Trump Trounces Haley

When Ron DeSantis dropped out of the Republican presidential contest Sunday, Nikki Haley got the “two-person race” she wanted. Last night, she got trounced by Donald Trump.

Some pundits are claiming that Haley “overperformed” in New Hampshire and earned the right to fight on. Let’s be honest: Trump’s 12-point win was a landslide.

Here’s the bottom line: If you’re going to win, you’ve got to win somewhere. For a variety of reasons, New Hampshire was Haley’s best chance for an upset, and it didn’t happen. Here are some additional points to consider.

Exit polls showed that Trump’s victory was comprehensive. He won 74% of Republican primary voters.
He trounced Haley among men and narrowly beat her among women.
He won every age category, with his highest margin coming among 18-29 year-olds.
He won voters who described themselves as “very” or “somewhat conservative,” while Haley won voters who described themselves as “moderate” or “liberal.”
Voters who said illegal aliens should be deported backed Trump 76% to 23% for Haley, while those who support offering illegal aliens a chance for legal status (amnesty) backed Haley 68% to 28%.
Haley won 64% of “independent” and “undeclared voters,” which included a significant percentage of Democrats.
Haley’s allies suggest that Republicans need a candidate who can attract independent voters. But these were not normal independent voters. As we have noted, there was a concerted effort by the left, including the Never Trump movement, to damage Trump in the New Hampshire primary.
In national polls, Trump is leading Joe Biden among self-described “independents” by double-digit margins, which is why he is leading Biden in virtually every national poll.
Haley spent $31 million in New Hampshire. Trump spent about half that.
Haley and other candidates have spent $167 million so far attacking Trump. He has spent $34 million.
Trump is the first candidate in 48 years to win both Iowa and New Hampshire in contested races. That could be a total fluke. It’s more likely a sign of Trump’s strength within the GOP.

Some commentators are criticizing Trump’s remarks at his victory speech last night. Well, Haley continued her theme of suggesting that Trump is mentally unstable and “a loser.” She also attempted to declare a victory of sorts last night, even though she lost, and she vowed to fight on to South Carolina, prolonging the battle for another month.

In the meantime, Haley is also going to lose another contest before South Carolina. The Nevada caucuses will take place in two weeks, and Haley is not seriously competing there.

Not surprisingly, there is growing pressure on Haley to drop out. After seeing last night’s results, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel called for the party to unite behind Donald Trump.