Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Three Thoughts on Nikki Haley's Likely GOP White House Bid

Former South Carolina Governor and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is widely expected to formally announce her bid to seek the GOP nomination for the White House in 2024 on February 15th, two weeks from today.

I have three thoughts I'd like to share about Haley's White House bid.

First, while Haley is the first Republican to formally challenge defeated, former President Trump for the party's nomination, I expect the field to get very crowded very quick. Indeed, Haley might not be the only Republican from the Palmetto state with a presidential announcement. South Carolina GOP Senator Tim Scott is planning to head to Iowa later this month which is stimulating speculation about his own White House ambitions. If they are both in the race, I think Scott will generate far more excitement than Haley would. He's certainly done so among his GOP Senate colleagues

Second, a crowded GOP primary will see hopefuls target each other instead of Trump. Should Florida Governor Ron DeSantis get in the race then they will aim their barbs at him. They are going to avoid going after Trump because they can ill-afford to alienate his base. 

Third, as for Haley, she doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of winning the Republican nomination and she knows it. In the space of less than 100 days after the January 6th attacks, she went from wanting Trump out of public life to saying she would support him and not run if he did. Now it appears she's running. All of which makes her comes across as a phony. Honestly, Haley isn't running for President. Rather, she's running to be Trump's VP. But I don't think Trump sees her as loyal in the way he sees someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene. This isn't deterring her but Haley seems determined to learn the hard way.

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