Where Haley fits in
On the stump, Haley’s pitch centers on a more muscular foreign policy — namely countering China and supporting Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia — curbing the national debt by reforming entitlement programs and offering more moderate messaging on social issues when compared to the primary field writ large. They are positions that may help her with some Trump-weary voters and traditional conservatives but have her largely out-of-step with much of the primary electorate.
“Nikki’s not out there fighting social issues that affect the 1 and 2 percenters; she’s fighting issues that affect every family — and that’s their pocketbooks,” South Carolina state Rep. Chris Wooten, a Haley supporter, said. “And their protection.”
In North Conway, voters said they weren’t committed Haley backers but wanted to get to know her better as they weighed their primary vote and looked to find who could best take on Trump.
“I’m here to listen. I’m giving her a chance to convince me that I ought to at least pay attention,” said Greg Wannenwetsch, a Center Harbor, New Hampshire, resident who attended Haley’s town hall here. “I’m disappointed that Trump has obliterated everybody so far. I want to see a real campaign. And I don’t want to see everybody get defeated before this ever starts.”
But, he added: “I’m afraid she might not be conservative enough for me.”
Haley’s pitch is geared toward winning in November, something she nods to when talking about how the GOP has lost the popular vote in seven of eight national elections and hasn’t been winning many major races in recent years.
“She’s got all the tools,” a Republican operative not working for a presidential candidate said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “She’s been tested; she’s won from behind. She’s been the person at the bottom of the polling heap. She’s gotten big things done. She’s dynamic on the stump; she interacts with voters. She’s got a small, lean staff. She’s built up a lot of favors around the country, helping candidates in tough election cycles from the years past. So she has the right type of operation. It’s just whether she’ll ever be able to kick it into another gear.”
There have been positive developments in recent days on the fundraising front. The Haley campaign raised more than $5.3 million this quarter and has north of $6.8 million in cash on hand, nearly $3 million more than it began the second quarter with, according to the campaign’s filing with the Federal Election Commission.
Scott, who ended the period with roughly $21 million in the bank following a transfer from his Senate account, spent about $1 million more than he raised, while DeSantis’ campaign finances show some flashing warning signs.
In a memo published Wednesday, Mark Harris, the lead strategist for the pro-Haley super PAC Stand for America, argued that Haley is one of just four candidates who can win the nomination, alongside Trump, DeSantis and Scott. He pointed to opportunities in Trump’s plateauing poll numbers, questions about DeSantis’ viability and Scott’s spending.
Team Haley, Harris said, is “about to enter the second phase of the campaign,” and he said the super PAC “will fund an aggressive voter contact campaign to increase awareness about Nikki” in the coming weeks.
“While it’s unlikely there will be tremendous polling movement before the end of the year, our effort is to build the base for Nikki, whose incredible track record, talent for retail politics and determination to win will allow her to make a strong late move in New Hampshire and Iowa,” Harris wrote.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
