Former President Donald Trump’s campaign released a memo Tuesday declaring Saturday’s Republican primary in South Carolina as “the end” of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign.
Trump senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles authored the new memo, titled “The End Is Near For Nikki Haley,” in which they state that South Carolina’s nominating contest will mark the close of Haley’s 2024 bid, whether she agrees or not.
“Of course, like any wailing loser hell-bent on an alternative reality and refusing to come to grips with her imminent political mortality, we should expect more references to Kings and Coronations,” they said, referencing Haley’s recent justification for continuing her fight. But LaCivita and Wiles pointed out that the previous 2024 early nominating contests have “overwhelmingly sent an unmistaken message: Nikki Haley doesn’t represent Republicans any more than Joe Biden does.”
The South Carolina primary will take place Saturday and is particularly notable as it is Haley’s home state and the last of the prominent first four contests ahead of Super Tuesday on March 5. Haley was the governor of South Carolina for two terms.
The Trump advisers accused Haley of looking to “hijack” Republican elections by soliciting and accepting contributions from Democrats. Haley has received donations through both her super PAC and campaign from self-proclaimed Democrats, as those who look at the potential primary and general elections view her as a more palatable choice. However, Haley has pushed back against claims that she is “moderate” and not a conservative.
“This is the diagnosis she refuses to accept: The end is near,” they wrote. LaCivita and Wiles noted Trump has 63 Republican delegates already. Haley has just 19.
The two suggested that by every model of viewing the competition, Haley has no path. In fact, they go as far as to say that the nomination will have been secured by Trump before “March Madness” begins, in reference to Super Tuesday and the primaries that follow it.
Despite this, Haley has pledged to stay in the race past South Carolina, saying she is “far” from dropping out and rebuking the argument that she has no path forward.
“I’m not afraid to say the hard truths out loud. I feel no need to kiss the ring, and I have no fear of Trump’s retribution. I’m not looking for anything from him,” Haley said during a “state of the race” speech on Tuesday. “My own political future is of zero concern.”
As Haley pledges to stay in the race, however, the former president’s advisers said the “next step” for Trump’s campaign is to “acknowledge that Nikki Haley is irrelevant and not newsworthy — and unworthy of said attention.”
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According to LaCivita and Wiles, an ultimate merger with the Republican National Committee will happen, complete with planning, fundraising, and strategizing, and the general election with President Joe Biden will take all their attention.
“The true ‘State’ of Nikki Haley’s campaign? Broken down, out of ideas, out of gas, and completely outperformed by every measure, by Donald Trump,” they wrote.