The former US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, intends to run for the Republican presidential nomination in South Carolina after losing to former President Donald Trump in the previous two elections.
Between now and February 24, she has almost a dozen fundraisers planned, where she will meet billionaires Ken Langone, Cliff Asness, Henry Kravis, and Stanley Druckenmiller. Then, Haley will go to Florida, Texas, and California in the first two weeks of February to meet with fellow conservative centrists.
Haley’s candidacy is perceived by many as more of a vanity endeavor than a serious one. She had already fallen behind Trump in South Carolina by thirty points before losing to him in Iowa. Billionaire LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has stopped donating to Haley after her loss in New Hampshire.
Additionally, Haley will appear at fundraisers in Greenville, South Carolina, Houston, and San Antonio. Among the guests will be Susan Rockefeller, the ex-wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, real estate tycoon Ross Perot Jr., and former U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). Many supporters acknowledge that Haley has little to no chance of winning the nomination, and some insiders speculate that for billionaires with unlimited funds, endorsing her may be more about staging a lavish cocktail party for friends than it is about placing a wager on her ability to pull off an upset.
A portion of the revised computation involves dodging the wrath of former President Trump, who is now anticipated to secure the nomination and have the possibility of winning the presidency once more. If Trump withdraws, Haley is not guaranteed the nomination; the delegates at the convention will eventually select a successor. Wealthy players saw the odd funding redirection as an “opposition effort” to prevent another Trump administration.
Anyone registered to vote who hasn’t cast a ballot in another primary is eligible to participate in South Carolina’s open primary.
