Former South Carolina Governor/UN Ambassador and presidential candidate Nikki Haley has finally announced whether she will vote in November and who she will vote for.
For months, Haley has not committed to voting for former President Donald Trump, despite many conservatives urging her to do so. Republican candidates had pledged to support the eventual nominee, but Haley’s silence sparked concern and frustration as the country moved closer to the November election.
On Wednesday, however, Haley was finally announced their decision.
Former UN Ambassador and Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Wednesday that she would vote for former President Trump in November, which would mean a shakeup of the 2024 race.
Why it matters: Haley’s endorsement could give Trump a boost as he always had trouble wooing her voters in the recent GOP primaries, even after she suspended her presidential campaign.
- Haley continued to receive around 20 percent of the vote in the Republican primaries, sending a warning signal to Trump’s campaign.
- She also achieved double-digit votes vital suburban districts in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia, areas that could be decisive in the election.
Haley announced her intention to vote for Trump during a conversation at the Hudson Institute.
“I will vote for Trump,” she said at the event. “However, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be wise to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me.”
Trump and Haley traded nasty remarks during the campaign, although neither of them ever participated in a debate together. The former president refused to participate in debates, while Haley used those platforms, as well as other public comments, to lash out at Trump. While Haley managed to win over a significant number of moderate Republicans (and some Democrats in the more open primaries), Trump was virtually unstoppable in the primaries.
Haley’s greatest successes then, however, are Trump’s greatest weaknesses today: suburban voters, even Republicans, are hesitant when it comes to the former president. Suburban mothers in particular are leaning more toward incumbent President Joe Biden than Trump.
Still, Haley’s announcement may be the final piece of the puzzle to unite Republican voters. High-frequency voters who are registered Republicans are more likely to vote along party lines, and no matter how many of those voters were Haley’s voters during the campaign, her announcement of support increases Trump’s chances of retaining those voters.
Recent polls suggest that retaining one’s base is likely just as vital, if not more vital, than winning over independent voters in this election. Multiple polls show that moderates and independents are unenthusiastic about this election, and Biden in particular is losing support among his mighty voting blocs – including black and Hispanic voters.
Haley’s show of support could give Trump a bigger lead in this area, and concerns about immigration, crime and the economy/inflation could support him cross the finish line in November.
Many conservatives have expressed disappointment, frustration and even anger with Haley and her campaign. Wednesday’s announcement may not heal those wounds, but it does support bring the party back together.
