- Nikki Haley stands to learn in a big means with ex-NJ Gov. Chris Christie’s exit from the GOP area.
- Christie was competing for most of the similar type of GOP voters that Haley had additionally been attracting.
- However Haley has been adept at needling the thread relating to Trump, making her an possibility for a lot of conservatives.
With former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s anticipated exit from the 2024 presidential race, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s marketing campaign has a transparent alternative to blunt former President Donald Trump’s potential sweep of the early-nominating contests.
Whereas Haley is not operating the type of stridently anti-Trump marketing campaign that Christie employed all through his second White Home marketing campaign, each of the previous governors have attracted assist from many center-right Republicans and independents who’re cautious of one other Trump candidacy.
And now Haley is the one one standing who has in some ways been probably the most profitable candidate to string the needle with Trump as a former UN ambassador in his administration who can also be calling for generational change for the GOP.
Here is why Christie’s exit is so important for Haley’s marketing campaign:
Granite State consolidation
The three most up-to-date New Hampshire Republican major polls confirmed the dilemma Haley confronted within the state earlier than Christie exited the race.
Within the newest American Analysis Group ballot amongst doubtless GOP major voters, Trump led Haley 37% to 33%, with 10% for Christie.
In the meantime, within the College of New Hampshire/CNN Granite State ballot outcomes launched on Tuesday, Trump led Haley 39% to 32% amongst doubtless GOP major voters; Christie was in third place with 12% assist.
And within the newest USA TODAY/Boston Globe/Suffolk College ballot, Trump was forward by a extra strong 20-point unfold over Haley (46%-26%) amongst doubtless GOP voters, with 12% going towards Christie and eight% going towards Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Whereas Trump boasts leads in all three polls, the previous president is effectively under 50% assist with single-digit leads in two of the surveys.
Christie attracted most of the similar type of Republicans who might have initially backed Trump, however more and more grew cautious of his polarizing statements and views. Haley is in the identical boat, however her GOP coalition is broader as a result of she’s rejected criticizing Trump as a lot as Christie.
And lots of of Christie’s New Hampshire supporters will even be thrilled with Haley due to one easy reality: She’s not Trump.
Blunting Trump’s momentum
A near-win or an outright win by Haley in New Hampshire would give her a possibility to cease a Trump sweep ought to he win Iowa, and it could additionally doubtless increase her standing in South Carolina — the place she served as governor from 2011 to 2017 however the place Trump stays in a robust place to win as a result of his longstanding assist from Southern conservatives.
And a strong exhibiting in South Carolina would set her as much as chip away at Trump’s gargantuan leads within the Tremendous Tuesday states and provides her an opportunity at being the principle rival to the previous president within the combat for the GOP nomination.
