After securing victory in the South Carolina Republican primary, Donald Trump’s campaign is recalibrating its approach, sidelining Nikki Haley and setting sights squarely on a potential rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.
Having triumphed in all five Republican nominating contests thus far, Trump’s march toward the party’s presidential nomination seems inevitable. His latest win in South Carolina leaves Haley, despite her determination to continue, with a daunting path to victory.
Advisers to Trump indicate a deliberate shift in strategy, opting to downplay Haley’s campaign to the point of insignificance. This marks a departure from recent weeks, during which the campaign launched a barrage of attacks on her, including online vitriol, pressuring her donors to switch allegiance, and public mockery by the former president.
Campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita succinctly outlined the new approach on the sidelines of a Trump event, quipping, “Nikki who?”
While Trump’s victory in South Carolina strengthens his position, there are warning signs for him in a potential general election showdown with Biden in November. An exit poll conducted by Edison Research revealed that among self-described independent voters in South Carolina, six out of ten favoured Haley. She also secured a slim majority of the white college-educated vote.
Republican strategist Chip Felkel said that despite Trump’s victory, Haley captured 40% of the votes, indicating a narrower margin than expected. This suggests potential challenges for Trump in attracting crucial independent and moderate voters in the general election.
Nevertheless, Haley remains resolute in her determination to press on, setting her sights on Super Tuesday on March 5, a pivotal moment when voters in 15 states and one U.S. territory will allocate one-third of the delegates to the Republican National Convention.
However, Haley’s campaign suffered a setback when AFP Action, a branch of the influential conservative Koch network supporting her candidacy, announced it would no longer commit resources to her bid.
Despite this, Haley’s campaign maintains momentum, having raised $1 million since her South Carolina defeat. She continues to embark on an aggressive schedule, with plans to traverse the country in the coming days, from Massachusetts to Utah.
While Trump refrained from mentioning Haley in recent speeches, his campaign surrogates openly advocate for her withdrawal from the race, asserting that resources should be directed toward securing the White House. Yet, some donors remain committed to Haley, viewing her as a potential backup option should unforeseen circumstances affect Trump’s candidacy.
As both campaigns gear up for the road ahead, the dynamics of the Republican primary and the broader political landscape are poised for further evolution.
(Inputs from Reuters)