Thursday, February 15, 2024

POLITICO Nightly: Nikki Haley’s long shadow

 


 
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BY DAVID SIDERS


NIKKI HALEY is a DIRTY ENERGY KOCH SOCK PUPPET, carefully scripted and no one asks about her history.
Refuses to release her tax returns - what's she hiding?
What the source of her WEALTH? It's public record.
NIKKI HALEY raised taxes as Governor.
$9 BILLION? How come no one is asking?
SOUTH CAROLINA SPENT $9 BILLION TO DIG A HOLE IN THE GROUND AND THEN FILL IT BACK IN


Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks to members of the media.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks to members of the media during a campaign event in Elgin, S.C. on Monday. | Sean Rayford/AP

THE BERNIE EFFECT — If Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination and goes on to beat Joe Biden in November, it’ll be hard, looking back, to argue Nikki Haley’s campaign meant much of anything.

But if Republicans hitch themselves to Trump and he loses in the general election, Haley’s quixotic campaign will likely be viewed in a different light — and so will her political future.

In that sense, Haley’s 2024 effort might, on a smaller scale, have some of the same effect on the GOP that Bernie Sanders had on the Democratic Party in 2016.

It seems preposterous at first. In just about every ideological and stylistic way, Haley and Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, are in different galaxies. His electoral record in the 2016 Democratic primary was far more successful than Haley’s. Whereas Sanders won states, Haley lost decisively in Iowa and New Hampshire and, in Nevada, got pummeled by “none of these candidates. 

Haley doesn’t have the same pull with Republicans that Sanders had with Democrats to sway the party’s frontrunner on policy .

But as the last serious alternative to Trump, Haley is performing one of the key functions Sanders fulfilled in 2016 — especially as she has stepped up her criticism of Trump in recent weeks . Like Sanders, she is a vessel for the disaffected in her party. And while Haley’s numbers may be weaker than his — Trump’s hold on the GOP is firmer than Hillary Clinton’s ever was – they aren’t nothing, either.

In New Hampshire, Haley drew 43 percent of the primary vote . And even if she gets blown out in her home state of South Carolina, polling averages suggest she’s still pulling close to a third of the vote .

She is, in some ways, a “statement” candidate — not like Sanders was, in terms of ideology, but as a vote of resistance to Trump. Today, her campaign was fundraising off Republicans’ loss in a special election in New York , calling Trump a “huge weight” on the party and warning that “Until Republicans wake up, we will continue to lose.” Such warnings, in the event of a Trump loss, would look prescient, and could lead to subtle directional changes and primary reforms in the party, just as Sanders accomplished after 2016.

It’s valuable that she keeps running, one Republican National Committee member granted anonymity to speak freely told Nightly, “because those of us who don’t want Biden or Trump have to hold out some kind of hope.”

“My heart wants her to keep going,” the member said, even if “my head knows this is probably a waste of time.”

Even Haley supporters who maintain, against all odds, that she still has a shot at winning can see the dual benefit of staying in the race. For Haley to serve as a “champion of traditional conservative positions” and “show there’s still support for those issues in the Republican Party,” said Art Pope, the former chair of Americans for Prosperity and a Raleigh, N.C.-based donor, “is, I think, a good end in and of itself.”

A Trump defeat — which would mark a fourth consecutive election disappointment for the GOP — would amplify Haley’s voice and, if she played it right, could lead to a rethinking of party rules and practices that enabled Trump to subsume the party and bend it to his personal will.

Much of the effect that Sanders had on the Democratic Party came from the ashes of Clinton’s loss to Trump in the general election, when Democrats voted to strip superdelegates of much of their power in the presidential nominating process.

Those superdelegates, including Democratic National Committee members and other top Democrats, had gone heavily for Clinton, and their weakening was a major, lasting victory for the party’s progressive left.

In 2024, Haley’s version of the progressive left would be the Republican Party’s old establishment. To have such an impact, she’d have to grit her teeth and endorse Trump at some point, as Sanders did with Clinton, and then do just enough to shut down accusations that her supporters cost Trump the election.

That should be relatively easy for her .

And at 52, Haley can afford to play the long game. Sanders maintained his viability for one more campaign in 2020 – a campaign in which he was the front-runner at one point.

Another option is to do what Sanders and his supporters did with superdelegates at the DNC -- taking her fight to the Republican National Committee. Earlier this week, she gave an indication of what that might look like.

After Trump announced he was endorsing North Carolina’s Michael Whatley , who supported Trump’s baseless claims of voter fraud in 2020 , for RNC chair, and Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, for co-chair, Betsy Ankney, Haley’s campaign manager, released a statement outlining Haley’s plan for the RNC.

“Blow it all up,” she said. “Everyone at the RNC will be fired, there will be a full and complete audit of the gross misuse of funds, and there will be a formal application process to become RNC chair based on MERIT, not on back scratching. The days of overpaid consultants getting rich off of the RNC while losing elections will be over, and Republicans will finally get back to WINNING.”

Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com . Or contact tonight’s author at dsiders@politico.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @davidsiders .

 

YOUR VIP PASS TO THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE : Dive into the heart of global security with POLITICO's Global Playbook at the 2024 Munich Security Conference. Gain exclusive insights and in-depth analysis as author Suzanne Lynch navigates the crucial discussions, key players and emerging trends that will shape the international security landscape. Subscribe now to Global Playbook and stay informed .

 
 
WHAT'D I MISS?


MAGA GOP leaking classified information?

— Warning from House Intel is about Russia’s space power: 
A vague warning by the chair of the House Intelligence Committee about a “serious national security threat ” today is related to Russia and space, according to three people familiar with the matter. The U.S. has been concerned about Russia’s advancement in space for years. While the people did not provide much in terms of details, one of them said the intelligence is related to Moscow’s weaponization of its orbital systems. In his statement this morning, Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said his committee had made available the information about the national security threat and called on the administration to declassify the intelligence so officials and lawmakers could discuss the matter with allies.

MASS SHOOTING and the right wing continues to incite HATE and VIOLENCE!
LAX gun regulations - just take a look!

This is the cost of GUN ZEALOTS!

— 1 killed, multiple people injured in Kansas City shooting near Chiefs parade: One person was killed and up to 15 were injured in a shooting at the end of the parade to celebrate the Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs , the city’s police chief said. Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a news conference that two people had been taken into custody and has heard that fans may have been involved in apprehending a suspect but couldn’t confirm that.

— White House denies Johnson’s requests to meet with Biden on border: The White House has denied multiple requests from Speaker Mike Johnson to meet with President Joe Biden over border security , according to a person familiar with the requests. Johnson’s team has issued “multiple” requests to the White House for a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, according to the person, who was granted anonymity to speak frankly about a sensitive situation.

MAGA GOP incapable of governing and the Self-Declared New Moses can't lead!

— Johnson pulls spy powers bill amid GOP infighting: Speaker Mike Johnson is punting a controversial spy powers bill as GOP infighting threatens to derail his plans once again . The House was expected to hold a floor vote on legislation to reauthorize Section 702 on Thursday. The authority is meant to target foreigners abroad but has come under scrutiny for its ability to sweep in Americans’ information. But GOP leadership knew they would have a hard time pushing the bill through, at best. Republican security hawks on the Intelligence Committee were threatening to prevent the bill from even coming up for debate — a detail first reported by POLITICO — while privacy advocates on the Judiciary Committee were vowing to oppose it unless they got amendment votes to further protect Americans’ information.

NIGHTLY ROAD TO 2024
Notice the US MEDIA inflammatory labels - it's alway Pro-Palestians not opponents of ISRAEL's GENOCIDE and ETHNIC CLEANSING!
It's never about KILLING CIVILIANS!
It's never about HUMANITARIAN AID - the withholding of FOOD, WATER, MEDICINE & FUEL!



DON’T READ THE COMMENTS 
— President Joe Biden launched a TikTok account this week to connect with young voters, and the pro-Palestinian protests that have beset his recent in-person events are now following him online , reports NBC News. The TikTok account @bidenhq has posted nine videos since its launch Sunday. Many of those comment sections are flooded with notes about Gaza, airstrikes on Rafah and Palestinians who’ve been caught in the crossfire of the Israel-Hamas war.

AROUND THE WORLD

France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy arrives for the verdict in his appeal trial in Paris.

France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy arrives for the verdict in his appeal trial in Paris today. | Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images

GUILTY, STILL — An appeals court in Paris confirmed sentencing of former President Nicolas Sarkozy to six months in prison , with six months suspended, over his 2012 reelection campaign overspend, reports POLITICO EU.

The ruling upholds a lower court decision agreeing with prosecutors charging that Sarkozy’s team exceeded the spending limit by billing his right-wing Les Républicains party instead of the campaign. Sarkozy received a one-year prison sentence, while further party and campaign officials were also sentenced to prison and banned from running for office.

Throughout the proceedings, Sarkozy — who served as French president from 2007 to 2012 — maintained his innocence, insisting he was unaware of any false billing.

Given the short duration of the prison term, it could be replaced with an alternative such as electronic monitoring.

 

YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS : From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics. 

 
 
NIGHTLY NUMBER

124,220

The number of U.S. Border Patrol arrests for illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border in January . That’s down 50 percent from December, when there were 249,735 arrests, and welcome news for the Biden administration, though it could prove temporary.

RADAR SWEEP

LOVE IS IN THE BOOKSTORES — Over the past five years, even as the broader publishing industry sputters along, one kind of book has found a surge in popularity : The romance novel. Once confined to small sections of bookstores, romance is taking over — and leading to more brick and mortar bookstore interest as well. Six years ago, one dedicated romance novel bookstore existed in the entire United States: the Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles. Now, there are at least 15, with surging interest. For The Guardian, Lois Beckett explores what’s behind the phenomenon, whether it’s sustainable and what it means for the broader publishing industry.

PARTING IMAGE

On this date in 1970: Defendant Abbie Hoffman, wearing a fringed leather jacket, strides to entrance of Federal Building in Chicago for the 100th day of the trial of he and six others charged with conspiracy to riot at time of 1968 Democratic National Convention.

On this date in 1970: Defendant Abbie Hoffman, wearing a fringed leather jacket, strides to entrance of Federal Building in Chicago for the 100th day of the trial of he and six others charged with conspiracy to riot at time of 1968 Democratic National Convention. | Jim Palmer/AP

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