Nikki Haley is the last bulwark against Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party. How long will she last?
Nikki Haley is the last Republican candidate standing between Donald Trump and the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
When she announced her run on 14 February 2023, she became the first woman of colour to be a major candidate for the Republican nomination and the first woman governor to run for the top job.
As the last bulwark of the old pre-2016 Republican establishment standing in Mr Trump’s way, the former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor has vowed to remain in the race until at least the primary in her home state on 24 February, but polling has her around 30 points behind Mr Trump there.
Top state officials, such as current governor Henry McMcMaster and senator Tim Scott, who Ms Haley appointed to the Senate and who previously dropped out of the presidential race, are backing Mr Trump in what some see as a cynical attempt to elevate themselves for jobs in a possible second Trump administration in January 2025.
Rising profile after strong debate performances
Proving herself to be a nimble debater, Ms Haley grew from 4. During that same time, Mr Trump went from 43.8 to 68.5 per cent.
