Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s ascendancy in the GOP presidential race has brought new financial support, but also newfound attention from her rivals trying to topple former President Donald Trump.
But in the face of increased scrutiny, Haley’s allies increasingly are thinking about the long game. She needs to exceed expectations in debates and in the first few primary contests next year, they say, as she attempts to outlasts other candidates. Chief among those rivals? Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had initially been seen as the main alternative to Trump, before Haley started to rise in the polls and secured the endorsement last week of the influential conservative network, Americans for Prosperity Action.
“He’s said repeatedly he has to win in Iowa. So he’s got a lot of ground to cover and, for us, I think the mission’s just to grow our vote share,” said Mark Harris, a top strategist for a pro-Haley super PAC. “You can expect to see more efforts by us to continue to amplify the campaign’s positive message as well as educate voters about where Ron is.”
That was on display during Wednesday night’s debate as Haley sought to do no harm and show she could hold her own.
“I love all the attention, fellas. Thank you for that,” Haley said at one point with a smile on her face.
Haley’s team was happy with her debate performance, according to two Republican sources with knowledge of their thinking, even if she didn’t have a clear breakout moment like in past debates. She doesn’t need to win a shouting match, these Republicans said. One of those sources explained that Haley and her team “want the section of primary voters who want ‘normal’ to see she was being presidential.”
“The voters who love the shouting … aren’t really up for grabs” for Haley, that Republican added.
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