Attacks on Donald Trump:
Nikki Haley aims to upset Republican contest in New Hampshire, deploying up to 100 additional campaign workers from AFP Action, a political advocacy group backed by conservative billionaire Charles Koch.
SFA, another well-funded PAC supporting Haley, released a new ad portraying Trump as a bully and a liar, aiming to influence voters ahead of the Republican presidential primary.
Haley, a former United Nations ambassador under Trump, has adjusted her campaign strategy following her third-place finish in Iowa. She now adopts a more aggressive approach against Trump, although she avoids certain sensitive topics, such as Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Accusations on Trump:
At a crowded event in Hollis, New Hampshire, Nikki Haley criticized Donald Trump’s age, labeling him as an irresponsible spender. She accused Trump of being “vindictive” and overly focused on investigations, diverting attention from critical matters such as preventing war.
This heightened campaign effort underscores the significance of the upcoming Republican primary for Haley, as winning is crucial to maintaining a viable path to the nomination.The pressure on Haley has intensified, emphasizing the pivotal nature of the second contest in the Republican primary race.
Feared Funding:
Major donors express concerns that Nikki Haley’s campaign funding could dry up if she falls short in New Hampshire, where she trails Trump by around 14 percentage points. Trump’s decisive victory over Haley and Governor Ron DeSantis in Iowa has heightened uncertainties about Haley’s path forward.
New Hampshire, with its concentration of white-collar, college-educated professionals, presents a demographic less favorable to Trump, and its semi-open primary allows centrist-leaning voters to participate. AFP Action, bolstered by 60 paid employees and an additional 100 workers, aims to mobilize Haley supporters and sway undecided voters in the state.
Door-to-door scripts emphasize Haley’s perceived advantage in beating Biden in November. Haley and her super PACs are relying on the endorsement of popular Republican Governor Chris Sununu, who has been actively supporting Haley and joining her on campaign events in New Hampshire.
‘BINARY CHOICE’
Nikki Haley positions the primary race in New Hampshire as a two-person contest between herself and Trump, with DeSantis trailing far behind at 5%. In Hollis, Haley presents herself as a “new generational conservative leader,” emphasizing her less divisive approach compared to Trump and Biden.
She critiques the age of both Trump and Biden, asserting her electability in a general election, garnering applause from the crowd. Despite a shift in tone, Haley still refrains from directly addressing Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election, often pairing jabs at Trump with critiques of Biden.
Some critics, like Fergus Cullen, suggest Haley should be more assertive in addressing Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, and his election challenges, to appeal to more independent voters.
Despite differing opinions, some voters appreciate Haley’s approach, citing her lack of drama and forward-looking mentality as appealing qualities. Michelle Wright from Rye, New Hampshire, praises Haley’s ability to unify people.
