CONCORD, N.H.—Nikki Haley addressed passionate supporters, appearing happy to have placed second in New Hampshire, saying she is staying in the race.
As of 8:45 p.m. ET with 28 percent of the votes counted, Haley had 45.6 percent of the vote to former President Donald Trump’s 53.4 percent.
“New Hampshire is first in the nation,” she said. “It is not last in the nation.
“This race is far from over” as there are more states in play, she continued.
Ms. Haley congratulated President Trump on winning the primary, but warned that the GOP nominating President Trump would be a losing proposition.
“A Trump nomination is a Biden win and a Kamala Harris presidency,” she said.
Ms. Haley reiterated her call for President Trump, who is dominating in the polls, to debate her.
“Our fight is not over because we have a country to save,” she said.
Ms. Haley expressed confidence that South Carolina, where she was governor between 2011 and 2017, will go for her again as she said she will beat the “establishment.”
“We’re going home to South Carolina,” she said.
Ms. Haley repeatedly said ahead of the primary that she was seeking a “strong” finish in New Hampshire.
Ahead of the results, Nathan Shrader, associate professor of politics at New England College in Henniker, N.H., told The Epoch Times that while Ms. Haley could do well in New Hampshire, it will not be enough to catch up to President Trump.
“Nikki Haley may win the New Hampshire primary because the electorate here is less socially conservative than in places like the Midwest and Deep South, plus independents can openly vote in either party primary,” he said.
“With that said, I do not believe a Haley victory will be sufficient to stop Donald J. Trump’s march to his third consecutive nomination by the Republican Party,” continued Mr. Shrader.
“Ambassador Haley oddly cast this is as a two-person race between her and Trump after placing third in the Iowa Caucuses. I still see this as a one person race with Donald Trump far ahead of his remaining GOP rivals.”
In conversations with a dozen Haley supporters in New Hampshire, ahead of the primary, they said that Ms. Haley needed to perform well in the Granite State.
Roanne Cronin of Bennington, N.H., remarked that she “absolutely” has to win the state.
“New Hampshire knows who’s going to be president,” she said.
Monica Joyai of Manchester, N.H., said the results in New Hampshire will cause Americans to “take a look at this lady because she’s sharp.”
“I think she has to come extremely close,” said Ken Kleiner of Hudson, N.H. “And then, obviously, win South Carolina.”
Kathy Carson of Milford, N.H., echoed that sentiment.
“I think South Carolina is really where she has to draw the line,” she said.
“But I think in New Hampshire, she needs to have a strong showing if she doesn’t win, like it needs to be close,” continued Ms. Carson, adding that Ms. Haley needs to have a single-digit differential between her and President Trump.
“I think she'll do pretty good. She needs to win,” said Raymond, N.H., native Jim Nye, who voted for President Trump in the past.
After all, Mr. Nye said he is “scared to death” at the possibility of Vice President Kamala Harris becoming president.
“Are you kidding me?” he said, acknowledging Ms. Haley’s common phrase that a vote for President Biden is a vote for a President Harris.
“She’s got to keep growing and I think she is,” said Rich Miller of Derry, N.H. “She’s on a huge upswing. There’s no question about it, so that’s good.”
Ms. Haley’s remarks come as her campaign is seeking to play the long game as the GOP primary remains between her and President Trump.
“That isn’t how this works,” she added.
Ms. Ankney, a former deputy political director of the Republican National Committee, cited that 50 percent of GOP voters want someone in the White House other than President Trump and that 75 percent of America does not want a Trump-Biden rematch.
In other words, said Ms. Ankney: “We aren’t going anywhere.”
She went on to note Ms. Haley’s history of pulling off upsets from when she ran in 2004 for the South Carolina state legislature against a long-time incumbent to winning the 2010 gubernatorial race that included overcoming more-established candidates in the GOP primary.
Ms. Ankney cited the crucial voting bloc of independents in primaries and that in South Carolina voters can cast their ballot for a Republican as long as they did not vote in the Democrat primary as there is no voter registration.
Ms. Ankney also noted that Michigan has an open primary and that in the March 5 elections, known as Super Tuesday, all but five of the states have an open primary or semi-open primary. They include Massachusetts, Virginia, Vermont, Maine, North Carolina, and Texas. Those states, she said, have “favorable demographics.” Such groups include college-educated voters. The open and semi-open primaries could present opportunities for cross-over and independent voters to cast their ballot for Ms. Haley.
The campaign will reevaluate after Super Tuesday, according to Ms. Ankney.
“Until then, everyone should take a deep breath. The campaign has not even begun in any of these states yet. No ads have been aired and candidates aren’t hustling on the ground,” she said.
“A month in politics is a lifetime. We’re watching democracy in action,” continued Ms. Ankney. “We’re letting the people have a voice. That’s how this is supposed to work.”
At the end of the day, asked Ms. Ankney, “DO REPUBLICANS WANT TO WIN?”
