In the wake of former President Donald Trump’s victories in the New Hampshire primaries and polls indicating his strong support in South Carolina, GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley is facing an uphill battle, according to Americans for Prosperity Action. The influential conservative group, founded by the billionaire Koch Brothers, acknowledged that Haley has a “steeper road ahead” in her campaign against Trump.
Following Trump’s second consecutive victory in New Hampshire, Americans for Prosperity Action Senior Advisor Emily Seidel stated that the results indicate that Haley is closing the gap and emerging as the clear alternative for voters looking to move past the Biden-Trump era. However, Seidel stressed that Haley’s path to victory in South Carolina will be challenging.
“For the past several months, we’ve been engaged in races for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and presidential levels to prevent a scenario where one-party progressive rule comes to Washington, D.C. at a time when our country can least afford it,” Seidel explained. “If Republicans nominate Donald Trump, we risk a repeat of the past three elections and the very real threat of full progressive control increases dramatically.”
Seidel further emphasized that Trump’s nomination would be advantageous for Joe Biden and the Democrats. She underscored the high stakes for the country and the need to elect candidates who can act as a firewall against progressive control.
Americans for Prosperity Action, known for its grassroots outreach, endorsed Haley in November and committed to spending tens of millions of dollars to support her campaign against Trump. Despite Trump’s victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, Haley remains determined to stay in the race. She plans to campaign in the U.S. Virgin Islands and South Carolina in the coming days as the Republican presidential nomination contest progresses beyond the initial voting states.
Meanwhile, Trump returned to Florida after his strong performance in New Hampshire, securing his third consecutive victory in the state’s primaries. He became the first presidential candidate to achieve this feat since Richard Nixon in the 1960s and 1970s. The next primary is scheduled for February 3rd in South Carolina for the Democratic side, while the Republican primary in South Carolina will take place on February 24th.
Despite Haley’s previous tenure as South Carolina’s governor, Trump enjoys substantial support from the current governor, statewide officials, and the majority of Republican U.S. House members from the state. Both of South Carolina’s U.S. senators, Lindsey Graham and former GOP presidential rival Tim Scott, are also backing Trump.
President Joe Biden, who won his respective primary in New Hampshire, expressed his belief that Trump would be the Republican nominee and emphasized the significance of the upcoming election.
The article includes contributions from Paul Steinhauser and The Associated Press. Danielle Wallace, a reporter for Digital, covered the story, providing updates on the 2024 campaign trail and exclusive interviews.
