Nikki Haley Tried to Save the Republican Party
She represented a return to normalcy, conservative principles, and problem-solving, and promised a new generation of leadership at a time where both frontrunners are noticeably old and slipping.
But just as Trump bragged about ridding the GOP of good conservatives like Sen. Mitt Romney, and reducing it to 100% MAGA, she’d ultimately suffer the fate of every other Republican since 2016 who has lost to Trump.
The Republican Party is, as Trump says, 100% MAGA now. There’s no going back. And with Haley’s departure, that becomes even clearer.
But Trump is wrong in one sense. The GOP may be condensed and purified of apostates. But Republican voters are not united around Trump.
No one losing 40% of the Republican vote in places like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina could claim voters are united.
In North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, less than 40% of Republican voters consider themselves MAGA. And a huge majority of Haley voters in North Carolina, South Carolina, and California say they won’t support Trump in the general, according to exit polling.
That makes Trump a considerably weak candidate in the general election — and Haley’s campaign has a lot to do with that.
Lucky for him, President Biden is just as weak, facing low approval numbers and increasing concerns over his age.
Unluckily for us, one thing is clear after Super Tuesday: we’ll end up with someone deeply unpopular no matter who wins.
As for Nikki Haley, her political future is unclear. Certainly, something could happen to Trump — you can fill in the blank. Her candidacy could be resurrected at some point.
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