Nikki Haley’s Uphill Battle: The Fantasy of Defeating Trump

Despite endorsements and financial backing, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley faces insurmountable odds in her bid to challenge Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley recently received the coveted endorsement of Americans for Prosperity Action, the primary vehicle used by the billionaire Koch family to influence electoral politics. This endorsement, coupled with significant financial support, suggests that Haley is perceived as the GOP’s best chance to take their party back from Donald Trump. However, despite the backing of the moneyed class, Haley’s chances of defeating Trump remain slim. This article explores the reasons behind this unlikely scenario and delves into the motivations of those supporting Haley.

The Divided Field and the Overwhelming Support for Trump:

Current polls show that Trump maintains a significant lead over Haley, with a 50-point difference in FiveThirtyEight’s national poll average. In key states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, Haley trails Trump by 30 and 26 points, respectively. Even in her home state of South Carolina, Haley lags behind Trump by 29 points. The argument that a consolidated anti-Trump vote could propel Haley to victory is weak, as Trump currently commands support from 59 percent of Republicans. Even if all other candidates dropped out and their supporters backed Haley, she would still be far behind the frontrunner.

The Unlikelihood of Trump’s Support Diminishing:

Morning Consult’s tracking poll reveals that a plurality of Republicans who don’t currently support Trump would choose him as their second choice. This suggests that if lower-polling contenders drop out, Trump’s support could continue to grow. The only realistic scenario for Haley or any other candidate to win the nomination is if Trump drops out or encounters a fatal event.

The Motivations of the Wealthy Backing Haley:

To understand why wealthy individuals are investing in Haley’s campaign despite the slim odds, we need to consider ideology and psychology rather than electoral politics. There is a strong desire among traditional conservatives to portray the Republican party as a “normal” political party, rather than an authoritarian outlier under the influence of a dangerous demagogue like Trump. Acknowledging that defeating Trump requires supporting Biden is met with profound hostility. The wealthy class, faced with two unappealing options, clings to the fantasy of a third option, regardless of its improbability. However, this flight from reality leads to millions of dollars being wasted.

AFPA’s Evasion of Reality:

Americans for Prosperity Action (AFPA) released a memo explaining its endorsement of Haley, which exemplifies the evasion of reality prevalent among a certain class of elite Republicans in the Trump era. The memo argues that Trump and Biden are mirror images of each other, but it becomes clear that the real concern is preventing Democrats from holding power. The substantive case for Haley revolves around economic and deregulatory grounds, aligning with the interests of the super-rich who prioritize tax cuts and reduced regulations. However, Haley’s values diverge from AFPA’s positions on issues such as immigration, criminal justice, and foreign policy.

The Elite Republican Flight from Reality:

The problem is that the political landscape has changed since 2012. Nearly 80 percent of Republicans have a favorable view of Trump, and his worldview is immensely popular among Republican primary voters. Throwing money at a candidate like Haley cannot beat Trump’s overwhelming support. The 2024 election is not a contest between an ordinary Democrat and an ordinary Republican; it is a choice between a Democrat and a Republican running on a platform that challenges American democracy. AFPA’s endorsement of Haley reflects a desperate attempt to avoid an agonizing choice between stability and economic interests.

The Alternative Choice:

Rather than wasting their money on Haley, the super-wealthy could choose to support Democrats and prioritize the preservation of American democracy over increasing their fortunes. Unlike Republican elected officials, the billionaire class is not accountable to primary voters and could dedicate their wealth to an altruistic political cause. However, this alternative remains highly unrealistic.

Conclusion:

Despite endorsements and financial backing, Nikki Haley faces insurmountable odds in her bid to challenge Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. The overwhelming support for Trump among Republican voters, coupled with the motivations of the wealthy class, highlights the fantasy of defeating Trump. The flight from reality and the desperate search for a third option reflect the challenges faced by traditional conservatives in the Trump era. Ultimately, the 2024 election presents a choice between stability and economic interests, and the support for Haley is an attempt to avoid this difficult decision.