Haley ridicules Trump’s SC football game visit while securing local backing
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley Returns to South Carolina, Making a Splash After Trump’s Appearance
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley made a triumphant return to her home state of South Carolina, reclaiming her position in the spotlight following former President Donald Trump’s appearance at the Palmetto Bowl with Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC).
Trump attended the highly anticipated football game between the University of South Carolina and Clemson University, where Haley’s alma mater, Clemson Tigers, emerged victorious. The crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium greeted Trump with a mix of applause, cheers, and even some boos, as captured in footage from the event. Trump’s presence was particularly noteworthy considering his limited campaign stops, especially in South Carolina.
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Haley playfully teased Trump’s appearance at the University of South Carolina campus, highlighting the Gamecocks’ loss to her beloved Clemson Tigers during a campaign rally in Bluffton, South Carolina. She quipped, “How’d it work out for the Gamecocks having Trump show up?” Trump, however, remained neutral in the matchup, with his campaign stating that he simply wanted to witness a good game.
Haley’s rally on Monday marked her first in South Carolina since Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) withdrew from the presidential primary race. Videos shared on social media showcased a packed venue and enthusiastic supporters eagerly waiting to see Haley.
According to reports, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), a supporter of Haley, revealed that the fire marshal had to limit the venue’s capacity, leaving several supporters to watch the event on screens outside.
The rally drew an impressive crowd of 2,500 people, surpassing the 2,000 attendees at Haley’s campaign launch nine months ago, as reported by the Post and Courier.
While Haley’s popularity appears to be growing in her home state and elsewhere, Trump still maintains a significant lead over other candidates in the primary race. Recent polling from South Carolina’s Winthrop University indicates that 52% of registered Republican voters in the state continue to support Trump for the nomination, with three months remaining until the primary.
Haley’s support in South Carolina, although higher than her national numbers and those of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), remains a distant second at 17%.
Despite Trump’s commanding lead, Haley’s polling numbers have been steadily rising nationwide since the first Republican National Committee primary debate in August. She has capitalized on this momentum by delivering strong performances in subsequent debates.
Haley has also benefited from the fact that Trump’s main target among Republican candidates is Gov. DeSantis. As Trump’s campaign and super PAC continue to criticize DeSantis, Haley has been able to present her case to voters without facing similar negative attention.
Importantly, Haley has refrained from denouncing the former president, stating, “I believe President Trump was the right president at the right time. I was proud to serve America in his administration, and I agree with a lot of his policies.”
However, Haley’s argument to voters is that “chaos follows him,” emphasizing that the country cannot afford to be engulfed in chaos once again.
Haley’s polling numbers are particularly strong in New Hampshire, where she currently holds the second position behind Trump, who still maintains a commanding lead.
Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH), who has yet to endorse a candidate in the Republican primary, believes that Haley is well-positioned for a potential victory in South Carolina’s late February primary. Sununu stated that if Haley performs strongly in Iowa, followed by a win in New Hampshire, it would provide her with significant momentum heading into South Carolina.
University of South Carolina political scientist David Darmofal echoed Sununu’s sentiments, explaining that the hope for both DeSantis and Haley is to perform well in Iowa or New Hampshire and leverage that success to gain momentum in subsequent contests, including South Carolina.
However, Darmofal noted that Trump still maintains substantial leads in the first two states, making it less likely for his polling advantage to decline compared to a lesser-known front-runner.
Republican strategist John Feehery believes that Haley’s best chance in the nominating contests is to focus on targeting DeSantis. Feehery stated, “If she could eliminate him in South Carolina, then she could be the last one standing against Trump in other states.”
However, this may prove challenging as DeSantis is heavily investing his political resources in Iowa, even opening two campaign headquarters in the state.
In the most recent Des Moines Register-NBC News-Mediacom Iowa poll from October, Trump maintained his lead among Republican candidates, while DeSantis and Haley were tied for second place. However, since the poll’s publication, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) endorsed DeSantis, potentially bolstering his support.
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Will Haley be able to build enough momentum and support to pose a serious challenge to Trump’s dominance in the primary race
To continue on a path of divisiveness and turmoil. She presents herself as a candidate who can bring stability and unity to the nation.
While Haley’s return to South Carolina has certainly made a splash, it remains to be seen how her popularity will fare in the coming months leading up to the primary. With a significant lead, Trump appears to be a formidable opponent, and Haley will need to continue to build momentum and support to challenge his dominance.
As the primary race heats up, all eyes will be on Haley and her campaign. Will she be able to gain enough support to pose a real threat to Trump’s nomination? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Haley’s return to South Carolina has set the stage for an exciting and highly anticipated political showdown.
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