Nikki Haley, despite losing the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries to Donald Trump, is determined to challenge his nomination in the 2024 Republican race. In a rally held in North Charleston, South Carolina, Haley framed her losses as a victory and vowed to prevent a “coronation” of Trump as the party’s nominee. Although she finished second in New Hampshire, she had hoped for a stronger showing in the state. Trump’s double-digit victory left some questioning whether Haley would continue her campaign. However, she affirmed her commitment to the race and spoke virtually to Republican voters in the U.S. Virgin Islands before heading back to South Carolina.
The Wednesday night event in South Carolina served as a welcome-home gathering for Haley, a resident of the state, and marked the opening of her campaign in the first-in-the-South GOP voting state. South Carolina has been historically influential in determining the party’s nominee, and since Trump’s win there in 2016, the state has remained loyal to him. Trump holds endorsements from almost all of the state’s U.S. House Republicans, as well as the governor, lieutenant governor, and both U.S. senators. Senator Lindsey Graham commended Haley’s effort but predicted her loss in their home state, stating that “for all practical purposes, the primary is over.”
Outside Haley’s rally, a group of Trump supporters made their presence known, waving flags from a marked-off zone away from the ballroom entrance. Despite this opposition, Mark Harris, chief strategist for the super PAC supporting Haley’s candidacy, expressed confidence in her path to the GOP nomination. He emphasized South Carolina as the next battleground for the Trump-Haley matchup and highlighted the state’s open primary, which allows conservative-leaning and Republican-leaning independents to vote. The super PAC plans to run millions of dollars in TV ads, send out mailers, and conduct other outreach efforts to encourage support for Haley.
Harris also mentioned that the super PAC was encouraged by the enthusiasm they were seeing and expressed confidence in having the necessary resources to continue the fight. Haley announced that she had raised $1 million since her post-primary speech in New Hampshire, with donations coming in from all 50 states, primarily in amounts of $200 or less. However, Trump took to social media to intimidate Haley’s donors, stating that they would be permanently barred from the MAGA (Make America Great Again) camp. Despite this, many supporters identify with Haley’s underdog persona and admire her fighting spirit.
Overall, Nikki Haley remains determined to challenge Trump’s nomination in the 2024 Republican race. While she may have faced setbacks in Iowa and New Hampshire, she sees these losses as stepping stones toward victory. With South Carolina as the next battleground, Haley is counting on support from conservative-leaning and Republican-leaning independents to secure the GOP nomination. Despite Trump’s dominance in the state, she remains hopeful and continues to rally her supporters. The fight for the nomination is far from over, and Haley’s campaign shows no signs of backing down.
