Trump maintains grip on GOP nod with victory in North Dakota caucuses

Former President Donald Trump inched closer to becoming the Republican nominee for president with another primary victory Monday, this time with a win in the North Dakota caucuses.

Trump won North Dakota's caucuses, finishing first in voting conducted at 12 caucus sites, according to an Associated Press call of the race shortly after polls closed Sunday, earning the former president 29 delegates. 

The win continues Trump's dominant streak in this year's GOP primary races, marking the 9th win in 10 tries for the former president as he closes in on representing the Republican Party for a third time. 

The only contest Trump has lost so far was last weekend's primary in Washington D.C.

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The win comes as Trump's campaign has largely shifted its attention to the general election and an all-but-certain rematch of 2020's matchup against President Biden, with the Trump campaign telling Fox News Digital before this week's slate of contests that the primary race is "over."

"Republican voters have delivered resounding wins for President Trump in every single primary contest and this race is over," a spokesperson for the campaign said. "Our focus is now on Joe Biden and the general election."

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The former president already had a commanding lead heading into this week, holding ten times as many delegates as Haley before earning 29 in Monday's North Dakota win.

The loss marked another blow to Haley's campaign, though the former South Carolina governor has vowed to stay in the race as long as there is a path to victory.

That path will likely have to start appearing on Super Tuesday, where voters in 15 more states will head to the polls to determine who gets a share of 865 total delegates. While neither candidate can reach the needed 1,215 delegates to secure the nomination this week, continued dominance by Trump would give Haley a near impossible uphill climb. 

For its part, the Haley Campaign has invested heavily in a Super Tuesday turnaround, announcing a seven-figure ad buy earlier this month meant to target many of the states on the Tuesday slate.