Nikki Haley’s Unproven Reserves

The GOP contentender has had a good few weeks, but can she keep making gains?

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Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the NBC News primary debate on November 8, 2023, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Other than getting herself whopperjawed over an ill-conceived and poorly launched proposal to end online anonymity, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has been having a helluva good run in recent weeks.

Indeed, her social media blunder is evidence of how well things have been going for her. When you’re in fifth place, a half baked idea served up on daytime television doesn’t get much attention. But as Vivek Ramaswamy can attest, the wacky ideas that can help get you the celebrity you need to be competitive promptly become liabilities once you arrive.

What made former President Donald Trump mostly impervious to this otherwise iron law of longshot candidacies is that he was already famous. Trump wasn’t getting media attention because of his zany ideas. He was getting media attention because he was probably the most famous first-time candidate since Dwight Eisenhower to run for president. Though Trump’s celebrity was of a somewhat different nature than Ike’s.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Mandy B.

    I've just been reading Hugh Trevor-Roper's account of Kim Philby and the motives for his treason: HTR knew Philby and worked with him in Britain's Secret Service (which, unlike ours, really is secret). Anyway, the description of this vile person, with charm and apparent intelligence, perhaps in the end more apparent than real, this power-hungry man who enjoyed breaking confidences and betraying trust, has reminded me again and again of... Trump.

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    Kepps500

    "Wife of New Jersey governor launches Senate bid, a boon to Menendez". Why is this a "boon" to Menendez?

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      Retired Prosecutor

      I think it's because its a further division of the Dem primary voting base.

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  3. Avatar photo
    PJ

    "Johnson said considerations about Trump’s character were outweighed by his record on the economy and national security.”

    Thank you for the testimony to your version of the buybull Mike.

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    1. Stephen Clay Settle

      And Hitler fed farmers and built the autobahn while he rebuilt the German military.

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    2. Scianti7

      These priorities will bite him when poor charcter destroys the economy & national security, as his stated plans seem likely to do.

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  4. Avatar photo
    Paul Hoover

    Mr. Stirewalt,
    Skipping over the punditry (which is always hearty and satisfying), thanks for your review of a good stuffing recipe. I’ve always considered whole cranberries to be a worthy and tasty addition. Even better is to freeze them before adding them to the mix just before cooking to introduce a “pop” of flavor and texture.
    Thanks also for including Mr. Kelly’s Thanksgiving prayer. It’s a good one.
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours … and to all Dispatch members.

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      Retired Prosecutor

      For myself, I'm really partial to cornbread ingredients.

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  5. Kochanczyk

    Dear Mr Stirewalt;
    I recently followed your stuffing recipe and achieved a delicious result!
    Thank you for sharing this wonderful technology.
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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    Julie from Texas

    "It is entirely possible, though not likely, that Haley could end up as the Republican nominee." I have an ongoing debate with my husband about whether it's better to not vote GOP at all until they wake up and stop kowtowing to The Donald or to vote for someone who could take over leadership of the party and steer it back to some sanity. He argues the former, and I argue the latter. If only someone not named Trump (or Ramaswamy or DeSantis, who lost my respect with his pointless culture wars) could get the nomination, maybe, just maybe things could turn around. But if the party stays in the grip of Trump or Trump-ish candidates... Actually, I don't want to finish that sentence. It's too depressing.

    On a positive note, Happy Thanksgiving! And although that recipe looks good (enjoy!), it's not dressing to this Texas gal if it doesn't start with cornbread. I'll be pulling out the dressing recipe passed down from my great-grandmother, who was a cook for railroad crews back in the day.

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  7. Chuck Almdale

    I resigned from the Democratic Party due to rampant wokeness within and without it, but I'm still left-of-center. Donald Trump lies so prolifically because he's a pathological liar. He's a pathological liar because...he's a psychopath and oddly enough, pathological lying is one of the major hallmarks of a psychopath (whereas personally murdering people is NOT, but telling other people it's OK for them to murder might be). So...no voting for Trump or any of his thoroughly-groomed-to-be-infatuated-with-Trump minions.

    That includes DeSantis, Trump minion or not.

    But Nikki Haley...her I could vote for. She's actually had responsible jobs and done them respectably well, unlike 1000's of others currently in or running for high office. I think she'd make a fine president, and a great role model for future women in the presidency or other high office. To me, she's a sane, responsible centrist. Just what I want (really).

    Biden hasn't been perfect, but who is? Pulling out of Afghanistan the way we did was really bad. His main problem is that he's the target of a well-run Hate & Fear (fill in the blank) propaganda campaign, as would be anyone else in his position.

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      Lorenclayroberts

      Yes, I pulled out of the Republican Party when Trump ran the first time, in fact I did not vote for president in the last two presidential elections.
      If the Lord wills and I live into the next election and we don’t have any better candidates I will not vote again. To me voting for the lesser of two evils is; well, evil.

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        PJ

        Happy I gave up evil thoughts when I quit Christianity.

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          Lorenclayroberts

          Perhaps you never were a Christian?
          Millions claim to be Christian but don’t have a clue.
          And yes, I’m not perfect. I fight sinful thoughts every day but also realize where they come from.
          I sympathize and feel your pain PJ.

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            PJ

            I love the "real Christian" game. LOL Christian testimony speaks loud and clear for those who listen.

            I have no pain, but thank you for the kind thoughts.

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  8. Kittcomm

    I know Haley is a good candidate because I like her and would likely vote for her. End of analysis.

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    Show Jay Janney the 🚪!

    I shared this in Nick's column last night, but there is a middle path for Nikki's proposal. If you want to eliminate Russian/nogoodnik Bots, don't require people to give up their anonymity, but verify those who do, marking the rest as potential bots. Then when people see a mean take and it isn't verified, they can more easily ignore it. Heck, I might write a script so it blocks them from my feed. Or I might go for a walk, instead.

    The choice is then the end user's. It's opt-in based.

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    1. Seth

      I like this idea

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    Dusty

    Chris Christie needs to drop out. I’m not sure what purpose he’s serving at this point. His idea to get into the race to attack Trump was admirable but has largely been ineffective since Trump hasn’t been in the debates. His 11% is most likely comprised of people who will find the next Trump alternative - which would be Haley.

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