The First Challenger
Former South Carolina governor and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is apparently taking the leap…reports are that she will officially declare her candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in two weeks.
The only other declared Republican is former President Donald Trump. He’s not known for tolerating actions he deems to be disloyal—witness his social media shots at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as his star starts to rise—so it will be interesting to see 45’s reaction to this. He did note that Haley called him before announcing, and Trump said he told her that if it was in her heart to run, so be it.
But that’s doesn’t mean he’s going to play nice about it.
It’s one thing to take on DeSantis in this way…but how will voters see things if Trump tears into each opponent the same way? It may not be right, but my guess is that his barbs against Haley, or South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, may be viewed differently.
It’s his pattern, of course…remember “Lyin’ Ted Cruz” and “Little Marco Rubio” in 2016…that’s the playbook, and it’s worked well in and out of politics. But has the act worn thin? Given how bad things are under the current president, will voters expect a higher ground to be taken—or are they convinced Trump is the answer no matter what?
Polls would indicate it’s the latter, at least so far. And how well this wears depends on how the former president conducts himself as a former president wanting the job back…as opposed to a first-time campaigner breaking the mold.
