Nikki Haley’s decision to stay in the Republican primary against former President Trump despite losing consecutive races has raised questions about her endgame.
Haley insists the primary should not be a coronation and has vowed to remain in the race at least through Super Tuesday, when a dozen additional states vote. But she has come under fire from President Trump and his allies for continuing her candidacy into March.
Trump supporters have dismissed suggestions that Haley could position herself as a potential replacement if she is convicted of a criminal offense or withdraws from the race.
“I think she knows her career is over,” one pro-Trump Republican operative said. “This is all just to appease anti-Trump donors to take care of her exit.” ” he said.
Ms. Haley has raked in millions of dollars and received thousands of votes since the Iowa caucuses in January, evidence that at least some within the party are interested in an alternative to Mr. Trump.
The former U.N. ambassador has poured cold water on the idea of running as a third-party candidate with the political group No Labels, but is struggling to decide which states on the Republican primary calendar he can beat.
Haley was asked on Fox News last month whether she would consider herself “insurance” depending on the outcome of Trump’s case.
“I strongly believe that I’m the Republican option. If people understand that Donald Trump can’t win and we have to turn this country around, then I’m your replacement. That’s what I always tried to say, look, let’s get the guy who wins,” Haley told the network.
The former president faces four separate criminal trials, one each in New York City, Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Florida. A New York City trial related to the hush money allegations is scheduled to begin later this month.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has proposed a July 8 start date for the Florida trial over President Trump’s handling of classified documents and refusal to hand them over, which would put it just before the Republican National Convention. .
Trump allies and Republican officials have poured cold water on the prospect of Haley somehow announcing her candidacy by any means other than winning the necessary delegates, as Super Tuesday approaches. , such a scenario is extremely unlikely.
If Trump secures the 1,215 delegates needed to win the Republican nomination, which he expects to do by March 19 at the latest, he will become the presumptive nominee. At that time, these representatives were not released even if they were found guilty in one of his criminal trials. Any change in candidates would have to be made at the Republican convention in July.
But Republican officials have questioned Haley’s chances of winning a floor fight at the convention.
A former Republican National Committee official said the majority of delegates would be loyal to Mr. Trump. Even if the former president were to withdraw from the race due to a conviction, health or other reasons, she would be unlikely to endorse Haley at the convention.
“Trump’s delegates are not going to support Haley. The person Trump chooses to be his running mate would be the most likely candidate, the most likely candidate,” said one former Trump. a presidential official said.
“It will be a very interesting test for the party,” they added.
Republican strategist Brady Smith said waiting for Trump to withdraw from the race for some reason may be something Haley’s campaign is considering, given the heightened tensions between the two candidates. He then said that it was not realistic.
As the primary battle continues, Trump and Haley are increasingly attacking each other. Trump called Haley “crazy” in a post on Truth Social last month and brought up her husband’s absence from the campaign while working overseas, while Haley criticized Trump’s comments on NATO. He disagrees with the comments and questions his mental fitness to serve as president.
“I don’t think anyone would agree with Nicki in a scenario where the Democratic bill is successful and he doesn’t run for it and goes to the convention. They’re saying, ‘You’re dividing us against Trump. “This is someone who continues to do that,” Smith said.
Republican strategist Jonathan Felts sees similarities between Haley’s campaign and that of former Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008, even though President Trump Even if he were to step down, “that is not the current state of the Republican Party,” he said. race.
He said that even if Trump did not become the nominee due to a court conviction or other reasons, Haley would automatically be nominated just because he received the next highest number of votes or delegates. He said he was “very confident” that it would not. .
“It’s a bad strategy for any candidate to go after the Phillips dean in the Republican primary,” Felts said, noting that the Minnesota Democratic congressman is running a long race against Biden in the primary. He said this.
He said Haley ran a “great campaign” that exceeded expectations and outperformed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who was initially seen as Trump’s leading alternative. However, he argued that remaining in the party any longer would only damage her future within the party.
Haley said she would have already dropped out if she had focused on her political future.
“I’m not doing this for me,” she said.
Felts said she still has a role in the race if her campaign aims to win the Republican Party in 2024, but if it’s “an outlet for frustration.” , said it could create obstacles in her future path.
“You could say she’s right on the brink. It’ll be interesting to see how she handles things on Wednesday morning,” he said.
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