Following a disappointing setback with a 20-point loss in the South Carolina primary on Saturday, Nikki Haley remained resolute in her commitment to the race, despite the growing perception that former President Donald Trump has all but clinched the GOP nomination.
Speaking before a sizable gathering of supporters at her headquarters in Charleston, Haley initially appeared poised to concede, stating, “This has never been about me or my political future. We need to beat Joe Biden in November.” However, to the relief of her supporters, she swiftly added, “I don’t believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden.”
This setback follows Haley’s loss to Trump in New Hampshire in late January, after which she expressed the necessity for a stronger performance in her home state to bolster her campaign’s momentum leading into Super Tuesday.
However, Saturday’s outcome, with Haley securing just under 40 percent of the vote, fell short of the mark she had hoped to achieve. Notably, she appeared to equivocate on the numbers, stating she secured “around” 40 percent, a figure roughly equivalent to her tally in New Hampshire.
Nikki Haley (Credits: Rolling Stone)
Despite this setback, Haley has remained resolute, pledging earlier in the week to continue campaigning tirelessly until the last vote is cast. Emphasizing that “today is not the end of our story,” she took to social media to reaffirm her commitment, citing the dissatisfaction among a majority of Americans with both Trump and Biden and asserting her duty to provide voters with a genuine choice.
However, her remarks suggest that her campaign may face challenges beyond early March, particularly as Super Tuesday looms large on the horizon. In a statement to reporters following her own vote on Saturday, Haley indicated that Super Tuesday marked the extent of her current strategic planning.
Undeterred, Haley is pressing forward with campaign efforts, including a visit to Michigan on Sunday ahead of its primary on Tuesday, followed by engagements in at least six additional states. Notably, her campaign has announced a significant ad buy ahead of the March 5 primaries.
Meanwhile, Trump appears to be operating under the assumption that the GOP nomination is all but secured. In contrast to his earlier victory speech in New Hampshire, where he openly criticized Haley, Trump refrained from mentioning his primary opponent, instead focusing on the apparent unity within the Republican Party.
