Monday, April 10
One would not often describe Iowa as a “battlefield,” but the state really comes into its own in election season. The Iowa caucus is the first true electoral test for any candidate because it’s seen as an indicator of their chances. It’s not always representative- several candidates have actually come second or even third in Iowa, but it’s still important.
Nikki Haley went to Sioux City, Iowa, to drum up support. She was joined by Congressman Randy Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s 4th district. Iowa has generally leaned right in recent years and has a Republican trifecta and an all-Republican federal delegation. Still, Iowa was considered a swing state for quite some time and Republicans can’t take it for granted.
Haley told one voter that “a lot of people are looking at who can win a primary.” Was that a stab at minor candidates like Asa Hutchinson?
Tuesday, April 11
It was a party day for Haley – but not that kind of party. The Republican Party and its supporters were the key focus of the Haley campaign. She first met with the Iowa Federation of Republican Women in Denison before attending an Iowa GOP Dinner in Fort Dodge. In one photo-op, Haley held a piglet and advocated for Iowa pork and against pork-barrelling politics.
Joni Ernst, the Republican Junior Senator from Iowa, also joined Haley. Ernst has vowed to stay neutral throughout the primary process but she seems to be at least open to a Haley candidacy. The two have a professional relationship going back several years and seem to get along at a personal level.
It seems that Haley was focusing somewhat on female voters today. For Haley, it’ll surely be a balancing act. On the one hand, she’ll be the first woman President should she win, so she’s surely going to focus on her gender. On the other hand, the Republican Party often frowns upon identity politics, so Haley won’t want to lean in it too much.
Wednesday, April 12
Haley started the day in Des Moines, speaking to a crowd made up mostly of women. Her Women for Nikki, launched today, was front and centre. Haley stated that “Women get things done. Women are incredible when it comes to balancing. We know how to prioritize. Regardless of what people say, we don’t like the drama. And we’re about results.”
She did a meet and greet with Shannon Latham, member of the Iowa House.
Winthrop University polling for South Carolina put her on 18%, just behind Ron DeSantis’ 20%. Donald Trump was at 41%. 53% polled had a favourable view of Haley, with 73% of Republicans agreeing. 40% of Democrats had favourable views of her while 47% did not.
Thursday, April 13
It was a quiet day for Haley. The Ruthless podcast said that the Nikki Haley campaign “is the only campaign at this point that looks like they have a plan and are executing upon a plan.”
Friday, April 14
A poll of college students at conservative Liberty University had Haley on 13%, Trump on 31% and DeSantis on 53%. In an interview with RealClearPolitics, Haley had this to say about Trump: “He’s living in the past, and the past is catching up with him in a way that it is causing drama… We have to move forward. We can’t deal with the drama that’s following him. We can’t deal with the baggage.”
Haley is trying to present herself as the future and Trump as the past. Is that a strategy that will work? Well that remains to be seen.
Saturday, April 15
It was a day off for Haley as her daughter Rena married fiancé Joshua Jackson. Congratulations to the happy couple.
Sunday, April 16
Another quiet day for Haley on the back of her daughter’s wedding. There were a few tweets about border protection and illegal immigrants.