Former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley campaigning over the weekend in New Hampshire. Photo provided. Credit: Suzanne Youngblood Lane.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 23, 2024 | And now there are two.
At first there were 12 people who said they wanted to run for the Republican nomination for president in 2024.
They included Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Asa Hutchinson, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, Doug Burgum, Tim Scott, Will Hurd, Francis Suarez, Mike Pence and Larry Elder.
All wanted to be the president of the United States.
Yet for one reason after another, even before any statewide primary (New Hampshire’s primary is today), now only two people remain standing as viable candidates for the Republican nomination: Donald Trump and Nikki Haley. All the others have been swept away.
We will know much more as the votes are counted tonight in New Hampshire: whether Donald Trump can go head-to-head against only one other person for the nomination, and come out well ahead. Yes, well-ahead. If there is even the inkling that Nikki Haley can show strength in a one-on-one race, that could cause consternation in the Trump camp, and might show a weakness that could be exploited.
Looking at the Trump support realistically, it seems that his campaign is driven by Christian evangelists, hard-core rightists, people upset with their government, and of course the MAGNA people who feel disconnected to the mainstream. Will these people be joined by traditional Republicans in support of Donald Trump?
Interestingly, old-line Grand Old Party regulars are only lukewarm (or oppose) Donald Trump. They see significant movement from long-time party principles, and often don’t like the “in-the-face” stance President Trump takes. He certainly can’t remind you of long-time Republican bulwarks such as Henry Cabot Lodge, Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Dole, John McCain or George Herbert Walker Bush.
With other candidates now out of the race, more attention will be focused on Nikky Haley, as she remains the only challenger. Assuming Haley does well in New Hampshire, she will get even more attention as the Republican presidential campaign comes to South Carolina, which has its primary about a month from now, on February 24. President Trump is strong in South Carolina, polls show, and a substantial victory over the South Carolina challenger just might wrap up the nomination for him.
- If Trump wins South Carolina significantly, it might expel Nikki Haley from the race.
- If Nikki Haley even comes close to winning, it might bring even more outbursts from Trump, and show he could be vulnerable.
Never in the history of our country has a potential presidential nominee faced the possibilities that for all his campaigning, he is facing serious criminal charges from the four big cases against him. The outcome of the court cases could mean that all the campaigning could be for naught. And should it happen that if any one of the four court actions against Trump succeed, all the polling and campaigning could be moot.
Yes, we are in uncertain times.
For more than 100 years, New Hampshire has taken pride in being first in the nation in presidential voting. Let’s see if the outcome of that election today may again signal who the GOP nominee for president is.
For now, there are only two.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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