Nikki Haley plans strong finish, heads to South Carolina

• Nikki Haley plans to continue her campaign despite Donald Trump's lead.

• New Hampshire has a history of shaking things up in primary elections.

• Winning in New Hampshire has led to presidential nominations in the past.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley arrives at a town hall, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Dubuque, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

AP

Nikki Haley Pushes Forward in Presidential Race Despite Trump's Lead

As the presidential race intensifies, Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina, remains committed to her campaign, despite Donald Trump's lead in the polls. Haley plans to continue her campaign and aims for a strong finish in New Hampshire, following her participation in Iowa.

New Hampshire has a reputation for shaking up the race and has been known to produce surprising results in past primary elections. Looking back at the last seven cycles, except for John McCain's victory in 2000, every Republican winner in New Hampshire went on to become the party's nominee, some even becoming president. Notably, Donald Trump achieved a substantial victory in 2016, winning by a margin of nearly 20 points, despite securing only 35% of the vote.

In anticipation of the upcoming New Hampshire primary, Trump's team is aiming for a major win and hopes to surpass the impressive margin of victory of former President Ronald Reagan, who won by over 27 points. Current polling suggests that Trump is in a strong position and could potentially secure more than 50% of the vote, which would undoubtedly bolster his campaign. However, Haley's team is determined to prevent Trump from reaching such a significant milestone, as it would undoubtedly strengthen calls for her to drop out of the race.

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New Hampshire has a history of shaking things up in primary elections.

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Nikki Haley plans to continue her campaign despite Donald Trump's lead.

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Winning in New Hampshire has led to presidential nominations in the past.

Although Haley's home state is South Carolina, where she served as governor, winning there may prove challenging. In 2016, despite endorsements from prominent Republicans like Haley and Jeb Bush, Trump emerged victorious in South Carolina, defeating the favorite Marco Rubio by 10 points. Furthermore, Trump currently enjoys the support of key Republican figures in the state, including Governor Harry McMaster.

Despite the obstacles that lie ahead in South Carolina, Haley remains optimistic. She emphasizes that she has a month to build her campaign in the state and highlights her previous success in defeating McMaster during the 2010 gubernatorial race. Haley's team is already investing in advertising, having placed a half-million-dollar ad buy in South Carolina, affirming their commitment to compete there.

As the primary race unfolds, the outcome in New Hampshire will significantly impact the trajectory of each candidate's campaign. Whether Haley can replicate McCain's success in winning over independents or if Trump can exceed his substantial victory margin from 2016 remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: Haley is determined to press forward, undeterred by Trump's lead, with her sights set on New Hampshire and beyond.