Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley has pledged to persist in her campaign despite suffering a second consecutive defeat to Donald Trump.
Campaigning extensively in New Hampshire before the primary, Haley sought support from both independent and moderate Republican voters. However, Trump maintained a comfortable 11-point lead as most ballots were counted, positioning him well to secure the Republican nomination.
After Trump’s landslide victory in Iowa’s caucuses last week, with Haley placing third, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrawing from the race, Haley stands as Trump’s sole remaining rival.
At an election night gathering in Concord, Haley conceded the New Hampshire contest, congratulating Trump on his win. Despite trailing significantly in opinion polls for her home state of South Carolina, where she served as governor, Haley vowed to continue her bid for the Republican presidential candidacy.
Trump reacted critically to Haley’s speech, labeling her “delusional,” prompting a swift response from Team Haley, describing his remarks as a “furious and rumbling rant.”
While Haley had previously exercised caution in criticizing Trump, her recent attacks in New Hampshire targeted his friendships with “dictators,” questioned his mental acuity, and denounced his “lies.”
Exit polls suggested that Haley’s intensified efforts in the final days may have influenced voters, with two-thirds of those deciding in the last few days favoring her. Despite outperforming some polls, Haley was unable to close the substantial gap with Trump.
In New Hampshire, some voters considered Haley insufficiently conservative, while others expressed personal likability but unwavering support for Trump. Haley’s decision to skip the third Republican contest in Nevada and potential challenges in South Carolina’s primary on February 24 may determine the fate of her campaign.
Notably, no Republican candidate has ever won the first two states and failed to secure the Republican nomination.
