LOS ANGELES.–Winning the D.C. GOP primary yesterday, 51-year-old former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley burned her last bridges ahead of March 5, Super Tuesday, where she’s expected to lose all 16 primaries to 77-year-old President Donald Trump. Haley continued the fight after losing her home state of South Carolina Feb. 24 by over 20%. Haley refused to throw in the towel like former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, both dropping out after losing New Hamphire, knowing they had no path to the nomination. Haley refused the conventional wisdom to recognize reality, instead telling her supporters that she would continue to offer GOP voters an alternative to Trump. But then on March 3, Haley said she isn’t bound by any RNC loyalty pledge, insisting she’d voter for whomever she wants. Haley showed her sour grapes undermining her political future.
When Haley is forced to drop out when Trump wins the GOP nomination, she’s put on record her rebellious streak, a candidate that ran for the Never Trump crowd, denying that, like Christie, she’s part of the Never Trump mob. Haley knows that Trump has all but wrapped up the Republican nomination, knowing she’s taken herself out of any consideration for Trump’s running mate. Telling the anti-Trump media that she won’t be bound to a GOP loyalty pledge to support the nominee, Haley proves that she’s not a team player and will have no role in any future Trump administration. Haley had no more real support than Christie or DeSantis but they knew when to gracefully bow out. Haley has hung in largely because of the liberal media, the same place Christie spent much of his campaign ripping Trump. Haley now panders to anti-Trump press, telling them what they want to hear.
Haley’s token win in D.C. means nothing for her prospects on Super Tuesday, other than saying for posterity she won at least one primary. “This universe is a little more sophisticate that just about any universe in any other state,” said Patrick Mara, chair of the D.C. Republican Party. D.C. Republicans only account for 5% of the electorate, an overwhelmingly Democrat city. Haley fits right into the Republicans in Name Only [RINO] D.C. crowd. “I’ve always been a RINO,” said Dana Milbank, a long-time Washington Post columnist. Milbank admitted he changed his party affiliation for only a few weeks to vote for Haley in the D.C. GOP primary, primarily to embarrass Trump. “I’ve always been a RINO,” Milbank said. “ So I feel like I fit right in,” to the Never Trump crowd, much like Haley whose campaign positions resemble 81-year-old President Joe Biden, more than Trump.
So when it comes to the D.C. GOP primary, the miniscule numbers of GOP voters are largely fakes like Milbank who just like to mess with polls-and-pundits, pretending on one day to play Republican. “This is a more moderate area,” said Dennis Paul, a registered Republican his whole life. “I think people here think as little more rationally,” referring to his views of GOP politics. But the real issue involves Haley as a protest vote, largely who hold more Democrat than Republicans positions. Haley rubber stamps Biden’s Ukraine War, believing, like most war hawks, that the U.S. must defeat the Russian Federation. Haley’s view contrasts sharply with Trump who said he would end the Ukraine War in 24 hours. Haley thinks after destroying Ukraine, Biden’s policy is on the right track, disagreeing with Trump approach to move the conflict to the peace table.
Haley has wrecked her political future by extending her campaign to Super Tuesday where she’ll establish a permanent record of failure in GOP politics. Christie and DeSantis knew when it was time to get out but not Haley, thinking she got too much attention from the Never Trump crowd and media looking to denounce Trump. Within the mainstream GOP, Haley is the outsider, no longer in touch with the direction of the Party. “If you’re a candidate running for president, your job is to bring people in, not push people out of your club,” Haley said, thanking Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) another RINOs who wouldn’t voter for Trump in the general election. “Thank you for showing the fellas that you’ve got more balls than them,” Haley told Collins. With crude remarks like that it’s no wonder Haley couldn’t pick up too many GOP votes, only the ones in the anti-Trump D.C. swamp.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
