Donald Trump Jr. posted a tweet about Joe and Jill Biden’s bedroom intimacy.
Fucking the entire country doesn’t count!!! https://t.co/8gTNvKuPcG
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 23, 2024
In the lead-up to the Republican primary in South Carolina, former Governor Nikki Haley faces a significant challenge, with recent polls indicating a substantial lead for former President Donald Trump. Contrary to conventional political expectations, Haley appears to be trailing Trump by at least 20 points, according to the RealClearPolitics average of South Carolina polls. This potential loss on her home turf has led to scrutiny from GOP operatives, who attribute her declining support to her neglect of grassroots activists in the state.
More than a dozen GOP operatives interviewed by Politico suggest that Haley’s own campaign strategy and inattention to South Carolina’s grassroots Republicans have contributed to her expected loss. Despite her previous role as the state’s governor, Haley is perceived to have overlooked the local party base that supported her during her gubernatorial tenure. The RealClearPolitics average shows Trump consistently leading by a substantial margin, indicating a disconnect between Haley and the state’s Republican voters.
The prevailing sentiment among grassroots Republicans is that Haley has not actively maintained relationships with them, leading some to feel abandoned by her. Even former supporters, like Allen Olson, who was formerly the head of the Columbia Tea Party, express disappointment, stating, “She abandoned us.” The criticism centers on Haley’s perceived shift towards the political establishment, neglecting the very people who helped propel her to the governor’s mansion.
“Her campaign has totally overlooked the people who helped put her in the governor’s mansion,” Nate Leupp, a former Greenville Republican Party leader, told Politico, though he conceded that Haley probably wasn’t getting the credit she deserved for her time as the state’s chief executive.
“[M]ost grassroots Republicans at this point are being brutal right now and I think a little unfairly brutal”
Rob Godfrey, Haley’s former deputy chief of staff, provides a more nuanced perspective on her expected poor performance. While conservatives in South Carolina still have a fond recollection of Haley’s governorship, they have grown comfortable with Donald Trump as the national party leader. Godfrey acknowledges Trump’s ability to “weaponize anger and emotion against political opponents,” a strategy that resonates with an increasingly agitated party base.
Haley’s campaign strategy aims to drive higher turnout by targeting Republicans who typically sit out the primary but are likely to vote Republican in the general election. The focus is on positioning Haley as the conservative outsider fighting against another Biden-Trump matchup. However, some critics, like Nate Leupp, a former Greenville Republican Party leader, argue that Haley’s campaign has not effectively connected with the grassroots activists who once supported her.
As the primary approaches, the challenge for Haley is not just about winning the election but also regaining the support and trust of the grassroots Republicans who feel neglected. The influence of Trump’s leadership style, characterized by his ability to channel anger and emotion, adds another layer to the complex dynamics of the Republican primary in South Carolina. Whether Haley can overcome these challenges and secure the support of her home state remains uncertain.
