Nikki Haley withdraws from the competition for the Republican presidential nomination.

March 06, 2024

Nikki Haley withdraws from the competition for the Republican presidential nomination.

On Wednesday, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley officially withdrew from the Republican presidential race. Following a series of losses on Super Tuesday, Haley, who had initially vowed to stay in the race, made the decision to suspend her campaign during remarks in Charleston, South Carolina. While congratulating presumptive nominee Donald Trump, she refrained from endorsing him, invoking the wisdom of Margaret Thatcher to encourage independent decision-making.

Haley, the last major candidate defeated by Trump in the GOP primary, faced challenges in garnering support, especially in her home state of South Carolina, where she experienced her fourth consecutive loss in 2024. Despite winning primaries in Vermont and the District of Columbia, Haley's campaign struggled to gain traction, with Trump dominating the race by securing victories in 14 out of 15 GOP contests on Super Tuesday.

The former ambassador to the United Nations, known for becoming the first Republican woman to win two primary contests, emphasized unity within the Republican Party. However, her departure highlighted the steadfast loyalty of the party's base to Trump, despite arguments about electability. Despite general election polls suggesting Haley's stronger position against Biden, Trump maintained a strong hold on the party.

While some prominent Republicans rallied behind Trump early in the race, Haley did not experience a similar surge of support. Her campaign faced challenges, with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie expressing skepticism, and Trump, in a social media post, characterizing her Super Tuesday performance as a resounding defeat. Haley's efforts to position herself as a moderate alternative to Trump ultimately faced difficulties, and she exited the race without a formal endorsement for the presumptive nominee.

A newly emerged campaign

Nikki Haley entered the Republican presidential race in February of the previous year, becoming the first contender after Trump to initiate a 2024 bid. Throughout the initial six months of her campaign, she polled in the low single digits. However, her momentum surged after the first GOP primary debate in August, where she advocated for a "consensus" on abortion and showcased her foreign policy expertise, earning positive responses in subsequent debates that fueled interest from both voters and donors.

By late fall, Haley garnered support from wealthy Republicans, and even some Democrats seeking an alternative to Trump. Her campaign received a crucial endorsement from billionaire Charles Koch's political network in November, and she announced a substantial fundraising achievement of $24 million in the last quarter of the year. The endorsement from Governor Sununu further strengthened her position in one of her most promising states, where 40% of registered voters identify as independent.

This growing momentum drew attention from rivals who scrutinized her record, attempting to depict her as a candidate beholden to her donors. Governor DeSantis and his allies aimed to undermine her strong stance on China by highlighting her efforts to attract Chinese companies to South Carolina. Haley defended her actions, emphasizing that governors nationwide were engaging with Chinese businesses at that time, although the United States now has a better understanding of its relationship with China.

However, some setbacks were self-inflicted, such as Haley's call for social media account name verification in mid-November, which she later retracted due to public backlash. Another misstep occurred when she failed to mention slavery when discussing the cause of the Civil War, sparking criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Haley acknowledged her error and emphasized her own experiences with racism as the daughter of Indian immigrants in rural South Carolina.

The race became more personal between Haley and Trump, with the former president spreading false claims about her eligibility and mocking her name. In turn, Haley questioned Trump's mental competency after he confused her with Nancy Pelosi during a campaign rally. Their exchanges escalated, reaching a peak when Trump mocked Haley's husband's military service, prompting her to assert that his disrespect for the military rendered him unqualified to be president.

Despite facing challenges and personal attacks, Haley remained resilient, frequently criticizing her rivals and maintaining a position as a prominent contender in the Republican nomination race.

A seasoned GOP standout

Nikki Haley's political journey commenced in 2004 when she defeated a 30-year incumbent in the GOP primary for a state House seat in Lexington County, South Carolina. In her 2010 gubernatorial bid, she emerged victorious in a crowded Republican primary, overcoming a congressman, the state attorney general, and the lieutenant governor. Despite facing a close contest in the general election, Haley, at the time, was recognized as a rising star within the GOP and even garnered consideration as a potential vice presidential candidate in 2012 and 2016. She was chosen to deliver the GOP response to President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address in 2016.

Throughout her presidential campaign, Haley underscored her accomplishments in South Carolina, emphasizing job creation and the implementation of conservative policies, including voter ID and abortion restrictions. One pivotal moment in her governorship occurred in 2015 when she swiftly called for the removal of the Confederate flag from the statehouse grounds following the tragic shooting at Charleston's Mother Emanuel AME church by a White supremacist gunman.

After six years as the governor of South Carolina, Haley assumed the role of Trump's ambassador to the United Nations in 2017. Despite her calculated departure from the Trump administration after two years, speculation arose about her future endeavors. While serving on the board of Boeing for nearly a year, a company she had collaborated with extensively during her time in South Carolina, Haley resigned in March 2020 amid discussions about seeking Covid-19 relief funding.

In the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, Haley initially expressed skepticism about Trump's political future. However, two months later, she conveyed her support for his potential 2024 presidential run and indicated she would not run against him. Despite her initial hesitation, Haley became the first candidate to challenge Trump after his late 2022 announcement, with Trump acknowledging that he had encouraged her to pursue the race.

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