Throughout the Republican primary campaign, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley was a favorite target of political newcomer and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, but the latter’s exit from the race could prove to be the most damaging attack on his political rival.
Throughout his campaign, Ramaswamy tried to paint himself as the heir apparent to former President Donald Trump, and openly supported him on multiple occasions throughout the campaign. But in the debates, Ramaswamy zeroed in on Haley as his No. 1 target, calling her a warmonger beholden to the military-industrial complex and out of touch with the Republican voter base.
In the many memorable exchanges between the two, Ramaswamy called Haley “Dick Cheney in heels,” held up a handwritten sign that said “Nikki=Corrupt,” and said the former U.N. ambassador would quickly find her way back to the corporate board of military contractor companies.
And you could tell that Ramaswamy’s attacks on Haley got under her skin because she showed nothing but contempt for her fellow Indian American candidate, calling him “just scum” in one debate. It was a good old-fashioned political feud built out of genuine distaste, and it made an otherwise boring Republican primary campaign all the more interesting.
But on Monday night, the voters in the Iowa caucuses had their say, and as Trump romped to a 30-point victory, Haley finished in third place with 19%, while Ramaswamy came in a distant fourth with 7%. With the result clear, the son of Indian immigrants suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.
“It is true that we did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight,” he told supporters in Iowa. “As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign.”
But Ramaswamy’s exit from the campaign trail might prove to be his biggest hit against Haley.
“Dick Cheney in heels” always saw New Hampshire as the most fertile ground for her campaign message among the states with early contests. And indeed, in recent weeks, polling has shown that she has closed the gap between her and Trump considerably ahead of next week’s primary.
But without Ramaswamy in the race, Haley’s chances of defeating Trump in New Hampshire took a major hit. His supporters come mainly from the Trump voter base, and without him in the race, it is safe to assume that Trump stands to benefit the most.
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For all his attacks on Haley, Ramaswamy only garnered 5% in New Hampshire polls, but delivering that minuscule sliver of the electorate to Trump may prove to be the difference between a Haley victory and a Trump victory.
Delivering New Hampshire to Trump may end up being Ramaswamy’s parting gift to Haley and prove to be the last shot in the great feud between the two Indian American candidates.