Nikki Haley is facing broadening calls to drop out of the GOP primary even as she publicly signals no intention to do so ahead of South Carolina’s contest next month.
The head of the Republican National Committee (RNC), the Georgia Republican Party and growing numbers of GOP lawmakers are urging her to drop out, arguing she has no realistic path to the nomination against frontrunner former President Trump.
There are incentives for Haley to keep going, but also risks. She’s up to 17 delegates after New Hampshire and has the potential to win more in the coming primaries, which could set her up to be an alternate nominee to Trump as he faces myriad legal battles.
At the same time, Haley could become demonized within the GOP if her campaign ends up angering rank-and-file Republican voters who want the party to unify behind its likely nominee.
Yeah, she really has nothing to lose. Trump isn’t actually running against her, and he’s already “banned permanently” her and her followers. She isn’t expected to win, so she can’t lose. And if she doesn’t get the nomination this time, at least she is poised for 2028 and beyond.
She just needs to run a clean campaign, no major gaffs or scandals.