Nikki Haley has said she plans to remain in the presidential race at least until Super Tuesday, but most media outlets now believe the primary is over.
Donald Trump’s media critics are finding new avenues of attack, but there’s no denying that his landslide wins in Iowa and New Hampshire effectively put him in a headlock on the nomination.
But the biggest obstacle in her path is her own hometown.
She vows to stay in race as Trump handily defeats Haley in New Hampshire
Why is the two-term former governor trailing Trump by 20 to 30 points?
Trump’s enormous power seems unstoppable. This Saturday’s Democratic primary in South Carolina (bold prediction: Joe Biden wins) will likely turn potential party-switchers away from the Republican race.
And the Republican Party transformed by Trump is far more conservative in her state than it was when Haley left office in 2017.
Even Haley, Trump’s former ambassador to the United Nations, does not predict victory. She says she just needs to do better than the 43 percent she got in New Hampshire’s open primary. That’s a tall order.
Former United Nations Ambassador and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley during a campaign event in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, Tuesday, January 16, 2024. (Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
But a South Carolina study by two military veterans says there’s an even more serious reality hurting Haley. new york times reporter. All of this has come to light during her time as governor, but is new to her national audience.
According to the article, there is a reason why her lieutenant governor, Governor Henry McMaster, supported Trump. And Tim Scott, the House backbencher she chose for the Senate, supported Trump. And Congresswoman Nancy Mace, whose career was in jeopardy in 2022 until Haley endorsed her, also supported Trump.
Haley said last week that South Carolina lawmakers “have no love for me” as they tried to increase transparency in state government and veto a pork barrel project.
Chip Feichel, a longtime Republican consultant, told the paper: “She was great at economic development, but she was bad at developing relationships. She forgot who got her here. “It was,” he said.
New Hampshire Showdown: Why Trump Connects with Voters But Haley and Desantis Don’t
Perhaps the classic case involves former Gov. Mark Sanford, whose term was ruined by an affair on the “Appalachian Trail,” and he paid $400,000 in advertising to rescue his campaign. agreed to the request.
“And she cut me off,” Sanford told Politico. “This is systematic in Nicki’s case. She discards people who have contributed to her own success. It’s like there’s some weird psychological thing that she needs to pretend she’s self-made. It seems like there is.”
ah.
There is another way to look at this. “Haley and her supporters attribute the hard feelings Haley left in her wake to jealousy, sexism, and a sense that young women of color simply weren’t waiting their turn.” ing.”
Republican presidential candidate and former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley speaks after the results of the New Hampshire primary are released at a watch party in Concord, New Hampshire on January 23, 2024. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)
But clearly, the accumulation of complaints reflects a pattern of burning bridges and alienating allies, even if it paints her as a fighter.
Haley has become increasingly vocal about the former president, regularly calling him “unstable,” and continuing to attack him.
On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” host Kristen Welker asked if the $83 million judgment in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case was “disqualifying,” and Haley responded that procedural terms He answered as follows:
“I have absolute confidence in the jury, and I think they made a decision based on the evidence. I don’t think they should vote him out because of that.”
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks at an election town hall in Rye, New Hampshire, on January 2, 2024. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
On his third attempt, Mr. Welker asked, “Why give him a pass on this matter where the jury found him responsible for sexual abuse?”
“I’m not condoning him for anything,” Haley said, before turning the conversation to President Trump’s alleged decline at 77 years old. Everyone supports the jury. What she did not do was address the nature of the accusations, which President Trump continues to vehemently deny.
Mr. Welker continued, “He mocked your real name. He suggested that you were not qualified to be president because your parents were not born here. Of course you are qualified. You. was born here…what do you think of him?” Would you reinstate this birther strategy against you? Do you think it could work in South Carolina and gain support from voters?”
“Honestly, Kristen, every time I see his tweets, every time I see him throw a tantrum, I laugh because I know Donald Trump very well. When I feel that, I start cursing. I use abusive language.” She completely dodged the question.
Mr. Welker again: “Ambassador, would you go so far as to call these attacks racist?”
“I think that’s for other people to decide.”
Haley clearly made a calculated decision not to criticize Trump too harshly on personal issues. She definitely believes it could turn off MAGA voters who might defect to her. But with less than a month left until her home state’s primary, her strategy of not offending anyone isn’t working.
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footnote: Haley admitted that her home was bugged (with a fake emergency call) while she was not home, as previously reported. However, she revealed that she and her husband Michael are separated due to military service, adding: “I’m taking care of my parents. They’re 87 and 90 years old…and my parents were at home with a caregiver. So I’d like to say one last thing to you.”
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This is outrageous and unacceptable. Federal authorities need to step up their efforts to pursue those who make these reckless calls and ensure they receive significant prison sentences.
