Former President Donald Trump's 2024 GOP primary challenger Nikki Haley said that she does not "have to win" her home state of South Carolina to stay in the race during a Fox News appearance on Thursday.
Haley, the last remaining major primary challenger to the ex-president, told anchor Martha MacCallum that Republicans would lose November's election to President Joe Biden "if Donald Trump is the nominee," while insisting that she only has "to be competitive" to remain a candidate.
The Context
Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, has stayed in the race despite losing the first two primary contests to the ex-president, including in New Hampshire—where polls indicated a very close race shortly before Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dropped out.
Polls suggest that Haley has little chance of winning the February 24 primary in South Carolina, a state where she once served as governor. An average of recent polls compiled by RealClearPolitics shows Trump with a seemingly insurmountable 27-point lead over Haley.
What We Know
"We just want to show that we're competitive," Haley said after being asked by MacCallum how she would justify continuing her campaign if she loses South Carolina. "I don't think we have to win. We have to continue to be competitive. We just have to continue to show that we're strong, and that's what we're focusing on."
After MacCallum pointed out that "Trump is leading by a lot" in primary polls of key swing states, Haley argued that the former president "can't win" independent voters, suburban women and "a lot of other Republicans."
"Think about that fact that he did not get 43 percent of the vote in New Hampshire," said Haley. "I'm the only one that defeats Biden ... Republicans have to quit pushing people away ... We've lost the last seven out of eight popular votes for president. That's nothing to be proud of."
"If I bring Republicans, independents and Reagan Democrats in, I'll take it," she added. "This is not personal about Trump. This is about the fact that we need to win, and we will lose if Donald Trump is our nominee."
Newsweek reached out for comment to the Trump campaign via email on Thursday.
Views
Trump has repeatedly denounced Haley's challenge, referring to his former ally as "birdbrain" on more than one occasion. Last week, the ex-president warned that anyone who gives money to Haley's campaign would be "permanently barred" from the MAGA movement.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has also urged the former governor to drop out of the race, telling Fox News last week that Republicans "need to unite around our eventual nominee, which is going to be Donald Trump."
Haley responded by saying that she was "disappointed" with McDaniel for suggesting that she should quit.
What's Next?
Although polls indicate that Trump has a clear lead for the nomination, the contest is technically far from over, with only two states having been decided.
"Only two states have voted," Haley said on Thursday. "The delegate count, you need 1,215 [to win]. He has 32, I have 17. I'm not going anywhere. We've got to go longer than this. We don't do coronations in America."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Aila Slisco is a Newsweek night reporter based in New York. Her focus is on reporting national politics, where she ... Read more
