As the Republican Party in New Hampshire searches for a leader, Nikki Haley’s absence is raising concerns among GOP insiders. They believe that her decision to keep a low profile could jeopardize her chances of beating former President Donald Trump in the upcoming primary.
Haley has cancelled two debates in New Hampshire, one hosted by ABC News and the other by CNN, after refusing to engage in a face-off with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. She has also been sparing with campaign stops, which is unusual in a state where candidates typically have packed schedules. Moreover, since her controversial comments last month about the Civil War, she has avoided taking questions from voters during her public appearances.
Haley’s campaign team is betting that a more limited presence will work to her advantage with only three candidates remaining, especially since DeSantis has already decided to shift his campaign to South Carolina. However, Republican strategists in New Hampshire, including Dave Carney, warn that this strategy could backfire for Haley. They argue that, as a candidate currently in second place, she needs to take bigger risks and seize every opportunity to make a splash in these final critical days.
Despite repeated attempts to seek a response from Haley’s team, they have remained silent on this matter. NBC News interviewed various Republican officials and party strategists in New Hampshire, all of whom expressed disappointment with Haley’s decision to distance herself from voters. They believe that her reluctance to debate and engage with the public may alienate undecided voters and damage her campaign.
A recent Suffolk University/NBC10 Boston/Boston Globe poll of likely New Hampshire primary voters showed Trump leading at 50%, with Haley trailing at 34% and DeSantis at a mere 5%. DeSantis has significantly scaled back his efforts in New Hampshire, focusing instead on South Carolina, where he hopes to gain an advantage over Haley. While Haley initially emphasized the importance of New Hampshire in her campaign strategy, her recent actions have left many feeling let down.
New Hampshire is known for its town hall-style forums, where voters have the opportunity to directly question candidates. These sessions have become part of the state’s political tradition, allowing voters to fully assess candidates based on their responses. Republicans in New Hampshire argue that by avoiding these forums and debates, Haley is missing a crucial chance to connect with voters and prove herself as a candidate.
Haley’s decision to limit her public events and avoid debates has drawn criticism from Republican state Rep. Bill Boyd, who considers it a missed opportunity to engage with undecided voters. He emphasizes that anything that happens before the primary will influence his decision, and he finds Haley’s departure from the time-honored tradition of using debates to communicate with voters frustrating.
Haley’s rivals, DeSantis and Trump, have also adopted different approaches in New Hampshire. DeSantis has conceded the state to focus on South Carolina, while Trump only appears at nightly rallies. As a result, Republican candidates have had a reduced presence in the state, with fewer public events compared to Democrat candidate Rep. Dean Phillips.
Rick Gorka, a spokesperson for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, criticizes Haley’s strategy, stating that avoiding the press and hoping for a good showing is not a winning formula. He considers it pointless, akin to receiving a participation trophy.
Though Haley has added a few more stops to her schedule, some supporters are concerned that Trump’s lead has widened since businessman Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out of the race and endorsed him after the Iowa caucuses.
In conclusion, Haley’s decision to keep her distance from New Hampshire voters and eschew debates is causing disappointment among Republicans in the state. They believe that her campaign strategy may hinder her chances of success, especially in such a closely contested primary race. To read the full article, please visit F5mag.com.