Nikki Haley, the former Governor of South Carolina, is anticipated to face an embarrassing setback in Nevada’s nonbinding Republican primary, where the option “none of these candidates” is projected to surpass her in votes. This unexpected defeat occurs in a primary where former President Donald Trump was notably absent from the ballot.
The outcome likely reflects the prevailing preference among many GOP voters for Donald Trump. In Nevada, voters have the unique option to express their dissatisfaction with all candidates on the ballot by choosing “none of these candidates.” The absence of Trump on the ballot may have influenced this choice.
Haley’s campaign spokesperson, Olivia Perez-Cubas, downplayed the significance of the primary outcome, stating, “Even Donald Trump knows that when you play penny slots the house wins.
Nikki Haley (Credits: Reuters)
We didn’t bother to play a game rigged for Trump. We’re full steam ahead in South Carolina and beyond.” Despite the setback, Haley is still expected to secure the second-highest number of votes in the primary.
It’s crucial to note that the Republican primary in Nevada carries limited weight, as the state’s Republicans have opted to allocate their delegates through party-run caucuses, scheduled for Thursday. Trump is poised to dominate these caucuses, as participants in the primary, including Haley, are ineligible to compete.
While the Nevada primary may not significantly impact the overall Republican landscape, it represents a challenging moment for Haley, who aims to demonstrate her viability to Republican donors and voters. Her ultimate test against Trump awaits in the South Carolina primary on February 24.
In contrast, on the Democratic side in Nevada, President Joe Biden is set to secure a victory in the state’s presidential primary. This win follows his recent success in the South Carolina primary, marking his first official victory in the 2024 nominating race.
Nevada’s first-in-the-West contest has gained prominence after Iowa and New Hampshire were demoted on the Democratic calendar. This change aims to ensure a more diverse electorate influences the early stages of the Democrats’ presidential nominating process.
Biden faced nominal opposition in the Democratic primary, with only a dozen candidates, including Marianne Williamson, on the ballot. Notably, Representative Dean Phillips, another prominent Democratic challenger, did not feature in the primary.
Biden spent time in Las Vegas ahead of the primary, rallying supporters and emphasizing his administration’s economic efforts. He also addressed the challenges of the still-recovering economy, acknowledging that more work needs to be done.
On the Republican side in Nevada, the primary outcome may be disregarded, given the party’s decision to award delegates based on the caucuses scheduled for Thursday. This fragmented process stems from a 2021 state law that replaced Nevada’s presidential caucuses with government-run primaries.
Despite this, the Nevada Republican Party, led by Trump loyalists, opted to conduct caucuses independently and warned primary participants, including Haley, about their ineligibility for the caucuses and delegate allocation.
While some Republican contenders participated in the primary, Trump remains the last major contender for Thursday’s caucuses, practically ensuring his victory. Trump addressed supporters in Las Vegas, advising them to focus on the caucuses rather than the primary.
