In a recent interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley expressed her determination to improve her performance in the upcoming Republican presidential primary in her home state. Haley emphasized that while she may not necessarily need to outperform former President Donald Trump, her results must surpass her previous showing in New Hampshire.
“A victory isn’t essential, but a significant improvement from New Hampshire is. It’s crucial to keep the race close. Winning would be a bonus, but if not, we need to gradually narrow the gap to give voters in Super Tuesday states a reason to keep supporting us,” Haley stated.
Current polls indicate a substantial gap Haley needs to close in South Carolina, which will hold its GOP primary on February 24. This comes after Trump’s 11-point victory in the less conservative New Hampshire race last week. Despite the odds, Haley remains undeterred, escalating her criticisms of Trump and vowing to stay in the race as long as she continues to gain ground in each state.
“I fully intend to participate in Super Tuesday,” Haley added, referring to the day when Republicans in 16 states and territories will cast their votes for their presidential nominee. Super Tuesday, slated for March 5, offers the largest pool of delegates.
However, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, a former presidential rival whom Haley appointed to the Senate in 2012, endorsed Trump just days before the New Hampshire victory. In a recent interview, Scott suggested that the primary race was essentially over, advising that attention should now be focused on Joe Biden.
Representative Nancy Mace, who represents Haley’s district in South Carolina and received Haley’s endorsement during a fiercely contested Republican primary race in 2022, has also pledged her support to the former president.
Haley, however, remains steadfast, asserting that Trump cannot “bully his way to the nomination.” This comes as Trump intensifies pressure on his supporters to withdraw their support for Haley, even threatening to ostracize any Haley donors from his circle. Despite this, a key contributor to Haley’s campaign has pledged to continue supporting her.
When asked if she would consider being Trump’s running mate, Haley was clear. “I am in this race to win, not to be anyone’s vice president,” she declared.
Contributors to this report include CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi, Fredreka Schouten, Eric Bradner, Arit John, Alayna Treene, Kylie Atwood, and MJ Lee.