Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital ahead of Tuesday’s South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary that President endorsement has done little to boost her opponent’s standing with conservative voters, arguing that many grassroots Republicans are “very upset” with the decision.
“It’s not going over well for her with the grassroots, which is why she didn’t get much of a bump,“ Mace said. “She got maybe a five point bump â not much.”
“And she’s going to be in a runoff and I think at that point all bets are off.”
Mace was referring to South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, whom Trump endorsed last week, as Mace and Trump have publicly broken in recent months.
“Its a dog fight,” Mace said. “Were in it and Im gonna fight to the death.”
Mace shared that she wasnt shocked when Trump chose not to endorse her because of her vote in Congress to push for the release of files related to convicted sex offender .
“I knew it was on the line when I voted to release the Epstein files, and I’m a survivor,” Mace said. “If the price to pay for an endorsement was to not release those files, I would never pay it.”
Mace was one of four Republicans to sign a petition last year to force a vote in the House on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation that urged the Department of Justice to publish all its information on its probe into Epstein and his associate â millions of documents.
Trumps endorsement in the was also in favor of South Carolinas current term-limited governor, Henry McMaster, who has also endorsed Evette as his potential successor. Trump wrote that he expected Evette would choose the current governors son, Henry McMaster Jr., as her lieutenant governor.
“Pam Evette is a good friend, fighter, and WINNER, and will be a terrific Governor of South Carolina,” the president posted. “Pam has my Complete and Total Endorsement â SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Trump’s endorsement came days before the June 9 primary and as was getting underway in South Carolina.
Tuesdays crowded Republican primary field includes Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., businessman Rom Reddy and Mace. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff â a situation Mace predicted could reshape the race despite Trump’s backing of Evette.
“I disagree with this endorsement,” Mace said. “And I’m going to vote for myself. I’m asking voters in South Carolina to vote for me as well on Tuesday.“
