(NewsInsights.org) – Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has the New Hampshire GOP primary and an 11-point defeat in her rear-view mirror. She and her campaign are now focusing on upcoming primaries in her home state, Michigan, and Washington, DC, among others, ahead of Super Tuesday in March. She’s vowed to campaign hard and see the race through, giving constituents in states with open or semi-open primaries a choice in candidates.
Haley Campaign Manager Betsy Ankney issued a memo on January 23 outlining the candidate’s strategy. She said that even though politicos and the media seemingly wanted “to give Donald Trump a coronation” after the Iowa caucus, she contended, “That isn’t how this works.”
While Ankney admitted that her candidate was up against stiff odds, she also pointed out that Haley had overcome political opposition in her past to achieve the office of governor, partly by rallying and unifying moderate Republicans and right-leaning Independents. The campaign manager argued the former ambassador could capitalize on those population segments again, especially in states like South Carolina, where primaries are open to anyone who hasn’t voted in the Democratic primary, not just registered Republicans.
Ankney argued that Haley could build momentum and gain delegates in the next two primaries, both open, in South Carolina, her home state, and Michigan. Haley has 17 delegates compared with Trump’s 32 after the New Hampshire primary.
Moreover, the campaign manager pointed out that 11 of the 16 Super Tuesday states have open or semi-open primaries. Additionally, she said seven of those 11 states show “favorable demographics” toward Haley, including Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Texas, North Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. By her calculations, Ankney believes Haley has a shot at winning a preponderance of 874 Super Tuesday delegates.
Haley is skipping the February 8 Nevada caucus, allowing her more time to focus her energies on campaigning in South Carolina. GOP strategist Dave Wilson told the New York Post that Haley will become more dependent on fundraising to fuel ad campaigns in the various Super Tuesday states after South Carolina. Wilson also predicted her performance in her home state would act as “a bellwether” for other states.
Haley’s team claimed to have raised more than $4 million in the last month despite threats from the Trump campaign to blacklist anyone donating to her. Haley’s campaign actually sold 15,000 “banned permanently” shirts, contributing nearly half a million dollars to the campaign effort while poking fun at the ultimatum.
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