larry, a 78-year-old voter who declined to give his last name, said he previously backed Democrats electing Trump on Tuesday.
“It’s rude but it’s good for the country,” he said.
He had considered choosing Haley, but said he decided on Trump because “he’s the leader right now.” “I don’t want to divide the vote.”
Retiree Jodi Thien, 68, was the one Huntington Beach DailyMail.com voter backing Haley spoke to.
“Because I feel like she’s more… not as divisive as Donald Trump.” And I think our country needs to come together and not be so far apart,” she stated.
Thien voted for Trump in the last two elections and said he would not cross party lines to vote for President Joe Biden, leaving him few options in the likely event of a Trump-Biden rematch.
“I hope we have another option,” he said with a laugh when asked about his plans for November.