Haley’s Virginia defeat: Democrat donors and voters fell short
Trump Dominates Virginia Primary, Haley’s Presidential Hopes Crushed
Despite an influx of cash and support from Democrats, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley brutally lost the Republican presidential primary in Virginia to former President Donald Trump as he dominated the Super Tuesday races.
Trump took all 24 delegates up for grabs in the state, winning about 434,000 votes at the time of reporting. With 95 percent of the votes in, Haley was losing by nearly 30 points, with some 239,000 votes.
Haley’s defeat comes despite the state having an open primary, which she reportedly hoped would boost her. An exit poll from The Washington Post showed that of the self-identified Democrats who voted in the Virginia primary, 11 percent voted for Trump, while 84 percent voted for Haley. Self-identified independents made up 30 percent of GOP primary voters, with 48 percent voting for Trump and 49 percent voting for Haley, according to the poll at publishing time.
“Haley’s advisers have frequently noted that 11 of the 16 contests on Super Tuesday have open or semi-open primaries in which the former South Carolina governor could expand the universe of voters beyond the Republican base, including key targets like Virginia, Texas, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Vermont,” The Washington Post reported.
But Haley’s support among Democrats and a few Republicans could not help her cross the finish line — and neither could cold-hard cash. Democratic donors such as LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman reportedly donated $250,000 to a pro-Haley super PAC despite saying he would vote for President Joe Biden in November.
Haley has also touted herself as the bona fide candidate for servicemen and women, but despite more than 150,000 total active-duty and reserve members reportedly living in Virginia as of 2021 and nearly 615,000 veterans reportedly residing in the state as of 2022, Haley still couldn’t convince key demographics that she wasn’t the candidate of the military-industrial complex.
Haley performed unsurprisingly well in Arlington County — which isn’t really a win considering it’s inhabited largely by D.C. swamp creatures.
Meanwhile, Trump’s win was a huge improvement from his 2016 primary performance in the state, where he narrowly beat Florida Sen. Marco Rubio by less than 3 percentage points.
But Haley fails to do what every single presidential hopeful must: appeal to rural voters.
Virginia’s map is overwhelmingly red, especially outside the confines of D.C. Haley’s inability to win the New Hampshire and Iowa primaries should have been enough for her to drop out, but losing Virginia, and especially the rural vote, by the margins she did should be the final nail in the coffin for her campaign.
Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist.
Despite efforts to expand her voter base, including financial backing and appeal to servicemen and women, why was Nikki Haley unable to secure victory in the Virginia primary
Trump Dominates Virginia Primary, Haley’s Presidential Hopes Crushed
In the Virginia primary held on Super Tuesday, former President Donald Trump emerged as the clear winner, crushing the presidential hopes of former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Despite an influx of cash and support from Democrats, Haley faced a significant defeat, with Trump securing all 24 delegates up for grabs in the state.
At the time of reporting, Trump had received approximately 434,000 votes, while Haley trailed far behind with only 239,000 votes, losing by nearly 30 points with 95 percent of the votes counted. This outcome dealt a significant blow to Haley’s campaign, as she had invested considerable effort in the state, hoping that an open primary would work in her favor.
Interestingly, an exit poll conducted by The Washington Post revealed that 11 percent of self-identified Democrats who voted in the Virginia primary chose Trump, while 84 percent voted for Haley. Among self-identified independents who participated in the GOP primary, 48 percent voted for Trump, and 49 percent supported Haley, according to the same poll.
Haley’s campaign strategists had emphasized the importance of open or semi-open primaries in the lead-up to Super Tuesday. They believed that such primaries in states like Virginia, Texas, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Vermont would allow Haley to expand her voter base beyond the Republican Party. However, these efforts ultimately fell short, and despite garnering support from some Democrats and a few Republicans, Haley was unable to secure victory.
Even substantial financial backing could not boost Haley’s chances. Democratic donors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, reportedly contributed $250,000 to a pro-Haley super PAC. Interestingly, Hoffman had previously stated his intention to vote for President Joe Biden in the general election, making his donation somewhat surprising.
Haley had also emphasized her support and appeal to servicemen and women, an important demographic with more than 150,000 total active-duty and reserve members reportedly residing in Virginia as of 2021. However, this demographic did not swing the outcome in her favor.
Overall, Haley’s defeat in the Virginia primary represents a significant setback for her presidential ambitions. Despite financial support and efforts to broaden her appeal beyond Republican voters, Trump’s dominance solidified his position as a formidable candidate. As the primary season progresses, it remains to be seen how other candidates will fare against Trump’s strong presence in the race.
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