Nikki Haley vows to be stronger in New Hampshire after third place finish in Iowa Republican caucuses

On the 16th of January 2024 at 10:20 AM Eastern Standard Time, CBS News published a section in their blog.

After her recent experience in Iowa, Haley is now considering New Hampshire as her next destination.

On Tuesday, Nikki Haley, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, declared that her campaign will be "more powerful in New Hampshire." Following her third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, she is now shifting her efforts towards the primary election in the state of New Hampshire, which is traditionally the first to take place.

During an interview with "CBS Mornings" the day after the caucuses that marked the start of the GOP's presidential nomination process, Haley explained that she had been sharing the "difficult reality" with voters in New Hampshire throughout her months of campaigning.

"We've been in this state for 11 months now, promoting our campaign the New Hampshire way. Our approach involves addressing every question, reaching out to every individual and staying until we're the last ones standing," she shared with "CBS Mornings." "We plan to continue with this unwavering focus throughout the entire week, just like we have been doing for the past 11 months. This has borne fruit, since we're very close to Trump. This is why I believe our presence in New Hampshire will be much stronger."

Haley, an ex-ambassador from the United States to the United Nations, along with other Republicans who are competing against her, are making their way to New Hampshire ahead of the Republican presidential primary that is scheduled for January 23rd. This primary election will be the very first of many nominating contests. According to a survey done by CBS News in December of last year, Haley has become the primary replacement to former President Donald Trump in the state of New Hampshire. Approximately 29% of probable GOP primary voters there are supporting Haley while Trump has 44% of voters behind him.

Despite his controversial actions and statements, Trump maintains a significant advantage over his fellow Republican contestants. He emerged victorious in the Iowa caucuses, scoring over half of the votes and becoming the first GOP nominee to do so in the state. The caucuses mattered because they carried 40 local representatives out of a possible 2,400 across the country. Trump managed to clinch 20 delegates by winning in Iowa.

Haley came in third place during the Iowa caucuses with only a small gap between herself and Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida.

Haley said on "CBS Mornings" that the journey is a marathon, not a sprint, and they are approaching it gradually. Although Iowa was favorable to them, they are thrilled to be in New Hampshire and intend to take it to the next level.

According to Haley, the upcoming primary elections in New Hampshire and South Carolina on February 24th are races that only involve two candidates. She also portrayed herself as a leader from the younger generation.

She expressed her opinion that Trump does not have to be the next president and stated confidently that she will be the one to hold the position. The objective is to progress and eliminate Trump from any further discussions in order to focus on future solutions, rather than dwelling on past turmoil.

When asked if she thinks Trump is capable of being the president, Haley didn't answer directly but mentioned that wherever he goes, confusion and disorder seem to ensue.

She expressed that it is not possible to have a nation in chaos and a global crisis like now and endure another chaotic four-year term. In her opinion, the best way to convey that someone is not fit for the presidency position is to run against them. Hence, she is running against the current president as she believes the country needs a new, younger leader with fresh ideas.

Haley expressed her disapproval of both Trump and President Biden's ages. She believes that a significant number of Americans do not want them as the leading candidates. According to her, what people really want is a leader who can offer fresh ideas and solutions, free from any personal grudges or drama. They need someone who can fight for them and deliver concrete results.

On social media, she made it known that she will only take part in debates if her opponents are either Trump or Mr. Biden. She also stated that she will not participate in any future debates with other candidates.

Five debatable events have taken place during this campaign; however, Donald Trump failed to attend all of them. He can't evade from this anymore. My upcoming debate would either include Joe Biden or Donald Trump, and I am excited to participate. This statement was shared by Haley on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Melissa Quinn works as a reporter on political issues at CBSNews.com. She has contributed her journalistic pieces to various media organizations like the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal, and Alexandria Times. Melissa's main area of reporting is American politics, particularly on matters concerning the federal court system, with a specific emphasis on the Supreme Court.

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