Nikki Haley Eyes Her Home Ground to Rival Trump
TL/DR –
Nikki Haley, a former U.S ambassador to the UN and twice-elected governor of South Carolina, is continuing her bid for the Republican presidential nomination despite pressure from the party’s elites to drop out and support Donald Trump. Haley’s campaign is trying to rally support in her home state of South Carolina, where she served as governor, despite Trump’s influence and a growing list of his local endorsements. Amid these challenges, Haley’s campaign and supporters insist she remains in the race for the long haul, planning fundraising events and targeting key demographics to expand her base of support.
Nikki Haley Resumes Campaign in South Carolina Post New Hampshire Loss
Following a disheartening defeat in New Hampshire, combative Nikki Haley resumed her presidential campaign in South Carolina, vowing to fight against Donald J. Trump for the Republican nomination. Haley, a two-term governor of South Carolina and Trump’s first ambassador to the United Nations, faced pressure from local Republicans and the Republican National Committee, urging her to withdraw. Despite the challenges, Haley pledged to press on, even as the former president fortified his support.
The Trump campaign released an extensive list of endorsements in South Carolina, including the state’s two senators, its governor and lieutenant governor, and much of its State House. Despite the opposition, Haley’s core allies insist she’s still in the race, emphasizing her ability to draw contrasts between herself and Trump ahead of the South Carolina primary on Feb. 24.
Mounting Doubts and Resistance
While Haley’s supporters remain hopeful, doubts about her campaign continue to grow, with calls for her withdrawal intensifying. Republican voters express a desire to unify around their presumptive nominee, Trump. As Haley strategizes to extend her support state by state, concerns rise that her strategy might further alienate Trump and his supporters. Meanwhile, Haley and her super PAC plan to stay in the race, aiming to accumulate delegates and potentially claim the nomination should Trump exit the race due to any legal challenges.
Strategizing Amid Uncertainty
Despite the escalating conflict, Haley’s campaign remains resilient. She sharpens her attacks on Trump’s mental competence, his age, and his courage, urging him to face her on a debate stage. Haley’s campaign has released advertisements in South Carolina media markets opposing both Trump and President Biden and praising her gubernatorial record. As the campaign proceeds, supporters are divided between those fulfilling fundraising obligations, despite foreseeing Trump’s nomination, and those still fully backing Haley in hopes of upsetting Trump’s nomination.
Haley’s Struggling Campaign and Trump’s Nomination
After New Hampshire, Haley’s campaign struggles to stay afloat, as Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel encourages the party to unite around Trump. Key endorsements for Trump have come from Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, and Senators John Kennedy of Louisiana and Deb Fischer of Nebraska. Meanwhile, Democratic state representative in South Carolina, J.A. Moore, urged Haley to either continue attacking Trump or drop out and endorse Biden.
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