There is a lot of speculation about former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley heading into Super Tuesday, and none of it is about which states will she win or how many delegates she will earn. The biggest question is: What will she do next?
It’s been an interesting journey for Haley. She kicked off her campaign by calling for generational change and mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old, a jab at both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Yet she would not take on Trump directly, stating, “I don’t kick sideways.” (I’m still not sure what that really meant.)
Ideally, Haley commits to staying until July, but that may depend less on her willpower and more on her donors.
After doing well — but not well enough to win — in New Hampshire, she started more aggressively going after Trump. She gained new donors and perhaps some supporters, but still lost in South Carolina.
Super Tuesday will be Haley’s big reveal day. Ideally, Haley commits to staying until July, but that may depend less on her willpower and more on her donors. While Haley continues to raise money, the super PAC Americans for Prosperity Action, funded by billionaire Charles Koch, recently paused its financial support, although not its endorsement.
If she is going to drop out of the race, and if she is going to endorse Trump, election night would be the time to do it. This would amount to a full surrender, leaving plenty of angry supporters with egg on their faces. However, Haley has built up quite a following by exposing Trump’s weaknesses with independent and suburban voters, and may never be fully welcomed back to MAGA land. She has the T-shirts to prove it.
Predictions at this juncture feel almost impossible. Back in August 2023, debate moderator Bret Baier asked, “If former President Trump is convicted in a court of law, would you still support him as your party’s choice? Please raise your hand if you would.” Haley raised her hand. Yet when the subject…
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