Nikki Haley’s campaign is promising but still needs work to truly contend
By You-Yan Wang ’26
Faced with a raucous Milwaukee crowd and several opponents bickering over each other’s words, Nikki Haley interjected calmly and quoted the late Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher, “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” Met with a roar from the crowd, it is moments like these that have shot Haley into the limelight of the Republican primaries. But can the former governor of South Carolina be the person to lead the Republican Party out of its divided state? While Haley could be the face of a post-Trump GOP instead of Ron DeSantis, she faces an uphill battle for prominence within the current Trump-galvanized Republican Party.
The reason for her campaign’s upward trajectory stems from the more moderate, foreign policy-focused rhetoric that Haley uses compared to Republican rivals. She has pinned the blame for the current economic status on both sides, calling out both the Biden and Trump administrations for irresponsible spending. Haley has also supported mental competency tests for all politicians over 75, regardless of party, to let the younger generation take over. Contrary to the general beliefs of the Republican Party, Haley has called for sustained support of Ukraine, calling it a “war for freedom,” a view shared more by the left. In her eyes, victory for Russia would spell out a dangerous precedent, especially for China, whom Haley sees as “an enemy” of the United States. With China, Haley has emphasized the need to end regular trade relations with China until the flow of Chinese fentanyl to the US is stopped. As the former US ambassador to the United Nations, Haley’s emphasis on foreign policy is clear, and a strong voice on a global stage is necessary for a country like the United States.
Having gained recognition from strong performances in the two GOP primary debates thus far, Nikki Haley’s campaign for the presidency has only just begun. Leaving the stage in Milwaukee and California relatively unscathed and on the offensive, GOP mega-donors have begun to look her way, with a major donor even saying that “there isn’t a mainstream megadonor now not looking at Nikki,” a strong show of financial support for the Republican hopeful. Opponents have also noticed the former U.N. ambassador’s rise to prominence. Haley’s former boss, Donald Trump, nicknamed her “birdbrain” on his social media platform, Truth Social. Her campaign has only used the former president’s attacks as motivation, knowing that drawing Trump’s ire only means Trump is seeing her as an increasing competitor. Her numbers have also risen in the polls, eclipsing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in her home state of South Carolina as well as in New Hampshire. Nationally, support has not been as evident, with Five-Thirty-Eight placing Haley at around 7%, trading places from day to day with Vivek Ramaswamy. However, Haley retains a lot of potential to grow based on more widespread name recognition. Nikki Haley’s campaign is on the rise, showing positive signs, but has yet to truly catch fire.
In the modern GOP, though, Haley might not be an electable figure. The campaigns of DeSantis and Trump have charted a far-right course for the Republican Party, a path that Haley has not followed. Trump acolytes still form a sizable part of the Republican voter base, and the primary race at the moment is still Trump’s to lose. Recent polls still have Trump leading the pack by 40 points, leaving a wide gap between him and the next candidate, Ron DeSantis. Haley has not helped herself either in regards to distancing herself from Trump. Often wishy-washy on the topic of her former boss, Haley could face scrutiny regarding her campaign’s seriousness. If Haley can separate from the farther-right section of the party and round up what’s left of the more traditional side, she could mount a challenge against the clear frontrunner.
Looking toward the future, though, Haley seems like a much more viable option compared to her top rivals. The nation is tired of talk of Trump vs. Biden or DeSantis vs. Biden, and Nikki Haley provides a fresh face in the political circus. A hypothetical CNN poll of potential matchups in the presidential election shows this, with Haley leading Biden 49% to 43%, while Trump and DeSantis are about evenly split with incumbent Joe Biden. Part of the reason for this is that Haley does not pull the theatrics of Trump and DeSantis. With Trump’s legal problems mounting and DeSantis’ war on wokeness and battle with Disney failing to make a significant mark, Haley could be in line for a break soon. New blood is needed in charge of the Republican Party, as well as on a national scale, and Haley could be that change.
Nikki Haley’s bid for president has potential—that’s evident from the rise in support—yet still has a long way to go to even challenge the Republican primary. But if her ascent continues, perhaps with a clearer distinction between her and other candidates, we may have a major player in the future of Republican politics for years to come. Don’t count Haley out.
Pictured: Nikki Haley clashes with fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy at the first GOP debate