Nikki Haley to Stay in Race Irrespective of South Carolina Results

Paresh Jadhav

9 months ago

Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley wasn’t able to come anywhere close to President Donald Trump during New Hampshire’s Republican primary, but she’s not giving up just yet.

Nikki Haley pledged her campaign will continue until “Super Tuesday,” an election event that includes multiple states with open or semi-open primaries that could give her an edge in certain primaries. She noted her strong donor support.

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Polls

Nikki Haley pledges her continued participation in the race despite falling behind Donald Trump in South Carolina, even as she continues her multi-day Beast of the Southeast bus tour through Greenville and Myrtle Beach. This weekend she made an appearance on Sunday talk shows as she continued this tour.

At an Iowa campaign event last week, she criticized Trump for making an inappropriate comment about NATO at an off-color comment about NATO at an off-color comment at NATO during an off-color comment about NATO during his campaign event; saying the former president is too focused on his past demons to build the future Americans deserve. In response to these remarks she raised $1 Million this week including funds from former members of Trump who felt their husbands serving overseas had been disparaged by their former president.

Polls show Nikki Haley to be unlikely of winning the GOP nomination in New Hampshire. She claims voters don’t want a coronation, while states voting on Super Tuesday offer more favorable contests with many permitting independents to vote in Republican primaries.

Delegates

Nikki Haley remains the only remaining GOP presidential candidate who has not endorsed Donald Trump and plans on staying in the 2024 race at least until after Super Tuesday (March 5). On that date, voters in each state will cast ballots awarding all their delegates.

Haley and her team are targeting states with open or semi-open primary rules to encourage voters from all political perspectives – independents as well as moderate Republicans – to participate in primary elections, particularly those where more delegates can be secured for nomination. They hope to secure 1,215 in order to achieve that goal and win their nomination.

Although Nikki Haley has struggled in the polls, she has amassed an impressive support base of donors small- and big-dollar alike who want her to take on Donald Trump. NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly interviewed one of these supporters – 75-year-old Gil White of James Island who says that initially he supported Trump until his former presidential predecessor disparaged his military husband.

Super Tuesday

Nikki Haley would need a win on Super Tuesday which is also the same day as the New Hampshire Democratic primary to remain competitive. At present, Bernie Sanders holds an overwhelming lead in liberal polling; should he go on to win New Hampshire as expected and continue dominating subsequent states, his nomination could already have been secured before Super Tuesday rolls around.

Haley must do well in states voting on March 5 if she hopes to maintain her candidacy and keep herself relevant as an opponent to Donald Trump. Many of those states allow independent voters to cast votes in their parties’ primaries and therefore are more favorable than the early contests where she competed. She plans on targeting these states so as to demonstrate she is capable of competing against him, giving her hope of continuing with an intense campaign.

Nikki Haley’s Campaigning

Haley remains committed to running until Super Tuesday on March 5, when 16 states hold primary contests, due to her need to defeat Biden and Trump who, she claims, are divisive figures at a time when America needs someone who will unify us all.

She strongly condemned both for their divisive influence in the black community, and asserted that voters will be better served by her campaign’s emphasis on issues like jobs, national security and immigration. Haley also called for civility while offering tribute to her husband serving in Africa with the South Carolina National Guard. Haley stands as the second highest-profile black Republican running for president; her 2024 campaign has garnered strong donor support; moreover she enjoys high name recognition as well as multiple celebrity endorsements.