Amid the political whirlwind leading up to Super Tuesday, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has been the subject of conjecture regarding a potential third-party presidential bid. Despite a recent primary triumph in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Haley faces challenges in securing delegates.
The bipartisan organization No Labels has publicly expressed interest in Mrs. Haley as a possible candidate to lead its ticket. The group, which has been actively seeking a contender, mentioned that they would consider supporting a Haley independent run.
Mrs. Haley, however, firmly aligned herself with the Republican Party, quashing rumors about affiliating with No Labels. Following her Washington victory, she reiterated her commitment to the party, dismissing speculations that she might chart an independent course.
Veteran Republican strategist Tucker Martin commented on Mrs. Haley’s predicament, “My heart wishes it was possible but my brain doesn’t think it can be done. Gov. Haley, she is the embodiment of the conundrum of the modern Republican Party, which is she is exactly who Republicans should be running.”
Polls have indicated that Mrs. Haley could potentially outperform President Biden in a theoretical election scenario. The polls also reflect a general dissatisfaction among voters regarding another election featuring Donald Trump and Mr. Biden, noting concerns over their age.
Last week, Mrs. Haley firmly addressed the third-party speculation by emphasizing her Republican identity and rejecting the unity ticket proposition from No Labels that would require a Democratic running mate. “If I were to do No Labels, that would require a Democrat. I can’t,” she told the press.
Mrs. Haley clarified her stance, “I’ve always believed if you do something, do it right or don’t do it at all. And so I don’t think I can do it right. If I ran for No Labels, that would mean it’s about me. It’s not about me. It’s about the direction I think the country should go.”