The next US Republican primary will take place in South Carolina. Polls see former President Trump ahead of his last remaining challenger, Haley. She wants to stay in the race even if she loses.
Nikki Haley comes out of a dark blue bus. Her name and the slogan “A Better America” appear in red and white letters on the side of the vehicle. Around 250 people gathered in the small town of Georgetown to hear her speak.
Haley was governor of South Carolina twice, but even here it is a foregone conclusion that former President Donald Trump will win the primary. But: Haley doesn’t give up. “I campaign until the last person votes,” said the 52-year-old.
Voting has taken place so far in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada – Donald Trump won by a large margin in all three states. All other candidates in the candidate race gave up: Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie – but Haley remains. In all polls she is also behind Trump in South Carolina. So what keeps Nikki Haley in the race even though everything is currently against her?
In an interview on CNN, Haley explains: Trump could win all the primaries, but he will lose the presidential election. “I have many concerns if Trump becomes president again. I have even greater concerns about another term for Joe Biden. Both men are causing so much chaos and further dividing the country.”
“We need sense and reason again”
There are poll results that give Haley a much better chance of beating Biden. It could also unite independent voters who do not want to vote for Biden or Trump – but that alone cannot be enough. “I hope that I can give a voice to many Americans. It’s not normal for migrants to come across the border under Biden and not be stopped,” said Haley.
It is also not normal – like Trump – to criticize the military. “Or to use the campaign funds to pay personal legal costs. Or to side with a criminal like Putin and alienate partners who supported us after September 11th. We need sense and reason again. That’s what a lot of Americans want and I’m giving it to them.”
Haley has her sights set on Super Tuesday
The need for a Trump alternative is there. This need could grow given his legal troubles. For now, Nikki Haley wants to continue convincing people and has her sights firmly set on “Super Tuesday” in March, THE primary election day. Then voters in 16 states cast their votes. Most of them are in the south of the country, such as Texas, Alabama and Georgia.
The race isn’t really over until July at the Republican nomination convention in Milwaukee. Whether Nikki Haley actually holds out until then also depends on whether enough money continues to come into her campaign coffers despite defeats.
Nicole Markwald, ARD Los Angeles, currently Austin/Texas, tagesschau, February 24, 2024 12:04 a.m