Nikky Haley: ‘I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in’
Nikki Haley made her intentions clear when she withdrew from the Republican presidential nomination race earlier this week – she plans to continue speaking out.
“As I step back from being a candidate, I won’t stop advocating for the causes close to my heart,” Haley emphasized during her announcement on Wednesday, following former President Donald Trump’s victory in 14 out of 15 GOP nominating contests on Super Tuesday.
Haley also ruled out the possibility of a third-party run on a potential No Labels presidential ticket this week.
“What I will tell you is I’m a conservative Republican. I have said many, many times, that I would not run as an independent. I would not run as No Labels because I am a Republican, and that’s who I’ve always been,” she reiterated in a “Fox and Friends” interview.
However, the extent of her influence within the Republican Party and her prospects for the future hinge largely on Trump, who has been a dominant figure since his initial victory in the White House eight years ago.
Thirteen months ago, the former two-term South Carolina governor, who later served as U.N. ambassador in the Trump administration, became the first major candidate to challenge Trump for the 2024 nomination. And until she dropped out, she remained the last rival standing.
Despite turning up the volume on the former president over the past six weeks, Haley refused to endorse Trump as she exited the race.
Haley, who garnered between a quarter to over a third of the vote in several Republican contests, following her impressive 43% performance in New Hampshire’s late January primary, emphasized that “it is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it, who did not support him, and I hope he does that.”
“In its best form, politics is about uniting people behind your cause, not pushing them away. Our conservative movement greatly needs more supporters. This is his moment to make a choice,” Haley stated.
Haley’s significant support in the primaries highlighted Trump’s vulnerability among moderates and suburban voters. However, even before she finished her speech on Wednesday, Trump signaled that he wasn’t willing to extend an olive branch to his former rival.
“Nikki Haley got TROUNCED last night, in record-setting fashion,” Trump wrote in a social media post as he criticized her.
In the days or weeks ahead, Haley faces a crucial decision – will she continue to stand against Trump or ultimately endorse the former president?
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a vocal GOP critic of Trump who endorsed Haley and served as one of her top surrogates, shifted his stance on Friday by endorsing the former president, while still standing by his previous criticisms in a series of interviews.
The future trajectory of Haley’s political career largely hinges on Trump, who on Friday appointed key allies to lead the Republican National Committee.
“She needs to step back and assess the current situation, paying close attention to President Trump’s actions and statements,” longtime GOP strategist David Kochel advised during an interview with US Newzs.
Kochel, a seasoned veteran of multiple Republican presidential campaigns, noted that much will hinge on the upcoming November presidential election results.
Throughout her campaign, Haley consistently argued that a Republican Party with Trump as its leader was on a path to trouble in November. She asserted that she would be a more effective candidate to challenge President Biden.
Kochel suggested that “if Trump loses in November, Haley’s stance will be vindicated.” Still, conversely, a victory by the former president would likely pose challenges for Haley’s future within the GOP.
In many respects, Haley ran as a Reagan Republican, advocating for a robust foreign policy and fiscal restraint. However, she did so within a party that has been transformed by Trump and his populist America First movement.
The transformation of the GOP, coupled with Haley’s outspoken criticism of Trump, could significantly complicate any potential future White House bid for her.
“Nikki Haley represents a conservative ethos reminiscent of the past,” remarked Ryan Williams, a seasoned Republican strategist and communicator. “However, the party is increasingly veering towards the right. Even if Trump doesn’t run in the future, we can expect more candidates in his mold seeking national office.”
Williams suggested that this shift could leave Haley in a precarious position, aligning her more with the fringes of where the party is heading. “It indicates that she may struggle to find a path as a national candidate within the Republican Party,” he concluded.
Kochel concurred, noting that “the party is evolving.”
“It’s a different party now – more populist, more anti-establishment, and anti-elite,” he remarked. “But it’s uncertain what the party’s future trajectory will be.”
Kochel said “Trump is a unique figure. I don’t believe there will be another Trump.”
He suggested that the party could undergo another significant transformation. “If we can shift from Mitt Romney [the senator from Utah and the 2012 GOP presidential nominee] to Donald Trump in just four years, we can certainly pivot from Trump to something entirely different,” Kochel argued.