Nikki Haley Vows to Continue Campaign Despite New Hampshire Primary Loss to Trump

Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, reaffirmed her commitment to pursue the GOP presidential nomination despite placing second to former President Donald Trump in the New Hampshire Republican primary. Addressing her supporters in Concord, New Hampshire, Haley emphasized that the race was far from over and that numerous states remained in play, including her home state of South Carolina, the next crucial battleground.

Results and Outlook

While Haley garnered 43% of the New Hampshire vote with 33% of precincts reporting, Trump secured 55% of the vote. Even so, Haley highlighted the reduced pool of Republican presidential contenders, emphasizing her determination and resilience in facing Trump as the last remaining viable challenger.

Trump's Victory

CBS News projected Trump's victory in the New Hampshire primary, solidifying his position as the clear frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination. Despite Haley's efforts to attract moderate and undeclared voters in the lead-up to the primary, she was unable to loosen Trump's grip on the Republican electorate. Trump's triumph in New Hampshire followed his decisive first-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Notably, winners of the primary in the Granite State in the last four competitive election cycles, including Trump in 2016, have proceeded to secure the party's presidential nomination.

Haley's Criticism and Position

Leading up to the primary, Haley escalated her critique of Trump and expressed concern over the Republican party's electoral performance during Trump's leadership, particularly in congressional races. She lamented the Democrats' eagerness to face Trump in an election, asserting that he was the only Republican candidate susceptible to defeat by President Biden. Haley positioned herself as a proponent of Trump's policies without the accompanying "negativity and chaos" and emphasized the need for a younger cohort of leaders, contrasting her age with that of both Biden and Trump.

Looking Ahead to South Carolina

Turning her attention to South Carolina, Haley emphasized her gubernatorial track record from 2011 to 2017, predicting that voters' familiarity with her and her policies would create challenges for Trump. However, the state's conservative primary electorate is anticipated to strongly favor Trump. Despite the anticipated challenges, Haley remained undeterred, affirming her commitment to offering voters a genuine election contest and reiterating that her campaign was just beginning.

Continued Fight

Emphasizing that millions of voters across the nation had yet to cast their ballots, Haley stressed the importance of honoring their voices and allowing them to participate. She rallied her supporters, declaring, “Our fight is not over because we have a country to save.”