Nikki Haley recently told a New Hampshire crowd: “America doesn’t do coronations. We believe in choices.”
I know I want a choice. And many other conservatives do, too.
If Haley were to drop out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination now, she would leave the vast majority of the country with a de facto coronation of Donald Trump.
Regardless of the outcome Tuesday in New Hampshire – the first Republican primary of 2024 – Haley should stay in the race.
If she doesn’t win it or come in closer than expected, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador will face intense pressure to drop out and fall in line behind Trump (much like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis did on Sunday after a disappointing showing in Iowa). Trump is already predicting she’ll do just that.
That would be a mistake. I think the primary season is far from over.
Haley should stick it out at least until Super Tuesday in early March, when a third of Republican delegates are awarded. A bigger swath of the country needs to help make such a pivotal decision – not just New Hampshire and Iowa voters.
Of course, that will take a lot of money, but the donors who have flocked to Haley’s team in recent months should stay with her.
In the last year, I’ve repeatedly seen Trump and his “MAGA” followers referred to as a cult – often by conservatives who don’t want a second Trump term. At first, I thought that may be taking the analogy too far.
I don’t think so now.
There really seems to be nothing that will dissuade Trump believers from supporting him: not the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021; not his dozens of criminal charges and the fact he may be a convicted felon before the election; not his over-the-top rhetoric and lies; not the fact that since 2016, he has only helped lose elections for Republicans.
A CNN entrance poll last week ahead of the Iowa caucuses shed light on this blind loyalty. When Republicans were asked what candidate qualities were most important to them, what topped the list was whether the candidate “shares my values” and “fights for people like me.”
Only 14% of those surveyed said defeating President Joe Biden mattered most.
That’s a shockingly low number. And it highlights that for Trump’s most ardent supporters, the goal is simply to show him their obeisance – not beat Biden.
Biden wants to buy your vote.Beware the fine print.
All this plays into Democrats’ hand. For that reason alone, Republicans should think hard about whom they support in the primary.
If Haley were to go head to head with Biden, Democrats know the outcome wouldn’t be close. (Can you imagine Haley, 52, in a debate against Biden, 81?)
Haley could mop the floor with Biden.Is that enough to tear GOP away from Trump?
The Democratic Party wants nothing more than a Trump-Biden rematch, because it thinks that’s the best way to keep the White House. It’s the same reason Democrats meddled in midterm Republican primaries by trying to get the most MAGA candidate on the general election ballot. The more extreme the candidate, the easier for Democrats to win. It’s a risky scheme, however, and even more so this year given Biden’s dire approval ratings.
Trump as the GOP nominee would motivate liberal voters in November. Biden on his own would not have that kind of sway.
Plus, a Trump primary win opens the door for Democrats to use their favorite rallying cry: That “democracy is on the ballot" – even though Biden has done plenty to jeopardize it himself.
The Republican primary contest is not yet a fait accompli, as Trump and his acolytes want you to believe.
And Nikki Haley is the last line of defense.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques
Haley can win NH primary. She must stay in GOP race even if she doesn't.
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24.01.2024
Nikki Haley recently told a New Hampshire crowd: “America doesn’t do coronations. We believe in choices.”
I know I want a choice. And many other conservatives do, too.
If Haley were to drop out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination now, she would leave the vast majority of the country with a de facto coronation of Donald Trump.
Regardless of the outcome Tuesday in New Hampshire – the first Republican primary of 2024 – Haley should stay in the race.
If she doesn’t win it or come in closer than expected, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador will face intense pressure to drop out and fall in line behind Trump (much like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis did on Sunday after a disappointing showing in Iowa). Trump is already predicting she’ll do just that.
That would be a mistake. I think the primary season is far from over.
Haley should stick it out at least until Super Tuesday in early March, when a........
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