# Do you care how Nikki Haley does in the NH primary? If so, why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 23, 2024, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519 "2024-01-23T01:53:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/1 "2024-01-23T01:53:19Z")
This is really more of an IMHO question, but the subject is very much P&E, so I’m putting it here. But I’m not looking for in-depth analysis (though if you have any, great). I care a little, mostly because I am from NH (though I haven’t lived there for decades) and so am still a little interested in politics there. I also have a pipe dream that Nikki Haley will do far better than expected, at the very least pissing off Trump and at best somehow becoming a viable candidate for the Republican nomination. Not that I want her to be president, but if it were between her and Trump, I’d take her any day. She’s the Republican version of Andrew Sullivan’s crack about Hilary Clinton: “wrong, but wrong within normal parameters.” ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/2 "2024-01-23T02:20:33Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > at the very least pissing off Trump There you have it. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/3 "2024-01-23T02:28:27Z")
I do. I want her to win outright or at least turn in a very strong performance. She is the last-gasp hope. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/4 "2024-01-23T02:57:42Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > She’s the Republican version of Andrew Sullivan’s crack about Hilary Clinton: PJ O’Rourke ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/5 "2024-01-23T03:02:10Z")
Yeah, not sure how I mixed that up. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/6 "2024-01-23T03:13:57Z")
I would love it if she somehow beat Trump. He would claim voter fraud and Gov. Chris Sununu would rush to defend his state’s election integrity. It’s not much, but with Chris Christie now on the sidelines, it’s all the entertainment we’d get. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/7 "2024-01-23T04:05:30Z")
I hope she has a strong showing at the least - it will signal there are a lot of conservatives who won’t vote for Trump in the general, and they may 1) sit-out the Presidential election, 2) not vote for President, but vote for other Republicans down-ticket like in GA, 3) vote for Biden just to keep that creep out of power. Anything that deepens and extends the schisms is good - better to have the GOP fighting amongst themselves than focusing on Biden. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/8 "2024-01-23T04:14:54Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Yeah, not sure how I mixed that up. You must not have been listening to “[Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!](https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/)” when PJ said it. Quite memorable! ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/9 "2024-01-23T05:21:01Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I care a little, mostly because I am from NH (though I haven’t lived there for decades) and so am still a little interested in politics there. I also have a pipe dream that Nikki Haley will do far better than expected, at the very least pissing off Trump and at best somehow becoming a viable candidate for the Republican nomination. I care a little because I’m a fool and in my heart-of-hearts I keep hoping for signs that Republicans are ready to reject Trump. At least Haley has exhibited some spine by attacking Trump directly. I’m still voting for Biden no matter who the Republicans put up. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/10 "2024-01-23T06:06:01Z")
Yep. Wanna see his temper-tantrum. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/11 "2024-01-23T15:10:35Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I hope she has a strong showing at the least - it will signal there are a lot of conservatives who won’t vote for Trump in the general, Pretty much this. A good showing here, and maybe in later primaries, shows us that at least some active Republicans haven’t gone completely down the rabbit hole here. If Trump completely trounces her, then all hope is lost for the GOP ever returning to sanity. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/12 "2024-01-23T15:12:58Z")
My main concern is the media attitude of basically saying we are doomed to another Trump presidency, when in fact the very worst you can say is there is a 50-50 chance of him becoming president (and likely much less than that). Which is a big advantage for Trump going into the general election IMO Another big trump win in NH would encourage that, an unexpectedly good showing for Haley would flip the narrative, and it would suddenly be “what’s going wrong with the Trump campaign”. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/13 "2024-01-23T15:14:07Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > A good showing here, and maybe in later primaries, shows us that at least some active Republicans haven’t gone completely down the rabbit hole here. If Trump completely trounces her, then all hope is lost for the GOP ever returning to sanity. Or at least a much longer time before common sense and decency make a comeback. Haley has already won Dixville Notch, NH, so there’s hope! 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/14 "2024-01-23T15:22:06Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > My main concern is the media attitude of basically saying we are doomed to another Trump presidency, when in fact the very worst you can say is there is a 50-50 chance of him becoming president (and likely much less than that). Which is a big advantage for Trump going into the general election IMO Quoted for truth. The “inexorable eventuality” of Trump’s second term is a media creation – and not just right-wing media, either. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/15 "2024-01-23T15:51:34Z")
I want her to kick ass and chew bubblegum just to prolong the race and force the GOP frontrunner to spend money on the primaries instead of building up a war chest to take on Biden. Sure, she’s way to the right of me but she does not appear to be a sociopath. I would like for the first time since 2012 to have two sane candidates on the November ballot. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/16 "2024-01-23T16:41:23Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Yep. Wanna see his temper-tantrum. yeah, this is my fantasy, too. Suppose she gets close to a win, say 49% to Trump’s 51, and then demands a recount. Trump would scream “no recounts!!”…and then it would be fun to play the tape back to his face in November. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/17 "2024-01-23T16:46:59Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > The “inexorable eventuality” of Trump’s second term is a media creation – and not just right-wing media, either. Completely agree. Reporting it as a close race keeps eyeballs looking at TV screens, and occasionally suggesting one or the other candidate is taking the lead will keep people on either side riled-up (and looking at TV screens). To suggest it’s going to be a blowout early will not only keep people from watching, but may also dissuade some from going to the polls in the first place on election day. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/18 "2024-01-23T18:07:11Z")
There’s at least one thing I’m thankful for, and that is Trump’s old age. It guarantees we won’t have to hear from him or about him for much longer. Imagine if he were only 45. We would be in for 40 more years of coverage about him. Back to the topic, I guess Haley is just a feel-good story. Even if she wins in New Hampshire, she’ll simply get steamrolled in South Carolina and it’s game over. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/19 "2024-01-23T18:19:53Z")
Isn’t SC her home state, that she was Governor of? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519/20 "2024-01-23T18:21:24Z")
Yes, but she’s currently trailing Trump by nearly 30% there, if I recall right. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-how-nikki-haley-does-in-the-nh-primary-if-so-why/996519.md?page=2)