Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is facing increasing pressure to withdraw from the Republican presidential nomination race after losing the New Hampshire primary to former President Donald Trump. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel urged Haley to consider withdrawing from the race on Tuesday night. McDaniel stated that Trump’s win in both the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary points towards his eventual nomination, and that the party should unite behind him.
Haley has vowed to continue and compete in the South Carolina primary in March despite being 30 percentage points behind Trump in recent polls. During a campaign stop in Concord, Haley dismissed claims that the race was over, stating that New Hampshire was the first state to vote, not the last. However, her campaign has received little support from key Republican figures in South Carolina. Eight state and congressional Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and Reps. Jeff Duncan and Nancy Mace, have endorsed Trump.
Despite the pressure, Haley remains committed to her campaign, stating that there are dozens of states left to go in the race. If successful, she would become the first woman to win the Republican presidential nomination. However, her chances of winning the nomination are now slim, as Trump’s victories in Iowa and New Hampshire have cemented his status as the Republican frontrunner.
Critics have raised concerns that Haley’s continued presence in the race could split the Republican vote, making it easier for President Joe Biden to secure a second term. Others have argued that Haley’s campaign is a valuable contribution to the party, by offering an alternative vision to Trump’s populist platform.
The next primary in the Republican nomination race is the Nevada caucus on February 20th. Despite dropping out of the 2016 race after poor performance in the polls, Haley has remained a prominent figure in the Republican Party. She served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations under the Trump administration from 2017-2018.
