Nikki Haley’s campaign – a giant step for GOP women?

With polls indicating that Nikki Haley is significantly trailing Donald Trump in the upcoming South Carolina Republican primary, many political analysts view this vote as Haley’s final attempt in her ambitious quest for the party’s 2024 presidential nomination.

Nevertheless, irrespective of the outcome, scholars contend that Haley’s campaign is a groundbreaking one. By surpassing a predominantly male-dominated field and effectively challenging the immensely popular Trump, she has brought women one step closer to achieving political equality in electoral politics.

The facts

Survey results suggest that Trump holds a substantial lead over Haley, possibly by as much as 36%, as they approach Saturday’s South Carolina primary. This is noteworthy despite Haley being a native of the state and a former governor. While a victory in the South Carolina primary could pave the way for Trump to secure the party’s nomination outright during next month’s simultaneous primaries in 15 states, Haley’s campaign has, in theory, mapped a course to persist until Super Tuesday. This could provide the former United Nations ambassador with an advantage in the 2028 presidential ballot.

Despite the odds, Haley has committed to remaining in the race. Speaking at her alma mater, Clemson University, she declared, “Some of you, perhaps a few in the media, came here today to see if I’m dropping out of the race. Well, I’m not. Far from it.”

Haley’s emergence as the last woman standing in a crowded race sharply contrasts with candidates like former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and ex-Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who positioned themselves as “anti-Trump” candidates. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis closely aligned himself with Trump in both style and substance before withdrawing in January, having failed to distinguish himself from the frontrunner and presumptive nominee.

In contrast, Haley has taken a middle-ground approach, presenting herself as a prospective “accountant” in the White House and consequently, a calming alternative to Trump’s four years of “chaos.” Initially cautious in her criticism, Haley has intensified her rhetoric as the GOP field has narrowed, targeting Trump’s attempts to place loyalists in the Republican National Convention, underscoring his growing legal troubles, and directly addressing Trump’s “insecurity” and temper tantrums.

Nevertheless, her policy proposals do not fundamentally differ from those of her former boss. As recently as this month, Haley conveyed to reporters in South Carolina that her campaign is not positioned as an “anti-Trump movement.

The arguments

A key aspect of Haley’s strategy involves navigating the delicate terrain of addressing her gender and Indian ancestry within the modern Republican Party, which has been slow to evolve. Haley has embraced her role as a rare woman in a Republican presidential race but has refrained from framing gender as a “point of merit.” This aligns with conservative ideals that tend to abstain from discussions of gender and racial identity as being perceived as anti-meritocratic, avoiding the pitfalls of identity politics often associated with the Democrats.

Drawing a comparison with Hillary Clinton in 2016, Clinton acknowledged her gender but emphasized her merits as the primary reason to vote for her. In contrast, Haley has employed gendered imagery to enhance her “masculine credentials” and project an image of male toughness, resonating with the party’s values. She consistently references her high-heeled shoes as “ammunition,” declaring in her campaign launch advertisement, “When you kick back, it hurts them more if you’re wearing heels.”

Addressing the issue of race, Haley has positioned herself to the right, aligning with Trump’s views. This has stirred controversy, notably when she failed to cite slavery as a cause for the US Civil War. She has echoed a common Republican assertion, most recently stating in a late January interview, “I don’t think America’s racist; I think we have racism in America.”

Trump’s criticisms of Haley indicate that there is still a tolerance, if not an appetite, for racism and sexism among his supporters. In January, Trump labeled Haley as “birdbrained” and deemed her “not presidential timber.”

Trump has perpetuated the conspiracy theory that Haley, of Indian descent, was not born in the US, reminiscent of the tactic he championed during Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. This tactic falsely alleged that the first African American president was born in Kenya and therefore ineligible to run for president. Trump has also derogatorily referred to Haley as “Nimbra,” seemingly degrading her given name, Nimarata (she uses Nikki as her middle name).

While such attacks have become somewhat expected in a Trump campaign, analysts show there is a high level of hostile sexism and racial resentment among Trump’s supporters. They say it’s not surprising for Trump to employ sexist or racist language or strategies, as it has proven beneficial in mobilizing his voter base.

In response, Haley has taken action by launching the National Women for Nikki Coalition, a 50-state effort seen by many as a last-ditch attempt to energize the voting bloc. Despite the possibility that it might be too late, Haley’s persistence in the race marks a historical milestone for a political party traditionally dominated by white men. She enjoys higher regard from voters, donors, and the media compared to Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and self-proclaimed “hockey mom,” who was often ridiculed by comedians and late-night talk show hosts.

While a significant defeat in South Carolina appears probable, Haley’s candidacy has, at the very least, measured the temperature of the modern Republican Party and underscored the existential challenge posed by Trump’s enduring influence, according to political observers. One notable aspect of Haley’s campaign has been the difficulty, not unique to her, for any Republican candidates to effectively criticize Trump, a non-traditional politician who continues to divide party members. In 2020, a movement against Trump coalesced under the “Never Trump” banner. Although less vocal this election cycle, there remains a minority, yet substantial, faction of disaffected Republican voters seeking an alternative to Trump. Some of them are prominent donors, primarily from the traditional conservative old guard of the Republican Party, who continue to support Haley’s campaign. In January, Haley reported raising $16.5 million, nearly a third of Trump’s $42 million campaign cash, marking her largest monthly haul since entering the race.

Some interpret Haley’s persistence as an attempt to position herself as the natural successor to Trump if he cannot be the party’s nominee. Trump’s unique situation, facing four criminal indictments during his campaign, raises questions about his electability, potentially leaving room for an alternative candidate.

However, despite legal challenges and a lack of active campaigning, Trump has maintained a remarkably loyal base, mobilizing them in ways that President Joe Biden has not achieved this election season. Political analysts are mentioning the irony that while Haley’s campaign has elevated the standards for women in high political office, it has paradoxically underlined Trump’s enduring political influence, highlighting that the Republican Party remains, in essence, a “cult of personality” for Trump.