Why South Carolina shouldn’t be Nikki Haley’s last bet?

Xiaodong Fang
6 min readFeb 8, 2024

Nikki Haley has staked her 2024 presidential candidacy on winning South Carolina, her home state. However, the political landscape in South Carolina has shifted significantly towards former President Donald Trump, posing a challenge to Haley’s campaign. Despite facing setbacks in other states, Haley’s supporters urge her to continue her campaign, emphasizing that she still has a chance to succeed.

Photo obtained from the Wikimedia Commons

The upcoming Super Tuesday contests are seen as a crucial point that will provide a clearer picture of the race. Therefore, while South Carolina is an important battleground for Haley, the outcome of the race is not solely dependent on this state.

The cruciality of South Carolina

South Carolina traditionally holds one of the earliest primary elections in the presidential nominating calendar. Being an early primary state gives it significant influence because it can shape the trajectory of the race. Candidates who perform well in South Carolina can gain momentum and build momentum heading into subsequent contests.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

South Carolina’s population is more diverse compared to the earlier states in the…

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Xiaodong Fang

Political Scientist studied and worked at #Georgetown #IowaState #JamesMadison | Observing #Elections and #China