In the wake of Ron DeSantis’s exit, Nikki Haley is the last person standing between Donald Trump and the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election. Now all eyes from both parties are on Haley’s home state of South Carolina as they prepare for their Republican primary on February 24th. Even though DeSantis and prominent Republicans from South Carolina have thrown their weight behind Trump for the republican nomination, Nikki Haley has made it clear that she intends to put up a fight.
Democrats watching from the sidelines face a unique conundrum – should they harbor hope in Trump’s Republican challenger, or should they invest valuable time, attention and resources in making President Biden as strong of a candidate as he can be? At this point, it can’t hurt to take a serious look at Nikki Haley and the potential impediment she poses to Trump’s presidential dreams.
Who is Nikki Haley?
Nikki Haley was the governor of South Carolina from 2011-2017, until she was appointed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (UN) by none other than Donald Trump. Her relationship with the former president has had its ups and downs. She expressed criticism of him during the 2016 election cycle. Following her appointment, she mysteriously stepped down as ambassador to the UN towards the end of 2018. Still, in her resignation letter she sounded supportive of the former president.
Since 2019, Haley has leveraged her political status to make millions of dollars in speaking and consulting fees. She even bailed her parents out of a $1 million debt.
Turning to her parents, it might surprise some people to learn that this vocal Christian from a small town in South Carolina was born to highly educated, Indian Sikh immigrants in 1972. Since childhood she has been using her middle name “Nikki” instead of her first name “Nimarata.”
On the surface, Haley would seem to add diversity to the Republican image. However, she is often hesitant to identify as a “woman of color” and is uncomfortable calling America a racist country. This is despite the fact that she has several anecdotes from her childhood clearly illustrating racist incidents which she endured as someone who wasn’t white or Black in the Deep South divided across those narrow lines.
But simply being BIPOC doesn’t absolve her from scrutiny. Democrats and independents must delve into her political journey to understand her stance on critical issues and decide to what degree they want to root for her, for the time being.
What did Nikki Haley do as Governor of South Carolina?
During her tenure as South Carolina’s governor, Haley often projected herself as a moderate force within the Republican Party. As she got her political feet wet in the State House of Representatives, she faced backlash for her position that votes should be on the record – an unpopular push for transparency.
However, a closer look reveals a mixed record that might give Democrats pause. While she signed a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the State Capitol grounds, this was only done after increased pressure following the horrific Charleston church shooting. Her overall stance on racial justice issues has been inconsistent. For example, she pushed for photo voter ID laws which are widely recognized to disproportionately disadvantage Black and other marginalized voters.
Regarding economic policy, Haley sings the familiar conservative tune of tax cuts and job growth. Yet unlike many, she managed to deliver and left the state with 400,000 more jobs than when she began her first term as Governor. Still, she attracted employers to the state by emphasizing the cheap cost of labor and very low union-participation rates in South Carolina.
This checkered history raises questions about her commitment to addressing income inequality and promoting social justice, issues that are central to Democratic platforms.
How do Nikki Haley’s Republican Politics Differ from Trump’s?
Nikki Haley’s political divergence from Trump is a nuanced matter. On the surface, she may appear as a more polished and diplomatic alternative to the bombastic Trumpian style. However, it is crucial to scrutinize the substance beneath the façade. She is still a staunch conservative who counts former U.K. prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as one of her inspirations.
Here are a few points where Haley differs significantly from trump:
- LGBTQ+ Rights:
- Trump: Often criticized for policies perceived as detrimental to LGBTQ+ rights, such as the transgender military ban. He reversed Obama-era protections for transgender students.
- Haley: Takes a more moderate stance, acknowledging some forms of LGBTQ+ rights. While at the UN, she opposed the death penalty for homosexuality and called for the end of violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals globally.
- Immigration:
- Trump: Advocated for a border wall and stricter immigration policies with his “America First” fervor. He reduced legal immigration with little or no impact on undocumented immigration.
- Haley: Takes a more pragmatic approach as a daughter of immigrants, supporting secure borders but advocating for a comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. She was against Trump’s “Muslim ban.”
- Abortion:
- Trump: Generally anti-abortion, appointing conservative judges and implementing policies restricting federal funding for organizations providing abortion services.
- Haley: Personally pro-life but recognizes the importance of a woman’s right to choose. As governor, she supported South Carolina’s 20-week abortion ban but acknowledged the need for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the mother’s life.
- Foreign Policy:
- Trump: Continuing with his “America First” approach, he was skeptical of international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord and Iran Nuclear Deal. Diplomatic summits with North Korea might be a lone feather in his cap, but these produced few substantial outcomes.
- Haley: As UN ambassador, she took a more diplomatic stance, advocating for strong international alliances. Criticized Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Syria and supported Israel at the UN.
While Trump reveled in populist rhetoric and policies, Haley has navigated a more conventional conservative path. She has, at times, distanced herself from Trump’s divisive approach, but often refrains from outright criticism. She has very publicly flip-flopped on his role in the January 6th insurrection.
One hot button issue where they are aligned in is their unequivocal support for Israel. Haley was the sitting UN ambassador and fully supportive of the US Embassy’s move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018. She does not support a ceasefire in the current conflict, nor does she believe Palestinians should be in control of Gaza.
Can She Really Defeat Donald Trump to Become the Republican Nominee?
The uphill battle for Nikki Haley lies in convincing the Republican base that she can carry the torch without alienating the Trump loyalists. The former president still commands a formidable influence within the party, and there’s no guarantee that Haley’s wooing of top conservative donors like the Koch brothers will deliver for her where it failed for DeSantis and others.
Ahead of the South Carolina primary on February 24th, Haley remains confident despite the odds stacked against her. When pushed, she has said that even if she loses in her home state, she could still clinch the nomination. She performed far better in the New Hampshire primary than in Iowa, thanks in large part to DeSantis’ exit and a high proportion of independent voters who could legally participate in the republican primary.
Haley’s challenge is to strike a delicate balance – distancing herself enough from Trump’s controversial legacy to appeal to a broader electorate while retaining his supporters. It is anyone’s guess if she can pull off this electoral tightrope act successfully and emerge as a unifying force within the fractured Republican Party. If Trump’s 2016 victory has taught us anything it is to expect the unexpected in the contemporary American political sphere.
Conclusion
The South Carolina primary is poised to be a battleground where the contours of the Republican Party’s future are sketched. Democrat observers must weigh their hopes of averting a Trump/Biden run-off against the political reality. Nikki Haley’s divergence from Trump may not be as significant as they wish it to be. For people on both sides of the aisle, Haley is a far more palatable candidate than Trump, even if she is a far cry from a champion of equity that liberal voters hope to see in a president.
With this in mind, it is as important as ever to mobilize Democratic voters, stand up against voter suppression and misinformation, and be united ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
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