RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has made her stance clear in the 2024 GOP presidential nomination race, signaling her support for former President Trump. While remaining neutral officially, McDaniel expressed doubts about former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s chances against Trump. In an interview with Channel, McDaniel emphasized the need for Republican unity, stating that Trump would be the eventual nominee to defeat President Biden.
However, McDaniel’s comments have sparked backlash among some national party committee members who argue that the RNC should remain neutral in the competitive race. The issue of whether to rally behind Trump will be discussed at the upcoming annual winter meeting of the RNC committee members and staff in Las Vegas.
The interview with McDaniel took place after Trump secured a second consecutive double-digit victory in the New Hampshire GOP primary. While not delivering a knockout blow, Trump’s win solidified his frontrunner status. McDaniel emphasized that the voters’ support for Trump should be taken seriously and that Haley and her team should reflect on the upcoming contests in Nevada and South Carolina.
Haley, on the other hand, dismissed claims that the race was over and vowed to continue fighting. With the next major contest in South Carolina, Haley’s home state, she launched a new $4 million ad campaign to bolster her campaign. Meanwhile, Trump argued that Haley should suspend her campaign to focus on targeting President Biden in the general election.
Trump’s victory in New Hampshire came after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his campaign, narrowing the race down to a two-candidate contest between Trump and Haley. Despite Haley’s efforts and endorsement from popular Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, Trump’s nearly 12-point margin of victory was below expectations.
The RNC’s neutrality in the nomination race has been questioned, with critics arguing that it’s too early to call the race after just two states. Sununu pushed back against McDaniel’s remarks, emphasizing the importance of letting voters decide and not allowing political elites to dictate the outcome.
Haley’s campaign communications director, Olivia Perez-Cubas, emphasized that elections, not coronations, are held in the country, and Haley will continue to fight for the majority of Republican primary voters who oppose a Biden-Trump rematch.
While McDaniel highlighted the benefits of an early conclusion to the nomination race for organizational and fundraising purposes, critics argue that the party should focus on Biden and not divide itself in the early stages.
As the race for the 2024 GOP nomination continues, the RNC’s role in maintaining neutrality will be closely watched, while Haley and Trump compete for support in upcoming contests. Stay tuned for further updates and exclusive interviews as the campaign trail unfolds.
