WASHINGTON — Now that she’s in the Republican presidential race, Nikki Haley must find a way to crash a party primary field dominated by Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis.
While touting her experience as the former governor of South Carolina and a former United Nations ambassador, Haley stresses something else: her relative youth.
“It’s time for a new generation of leadership,” Haley said in an announcement video put out a day before her announcement speech Wednesday in Charleston, S.C.
With Trump and DeSantis atop many pre-election polls, look for Haley to take several steps to gain relevance.
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‘New Generation’
The 51-year-old Haley has made “new generation” her mantra since she and aides began discussing her prospective candidacy weeks ago.
The newly minted Republican candidate has targeted her generational argument against 80-year-old President Joe Biden – but it could just as easily apply to the 76-year-old Trump.
In her video, Haley noted that Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight elections and added that “the Washington establishment has failed us over and over and over again.”
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An early start
After her announcement speech in South Carolina, Haley travels within the next week to New Hampshire and Iowa, two other states that hold early contests for convention delegates.
Those trips give Haley something of a head start on fundraising, organizing, and appealing to Republican voters who will decide the 2024 nominee.
‘An opening’
Early polls consistently put Trump and DeSantis atop the Republican field.
In a newly released Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll, Trump received 43% support from registered Republicans. DeSantis received 31% of GOP support, while 4% supported Haley.
Republican pollster Whit Ayres, however, said his data shows voters yearning for an alternative. Ayres also noted that DeSantis is untested at the national level and that other candidates like Haley may well have a chance.
“I think the race is wide open and she has a great story to tell,” Ayres said.
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Domestic and foreign record
If her video is any guide, Haley plans to stress her experience in domestic and foreign affairs, starting with her two terms as governor of South Carolina.
Haley has often cited her handling of the 2015 mass murder of Black parishoners in Charleston, S.C., including removal of the Confederate battle flag from atop the statehouse in Columbia – though the flag decision, which was criticized by some conservatives, is not mentioned in the announcement video.
Haley has stressed her U.N. ambassador work on sanctions against North Korea and defense of Israel.
The Trump factor
In moving forward with her presidential campaign, Haley must figure out how to deal with the specter of Trump.
So far Haley had gyrated between criticism and support for Trump.
A Trump critic in the 2016 Republican race – she endorsed Marco Rubio – Haley later accepted Trump’s offer to be ambassador to the United Nations.
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Two years ago, Haley criticized Trump’s leadership in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Months later, she said she wouldn’t run for president if Trump did – a statement that Trump and allies plan to bring up constantly.
“Now, she’s telling us she represents a ‘new generation,'” said Taylor Budowich, head of a pro-Trump organization called Make America Great Again Inc. “Sure just looks like more of the same, a career politician whose only fulfilled commitment is to herself.”
Underdog?
The new candidate is expected to stress the fact she has been an underdog before.
In 2010, back when she was a little-known state legislator, Haley rode the Tea Party wave to victory in the Republican primary over the state’s lieutenant governor, attorney general, and a U.S. House member.
It takes a woman?
Haley is also expected to emphasize the possibility she would be the first female Republican presidential nominee, a point she made in her video.
“You should know this about me: I don’t put up with bullies,” Haley said. “And when you kick back, it hurts them more if you’re wearing heels.”
Amanda Hunter, executive director of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, an organization that advocates for female representation in politics, said their research shows Republican women have an advantage with voters on certain policy issues like national security and the economy.
“We saw her in her video establishing her toughness; the name of the video is strong and proud,” said Hunter. “It seems like she’s going out of her way to establish that strength early on.”
But there’s still a gendered tightrope Haley will surely face.
“Women candidates have to show they’re strong enough to be commander in chief, but they can’t be too tough or they risk jeopardizing their likability,” Hunter said.
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Story Credit: usatoday.com