She is refusing to back down.
Inside a vibrant hotel ballroom filled with enthusiastic supporters, Nikki Haley refused to let setbacks define her political journey. Despite recent losses and the media’s inclination to nudge her towards the political exits, Haley, the former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor, declared her resilience on Tuesday night. Fresh from a third-place finish in Iowa, Haley expressed her determination, emphasizing that she possessed too much fight to throw in the towel, even as Donald Trump shifted his focus toward a general election contest.
Following her second-place finish in New Hampshire, Haley rallied her supporters, asserting that the race was far from over. Undeterred by recent challenges, she pledged to continue her campaign, looking ahead to her home state of South Carolina as the next battleground. Haley passionately proclaimed, “New Hampshire is first in the nation. It is not the last,” signaling her commitment to a broader electoral journey.
Haley framed her path to defeating Trump as incremental, starting from a humble 2% in polling nearly a year ago and aiming to become the last contender standing against Trump. During her speech, she didn’t shy away from criticizing Trump’s track record, asserting that under his leadership, Republicans had suffered defeats in various elections, including the Senate, the House, and the White House. She argued that Democrats eagerly sought to face Trump in the elections, viewing him as the only Republican that Joe Biden could defeat.
Despite uncertainties surrounding the primary results, Haley’s camp expressed confidence in moving forward. Allies highlighted the campaign’s frugality and continued fundraising efforts, with plans for trips to New York, California, and Florida. An outside super PAC, Americans for Prosperity, emphasized the importance of promoting an electable Republican candidate to challenge Biden and support GOP candidates in lower-level races.
Haley’s upcoming rally in Charleston and a significant ad buy reflected her ongoing commitment to the campaign. Supporters reiterated their belief in Haley’s ability to defy the odds and gradually build momentum in the primaries. As the campaign faced an uphill battle with a third-place finish in Iowa and a second-place showing in New Hampshire, Haley and her team remained resilient, gearing up for the unique dynamics of the South Carolina primary, which features open primaries allowing Democrats to participate. Despite challenges, Haley’s supporters remained steadfast, echoing her mantra of ‘slow and steady wins the race’ as they continued to chip away at obstacles, confident in their ability to garner support in each primary.
