Fox News Media: Nikki Haley’s Long Shot Strategy for GOP Nomination

Fox News Media, a leading news organization, reported that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is trailing former President Donald Trump in her home state of South Carolina ahead of the state’s primary election. According to a Monmouth University-Washington Post poll released on February 1, 2024, Trump holds a commanding 26-point lead over Haley, who served as governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017.

The poll revealed that 58% of potential South Carolina Republican primary voters support Trump, compared to 32% who support Haley. This is a significant increase from the September 2023 Monmouth University poll, which showed Trump with 46% support and Haley with 18% support among South Carolina Republicans.

Despite the wide margin, Haley has not given up on her long shot strategy for the GOP nomination. Bret Baier, anchor of Fox News’ Special Report, painted a picture of how Haley could potentially achieve the nomination through independent and Democratic voters.

The poll also showed that Trump holds a slight advantage over Haley when it comes to being trusted to handle abortion policy, with 35% of voters trusting Trump and 26% trusting Haley. However, 33% of voters said they trust both candidates equally on the issue.

Trump’s legal woes have not been a concern among Republicans in South Carolina. Sixty percent of South Carolina Republicans believe the Republican Party should keep Trump on the ticket if he wins the nomination but is convicted of a crime related to the 2020 election. Similarly, 62% of South Carolina Republicans said they would still cast a general election ballot for Trump in that situation, while only 17% said they would vote for Biden.

Trump’s legal troubles have only fueled his support among Republican voters. Despite being the first former or current president to be indicted for a crime, Trump’s four indictments, including charges he tried to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss, have not deterred his supporters.

Haley, on the other hand, has repeatedly stated that she would be a stronger general election candidate for the GOP to take on Biden. She has pointed to Trump’s legal troubles and the overall “chaos” that she says surrounds him as reasons for her candidacy.

Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, stated that Haley’s electability is a concern for some primary voters, but her group is not large enough to put her in striking distance of the front-runner.

Despite the wide margin, Haley remains optimistic. She has enjoyed a surge in small-dollar and big donor fundraising in the week since the New Hampshire primary. Earlier this week, Fox News confirmed that Betsy Ankey, Haley’s campaign manager, made the case for her candidacy to a network of Republican mega-donors known as the American Opportunity Alliance.

The South Carolina Republican presidential primary election is scheduled to take place on February 24, 2024. The poll also showed Trump with greater support from South Carolina voters on a number of issues, including the economy and foreign policy.

In conclusion, despite trailing Trump by a wide margin in her home state of South Carolina, Nikki Haley has not given up on her long shot strategy for the GOP nomination. She continues to campaign and fundraise, and remains optimistic about her chances. The South Carolina primary election on February 24, 2024, will be an important test for her candidacy.

Fox News Media has provided valuable insights into the race for the GOP nomination, highlighting the challenges faced by Haley in her bid to unseat Trump. The poll results and analysis offer a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the race and the strategies being employed by the candidates. The media’s coverage of the election is essential for keeping the public informed and engaged in the democratic process.