Nikki Haley is enjoying a surge in small-scale grassroots fundraising.
But after an 11-point loss to former President Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primary, which political observers saw as the best move to slow Trump's bid for the Republican nomination. , liberal mega-donor and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman appears to be one of them. The first wealthy donors are clearly headed for the exit.
A top adviser to the megadonor told Fox News that “new potential paths to victory” need to emerge before sending more donations to Haley.
In the 24 hours since his runner-up victory over Trump in New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary on Tuesday, the former two-term South Carolina governor and later U.N. ambassador in the Trump administration. Raised $1 million in grassroots online donations.
As Fox News first reported on Thursday, Haley took to social media to respond to President Trump's warning to Republican donors to stop giving to his remaining main rival for the 2024 Republican nomination. They responded and raised an additional $1 million. Hours later, the campaign touted $2.6 million in total revenue in 48 hours.
Haley is campaigning this weekend in her home state, where the next major primary on the Republican nomination calendar will be held on February 24th.
President Trump warns big donors, Haley raises campaign funds
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event Wednesday at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, South Carolina. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
She will then head to New York City early next week to meet with top Republican donors in hopes of replenishing her campaign coffers.
Tuesday, co-hosted by billionaires Leonard Stern, Cliff Asness, Stanley Druckenmiller, Ken Langone and Henry Kravis, Haley's political associates told Fox News. Fundraising activities are still planned.
Superpac in collaboration with Trump, fundraising surges
This is one of about 10 fundraisers for major Republican donors on Haley's itinerary in the coming weeks.
Former President Donald Trump spoke at a primary night party in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Hayley intends to fight again tomorrow, but faces a 'difficult' road ahead
Mr. Hoffman is a supporter of President Biden, donating more than $550,000 to the Biden Victory Fund last year and $250,000 last month to SFA Fund Inc., a super PAC affiliated with Ms. Haley.
Dmitri Melhorn, Hoffman's political and philanthropic adviser, told Fox News: “Prior to the primary, we determined that Governor Haley's performance in New Hampshire could provide a path to defeating Donald Trump. I invested in it,'' he said.
Reid Hoffman's donation went to SFA Fund, the head of a super PAC affiliated with Nikki Haley, who has recently gained momentum in the Republican primary and is climbing in the polls. This was done after witnessing it. (Getty Images)
Now that the New Hampshire primary is in the rearview mirror, Melhorn says there's still a chance that Governor Haley will be able to convince voters that President Trump is no longer stable and cannot carry the flag in the fall campaign. There is,” he said.
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But he stressed that “given her failure to win in New Hampshire, we will need to assess new potential paths to victory before recommending another investment at this late stage in the process.” did.
Melhorn added, “The only way we're going to see progress is if Trump has a 'senior moment' and can use it to convince Republican voters that he's lost it.” .
Hoffman has long been a vocal critic of the former president. “Once it becomes clear that the Republican Party has decided to nominate Mr. Trump, we will have no choice but to turn our attention to defeating Mr. Trump in the general election,” Melhorn said.
Trump and his allies have repeatedly criticized Haley since her contributions to the super PAC made headlines in early December.
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