Nikki Haley Takes Aim at Trump and Biden in ‘Grumpy Old Men’ Attack
As the South Carolina Republican primary heats up, former Palmetto State Governor Nikki Haley is launching a fierce attack against the two front-runners, former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. In a new campaign ad titled “grumpy old men,” Haley takes aim at their ages, hoping to gain an edge in her home state.
Haley’s campaign in South Carolina is crucial as she tries to make up ground against Trump, who currently leads by a significant margin in the polls. A recent Suffolk University/USA TODAY poll found that Trump leads Haley by almost 2-1 among likely Republican primary voters in the state. Despite the odds, Haley remains determined and has been crisscrossing the state on a bus tour, holding multiple campaign events each day.
However, Trump seems confident in his lead and is already looking ahead to the general election. He will spend most of Saturday in Washington, D.C., before flying to Columbia, South Carolina for a primary watch party in the evening.
For Haley, this primary contest holds personal significance. South Carolina is the state she once governed and calls home. Accompanied by her mother and surrounded by family members, Haley arrived at her polling place in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, ready to cast her vote.
Haley’s strategy to gain an advantage in the primary is to encourage South Carolina Democrats and independents to turn out for her. She highlights that the primary is open, meaning anyone can vote as long as they didn’t participate in the Democratic primary earlier this month. However, this idea has been met with criticism from both Trump and Democratic leaders. Trump believes Democrats should not be allowed to participate in Republican primaries, especially in a conservative state like South Carolina. Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison criticized Haley, saying she did nothing for Democrats during her years as governor.
Despite the opposition, some voters are not following the Democratic Party’s instructions. Eighteen-year-old Hannah James, a left-leaning Democrat, voted for Haley, stating that if a Republican must become president, she would prefer Haley over Trump.
Trump and his surrogates have been focusing on issues beyond the primary during their campaign in South Carolina. They have been discussing their dispute with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Donald Trump Jr., in particular, mocked McConnell’s health issues, referring to him as “Mitch the Glitch” and questioning his ability to lead.
The South Carolina voters are divided in their support for Trump and Haley. Jorge Lara, who originally grew up in Cuba, voted against Trump, expressing concern about his leanings towards dictatorships and betrayal of allies. Lara sees this as a threat to democracy and believes it is essential to vote against Trump.
On the other hand, Klay Peterson, a law enforcement officer of over 40 years, supports Trump due to his stance on border security. Peterson is worried about safety and crime in the country and believes that controlling the U.S.-Mexico border is a top priority.
Historically, the winner of the South Carolina Republican primary has gone on to become the party’s nominee. Unless there is a major upset, Trump is expected to defeat Haley in her home state. However, Haley has stated that she will remain in the race regardless of the outcome on Saturday.
While Trump is traveling to the Washington, D.C., area for a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Haley continues to campaign in South Carolina. Trump’s speech at CPAC last year included strong words against his political opponents, vowing “retribution” and positioning himself as a warrior for his supporters.
As the polls close in South Carolina at 7 p.m. ET, the results will reveal whether Haley was able to gain any ground against Trump in her home state. Regardless of the outcome, Haley plans to stay in the race until Super Tuesday on March 5, when voters in multiple states will cast their ballots.
In the end, the South Carolina Republican primary will be a significant moment for both Haley and Trump. While Trump remains the front-runner, Haley is determined to make her mark and prove that she can compete against the former president. The outcome of this primary contest will shape the trajectory of the Republican race going forward.
