Nikki Haley’s departure from the 2024 Republican presidential race comes in the wake of a challenging Super Tuesday, during which she suffered defeat in fourteen states against Donald Trump, managing to clinch victory in just one.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is poised to suspend her presidential campaign following a series of losses on Super Tuesday, according to sources within her campaign who spoke to ABC News.
With Haley’s exit, President Donald Trump emerges as the last major Republican candidate standing, virtually securing the party’s nomination and setting the stage for a potential rematch with President Joe Biden in November.
Although Haley is not expected to immediately endorse Trump, she is scheduled to address the press at 10:00 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Haley, one of the earliest contenders to announce her bid for the 2024 presidency, is now the final candidate to withdraw after over a year of campaigning.
At her campaign launch in Charleston, South Carolina, Haley emphasized the need for fresh leadership, stating, “America won’t win the 21st century if we keep trusting politicians from the 20th century.”
Despite her extensive political background, including two terms as governor of South Carolina and serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, Haley initially faced an uphill battle in the race.
Initially avoiding direct confrontation with Trump, Haley later emerged as his primary challenger, surpassing former favorite Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Trump critic former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
While Haley secured victories in New Hampshire and Washington, D.C., ahead of Super Tuesday, she faced defeat in her home state of South Carolina, which she had previously touted as crucial to her campaign’s success.
As her campaign progressed, Haley sharpened her criticisms of Trump, expressing doubts about his commitment to the Constitution and warning of the consequences of his nomination for the Republican Party.
Seeking to differentiate herself from Trump’s vision for the party, Haley argued that his leadership would divert focus from core Republican principles such as fiscal discipline and national security.
Despite her efforts, Haley’s campaign ultimately faltered, leading to her decision to suspend her presidential bid.
“This is now becoming a party that’s pushing people out of our party, as opposed to the Republican Party I believe in where you bring more people in. So this primary has always been about what direction is the Republican party going and what direction is America going,” she said.
During the final weeks and months of her campaign, Haley cultivated a relatively diverse coalition of supporters, encompassing Republicans, moderates, and occasionally, Democrats, who, for various reasons, sought to distance themselves from Trump within the GOP.
While Haley initially committed to backing Trump as the Republican nominee even if he were convicted of a felony, her stance shifted as her campaign progressed.
In February, she contended that there was “no way that the American people are going to vote for a convicted criminal” for president, and shortly thereafter, hinted at the possibility of reneging on the RNC pledge she had signed to support the eventual Republican nominee — a requirement for participation in the party’s televised debates.
“I get to do what I want to do,” Haley asserted during an interview with Fox News, emphasizing that Trump never pledged to support her if she were to become the nominee.
“If he refused to sign the pledge, I don’t have to go forward, but I’ll make that decision on my own,” she added.
Despite drawing sizable crowds at her events, speculation arose that she might consider a third-party bid, a notion she consistently rebuffed.
“My purpose has never been to stop Trump at all costs. Like most Americans, I have a handful of serious concerns about the former president. But I have countless serious concerns about the current president,” she conveyed to reporters and supporters in a state-of-the-race address delivered days before South Carolina’s primary.
Although Haley’s campaign failed to gain significant electoral traction, her financial standing did not mirror that of a losing candidate.
She largely sidestepped the financial struggles typical of struggling campaigns, raising $11.5 million in January — her highest fundraising month on record — even after consecutive losses to Trump. In fact, she outpaced Trump’s fundraising efforts that month by $2.7 million, and in February, claimed to have amassed an additional $12 million across her three fundraising committees.
Haley also garnered sought-after endorsements from New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and Americans For Prosperity, the Super PAC supported by the Koch network. She secured substantial contributions from prominent Republican donors, including billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Singer, Citadel Chief Ken Griffin, and WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum. Additionally, she received $250,000 from Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman.
However, despite this support, Haley ultimately fell short against Trump, and following her decisive loss in South Carolina, Americans For Prosperity withdrew its backing.
Now, it appears that Trump is firmly in the driver’s seat, boasting substantial support from delegates and ardent MAGA loyalists. Trump himself expressed confidence, stating, “We have to let them know that a FREIGHT TRAIN is coming in November.”