Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley says her most recent primary loss is not “the end of our story.” Haley is a former South Carolina governor. She has long suggested her ability to compete with the former president would show in her home state. But in Saturday’s South Carolina primary, former President Donald Trump won easily.
In the less than 24 hours following Haley’s Saturday night loss, the Haley campaign says she raised $1 million “from grassroots supporters alone.” Her staff argues that bump “demonstrates Haley’s staying power and her appeal to broad swaths of the American public.”
Defying calls from South Carolina Republicans to exit the race, Haley traveled on Sunday to Michigan. That state’s primary is Tuesday, February 27.
News of Haley’s defeat ended financial support for her campaign from Americans for Prosperity (AFP).
In a memo, AFP’s Emily Seidel wrote that the group “stands firm behind our endorsement” of Haley. However, Seidel says AFP will “focus our resources where we can make the difference.” That means AFP money will head toward U.S. Senate and House campaigns—and away from Haley’s presidential bid.
“Given the challenges in the primary states ahead, we don’t believe any outside group can make a material difference to widen her path to victory,” Seidel wrote.
With his win on Saturday in South Carolina, former President Trump has so far swept every primary or caucus that awards delegates to the national convention. His success leaves little room for Haley, his former ambassador to the United Nations.
But Haley insists she is sticking around—even with growing pressure to abandon her bid. She held a rally in Oakland County, Michigan, on Sunday evening. She also scheduled a Monday event in Grand Rapids.
On Sunday, Haley gave a roughly half-hour speech typical of her events. But she added a few touches specific to her Michigan audience. She called President Joe Biden’s push of electric vehicle programs “corporate welfare.” The Biden administration has stated a goal of ensuring that EVs make up half of all new car sales by 2030.
Haley asked attendees about the unfairness of any requirement to switch to electric. The auto industry is a major economic driver in the state. “What about the fact that maybe we all don’t want to drive an electric car?” Haley queried the receptive crowd. “Have you seen how expensive they are?”
In another tweak to her speech, Haley said the fact she notched nearly 40% in South Carolina shows the large percentage of voters who don’t favor Mr. Trump. She says that fact would make it hard for him to win the general election.
Asa Hutchinson, a Trump critic and former Arkansas governor who dropped out of the Republican presidential race in January, thinks Haley should stay in the run for the White House.
Haley pledged to keep going through at least the primaries on March 5, known as Super Tuesday. “But [her campaign needs] to accelerate because you run into the delegate wall,” Hutchinson says. “So she’s got to prove herself.”
Some voters in South Carolina agree. Irene Sulkowski of Daniel Island hopes Haley will soldier on. She suggests Haley is a more appealing general election candidate than former President Trump—despite his popularity among Republican voters.
“They’re not thinking, ‘Who do you want to represent us in the general election?’” says Sulkowski of primary voters. “And they need to have a longer-term view.”
