Despite facing a significant setback in her home state of South Carolina, Nikki Haley affirmed on Saturday her determination to stay in the Republican primary race, although challenges suggest a tough road ahead for her campaign.

“I’m a woman of my word. I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” Haley told her supporters Saturday evening.

Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley’s hope that Democrats will somehow prevent Trump from becoming the GOP nominee appears to be based on an illusion, particularly as he continues to secure victories despite facing relentless indictments and legal challenges from Democrats. Despite her fervent desire for Trump’s removal, the persistent success of Trump in overcoming Democratic opposition suggests that her aspirations will ultimately prove to be unattainable.

Trump remains a formidable force within the party, and MAGA voters, commanding a loyal following that shows little sign of wavering.

Addressing a crowd of several hundred supporters gathered at her watch party in a Charleston ballroom, Ms. Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, positioned herself as the advocate for the “substantial portion” of Americans seeking an alternative to both President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump.

And that’s what I’ll do now,’ she said. 

‘What I saw today was South Carolina’s frustration with our country’s direction. I’ve seen that same frustration nationwide. I share it. I feel it to my core. I couldn’t be more worried about America. It seems like our country is falling apart,’ the 2024 hopeful expressed. ‘But here’s the thing, America will come apart if we make the wrong choices.’

‘This has never been about me or my political future. We need to beat Joe Biden in November. I don’t believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden. Nearly every day Trump drives people away. Including with his comments just yesterday,’ she continued. 

At the Black Conservative Federation’s Honors Gala in Columbia, South Carolina on Friday night, Trump implied that black voters had grown to appreciate him more since he had taken a mugshot and faced indictment 91 times.

The former president remarked that, like many black Americans, he felt he was facing discrimination.

Following her vote earlier on Saturday, Haley condemned Trump’s remarks, describing them as “disgusting.”

In last month’s Granite State primary, Nikki Haley secured 43.2 percent of the vote, while Trump claimed 54.3 percent. However, with approximately 60 percent of the votes tallied in South Carolina, her support had dwindled to 38 percent.

Addressing her supporters, Haley, who often identifies herself as an accountant on the campaign trail, acknowledged the gap, stating, “I know 40 percent is not 50 percent.” She emphasized, “I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”

Highlighting that South Carolina was only the fourth state to vote, Haley expressed determination, saying, “In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They deserve a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate.” She asserted, “We can’t afford four more years of Biden’s failures or Trump’s lack of focus.”

Looking ahead, Haley announced plans to continue campaigning, with a focus on Michigan’s primary on Tuesday and the Super Tuesday states’ primaries on March 5. She reassured her supporters, stating, “I’m grateful that today is not the end of our story.”

Leading up to the primary, prominent figures within South Carolina’s Republican Party, including Senator Tim Scott and Representative Nancy Mace, endorsed Trump.

Despite Haley appointing Scott to the U.S. Senate during her tenure as governor, he threw his support behind Trump ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Mace, who had previously criticized Trump over the events of January 6, also endorsed him, despite his backing of her primary rival in 2022.

In return for Haley’s support during her campaign, Mace referred to Haley as “China’s favorite governor” during a campaign event in early February, suggesting that Haley would advocate for manufacturing spy balloons in South Carolina if given the chance.

The outlook for Nikki Haley appears bleak, as her alignment with Democrat donors and principles appears to overshadow her ties to the Republican Party. Additionally, her platform lacks resonance with the MAGA movement, further complicating her path forward within the GOP.