The current situation in the Republican nomination race is puzzling. Nikki Haley, despite facing significant defeats to Donald Trump in Iowa and New Hampshire, remains adamant about continuing her campaign until the South Carolina primary next month. Haley, who criticizes Trump as “insecure” and suggests he should feel threatened, asserts that there are still 48 states in play.
While some analysis speculates that Haley could prolong the contest until May, similar to the extended battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in 2008, a major obstacle exists.
Winning states is crucial for a candidate, and Haley has not achieved victory in any state so far. Unlike Clinton, who secured wins in New Hampshire and other states with substantial delegate counts, Haley faces a more challenging path.
Nikki Haley (Credits: WNG)
Complicating matters for Haley is the Republican nominating process, designed by Trump’s allies to favor him. The primary calendar is front-loaded with states resembling Iowa in demographics, and in mid-March, the primaries adopt a “winner take all” approach.
This means that if Trump secures the majority of votes in a state like Ohio, he will claim all 79 delegates. By the end of March, over 70% of delegates will be decided.
In South Carolina, recent polls show Trump leading by a significant margin, backed by endorsements from Governor Henry McMaster, Rep. Nancy Mace, and Rep. Jeff Duncan.
If Haley cannot secure a victory in her home state, it raises doubts about her ability to build momentum for the Super Tuesday contests just 10 days later. Therefore, the challenge for Haley is not merely a messaging problem but a mathematical one.
Switching focus, recent developments in abortion rights have gained attention. A study estimated that over 64,500 pregnancies resulted from rape in the 14 states with total abortion bans.
Texas, with more than 26,000 rape-related pregnancies after banning all abortions, has faced criticism from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The study underscores the potentially devastating consequences of restricting abortion access for rape survivors.
The article also highlights the story of Allie Phillips, a 28-year-old mother from Tennessee, who was forced to travel out of state for a life-threatening pregnancy due to the state’s near-total abortion ban.
Phillips, a plaintiff in lawsuits against restrictive abortion laws, met with her state representative, Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart, advocating for expanded abortion access. Her experience has fueled her campaign for Burkhart’s seat in the Tennessee state legislature.
Shifting gears, the article briefly features Rep. Ro Khanna’s weekend routine, touching on his current TV show binge, the last book he read, wake-up time on weekends, and coffee preference. Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary for President Joe Biden, hosts the show where these details were shared, titled “Inside with Jen Psaki,” airing on Sundays and Mondays.
