Just hours after President Donald Trump altered his position in South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial contest, GOP operatives across the Palmetto State were already predicting that Attorney General Alan Wilson would not only win Tuesday's runoff election but do so decisively.

After backing Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette ahead of the May primary, Trump announced Friday evening that he would issue a dual endorsement in Tuesday's runoff, throwing his support behind both Evette and Wilson.

"There are two Highly Respected Candidates running to be your next Governor in the June 23 Republican Runoff Election, your current Lieutenant Governor Pam Evette and your current Attorney General Alan Wilson," Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

"Both have had amazing careers and have been with me from the beginning. ... These were the two I was hoping would get into a Runoff, and they did."

Trump concluded by declaring: "I am therefore endorsing both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson! It's a Wealth of Riches — With either one you can't go wrong. Vote for Pam or Alan — They will not let you down!"

Several prominent South Carolina Republicans, speaking to Newsmax on background, suggested Trump's shift reflected disappointment with Evette's surprisingly weak first-place finish in the primary. 

Several polls since the primary election indicated Wilson will not only win the runoff but in a landslide.

Although she led the field, Evette managed only 29% of the primary day vote, compared with Wilson's 26%, and appeared headed toward a difficult runoff.

Sources also noted that Trump had been reminded of Wilson's loyalty to him after the 2016 Republican primary cycle. 

While Wilson initially supported Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, he joined the Trump camp after Cruz exited the race.

Cruz bucked Trump's endorsement of Evette and came out strongly behind Wilson.

One GOP strategist said Trump's political team feared Cruz would score a win with his endorsement of Wilson.

Meanwhile, momentum in the governor's race has increasingly shifted toward the attorney general. 

Two former primary rivals, Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, quickly endorsed Wilson after being eliminated from the race. 

A survey conducted last week by NPA Polling showed Wilson leading Evette 52% to 36% among likely runoff voters.

Rumors of a forthcoming "dual endorsement" had circulated for days. 

Now that it has come to pass, Republicans interviewed by Newsmax believe Trump's move will effectively clear the path to a landslide victory on Tuesday — a result that, in heavily Republican South Carolina, would make Wilson the overwhelming favorite to be elected governor in November.

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.