Haley confronts Trump in New Hampshire By Luke Perry
Concord, NH . . . Nikki Haley has increased her focus on Donald Trump in the final stretch of the New Hampshire primary that has now become a two-person race. Haley’s critiques have focused on three key themes: age, losing, and chaos.
Haley’s rhetoric has used age to connect Trump more with President Biden than what best serves the Republican Party. When asked if Trump is fit to be president, Haley answers affirmatively, but cites cognitive decline that comes with age, common in the elderly we know in our families.
Haley contends a new generation of younger leadership is necessary to address current challenges and move the country forward, asking rally supporters if they are really okay with two 80-year-old candidates this November. “We need eight years” from the next president, “not four,” Haley told the audience in Salem.
Trump was the first president since Hebert Hoover to have his party lose control of the House, Senate, and presidency over a four-year term. Trump has overcome modern party norms to again become the front runner of the 2024 Republican primary.
NH Governor Chris Sununu (Luke Perry)
In recent days, Haley has spoken about “hard truths” facing the GOP this cycle. Republicans shouldn’t be proud about losing seven of the last eight popular votes for president. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Haley’s main surrogate here, further laments Republican struggles in the 2018 and 2022 Congressional elections. Haley believes the party needs to build their nationwide support. This will “take courage” from Republicans to move in a different direction.
Haley is the first Republican with substantial national backing with Republicans to make this argument. Common sentiment among Haley’s supporters here is that Republicans will lose if Trump secures the nomination. They quietly sense this may be unstoppable, yet still have some hope. Haley references polling that shows a dead heat between Trump and Biden, while she commands a double digit lead over Biden.
Haley is not critical of Trump on the issues, aside from federal spending and the federal debt, instead focusing on Trump’s leadership and demeanor. “Chaos follows him wherever he goes,” Haley observed. This will not work well when the “world is on fire” with wars in Europe and the Middle East.
Photo by Luke Perry
“All the lies” was what Haley told me was the biggest challenge in facing Trump. Haley claims that Trump’s attack ads are full of them. “If you need to lie to win,” Haley told supporters in her final stump speech, “you don’t deserve to.”
Haley needs to walk a fine line in combating Trump. More experienced primary candidates have been undone by this, including Mike Pence and Chris Christie.
One might think Trump’s legal troubles would help, but scholars on the ground in Iowa identified a rally-around-Trump phenomena in response to his prosecution. This helps explain Trump’s sustained popularity and shrinking openness toward an alternative among conservative primary voters.
The stakes could not be higher. A convincing Trump victory in New Hampshire could be the beginning of the end for Haley’s campaign.
Luke Perry is Distinguished Professor and Chair of Political Science at Utica University and Director of Utica University’s Masters of Public Administration Program and Center of Public Affairs and Election Research
