Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign is so doomed, even some good ol’ fashioned transphobia can’t draw her an applause line.
Speaking at the Politics and Eggs breakfast in New Hampshire–a non-partisan affair–Haley went all-in on Bud Light’s partnership with transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney.
Her bigotry was met with silence.
“Everybody know about Dylan Mulvaney? Bud Light? That is a guy, dressed as a girl, making fun of women,” said Haley.
Political reporter David Weigel noted Haley’s quip about the two-month old saga landed like a dud and garnered no reaction.
Haley has been barnstorming around New Hampshire in recent days, an indication that she views the Granite State as crucial to her futile presidential campaign. The former South Carolina governor has a slightly more moderate record than the two pugilistic Republican front-runners, Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, and probably thinks she can attract support in more centrist New Hampshire.
The problem is, Haley lacks any true identity. Currently polling at 3%, she’s tried all of the tricks: homophobia, ageism, gun-toting pictures.
None of it is working.
She’s promoted the idea that President Joe Biden will die in office; and perhaps most embarrassingly, was pictured toting a rifle in a desperate photo shoot–complete with a matching outfit.
Got to get those NRA donations in early before her campaign crashes and burns.
— Claire Armstrong (@Claireabelle___) April 29, 2023
Haley, 51, has also expressed far-right views. At the same Politics and Eggs event, she spouted her support for a nationwide abortion ban.
But to give herself some room, she lamented that it probably would never pass, because 60 senators would need to sign off. “We haven’t had 60 Republican senators in 100 years,” she said.
It’s apparent why Haley seems intent on stoking the culture wars. Ron DeSantis, whose campaign launch on Twitter with Elon Musk was a predictable dumpster fire, has championed a series of far-right legislation in Florida. He’s passed book bans, a six-week abortion ban, engineered a conservative takeover of a liberal arts college and targeted the LGBTQ+ community with a string of hateful laws.
Trump, meanwhile, continues to be as aggrieved and xenophobic as ever.
Despite Haley’s attempts to copy Trump’s playbook (she served as his United Nations ambassador), her campaign is actually hitting DeSantis as a Trump wannabe. In a new ad, she calls the Florida governor an “echo” of the disgraced ex-president.
Earlier this week, Haley’s campaign manager called DeSantis “Trump without the charm” in a publicized memo. (It’s worth noting that DeSantis’ personality was once compared to a “piece of paper,” and he reportedly eats pudding with his hands.)
While DeSantis’ campaign is floundering–his kick-off announcement was delayed 25 minutes due to technical glitches–he’s still the clear runner-up to Trump.
Haley, for all of her pandering, is at the bottom of every poll. She’s fighting over crumbs of support with the likes of South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (declared this week), Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and former Vice President Mike Pence (expected to announce soon).
You know things are bad for a Republican when they can’t even get some juice from shamefully attacking transgender people. Haley’s presidential campaign is dead on arrival.
Scroll down for more reaction to Haley’s epic flub…
Well, apparently hate doesn’t scale very well.
— Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) May 24, 2023
Is this @NikkiHaley‘s Jeb Bush moment so soon? pic.twitter.com/rwoVJiiDNt
— Kes Bretagne (@KesendraB) May 24, 2023
Haley chooses Dylan Mulvaney and Bud Light as her opener with the New Hampshire crowd instead of an issue that matters to them like perhaps taxes, the economy, anything…
— Tooey (@SueRic2) May 24, 2023
they’re so inundated in their massive propaganda bubble they think the entire country is as bigoted and paranoid as they are
— Karl Bode (@KarlBode) May 24, 2023
gonna be some hard lessons on that front
Does she know that hundreds of New Hampshire Teamster members brew and bottle Bud Light about 15 miles down the road in Merrimack???
— 🐴Payton Corbett (@churchofpayton) May 24, 2023
Mister P
She’ll gain a couple voters here with some commenters/trolls on this site with her transphobic remarks.
andrewmpls
Not to be complacent, but I’m getting less and less concerned about the Republicans being able to win the Presidency in the near future. Every day, another batch of kiddos turn 18 while another batch of seniors die. And, their strategy to winning the GOP primary plays right into those demographic changes and will make them lose the general election. They can’t hide their stances on abortion by trashing trans people.
Kangol2
Have you seen the latest Covid-19 death figures? Right-wing fanaticism and disinfo about Covid-19 is still killing off their elderly supporters faster than any other group!
scotty
FAIL.
FreddieW
She isn’t Trump. She isn’t DeSantis. She isn’t an 80-something white male. So until a viable Democrat enters the race, she’s better than 3 of your options.
mailliw110
But what is she?
abfab
This woman is an idiot and so are you W for saying such a foolish thing. We got it—you have a big problem with old people.
FreddieW
I’ll probably vote 3rd party unless Buttigieg miraculously becomes the Democratic nominee.
But yes, I would vote for a smart Republican woman in her 50’s over an 80-something senile Democrat who never had much to recommend him, even when he was younger. My intellect isn’t enslaved to PC foolishness.
And I have no problem with old people unless they’re trying to run the show. My parents are both in their 80’s, and I love them. But I wouldn’t entrust my welfare or theirs to their judgment at this point.
Kangol2
She’s bad news is what she is!
Bob Eckert
If you trust Pete’s judgment, he will of course tell you that you would be nuts to vote for any Republican over Biden, except he would say it more politely and explain the reasons more patiently than I can.
FreddieW
I vote for politicians. I don’t follow their endorsements. They are all team players, and I am not.
Jack
I usually like these kinds of losers to stay in so we can get some belly laughs out of it. (Ben Carson anyone). She’s such a snoozer…..no point. Get out.
Fahd
If one looks up “amoral careerist” in the dictionary, there is a picture of Haley. She’s running for the vice-presidental spot on the Republican ticket, but I think she’s proving herself too unpopular (3%, indeed) for that.
May she fade into obscurity sooner than later.
Btw, even though DeSaster is the runner-up, he’s still 30% behind the Count of Monte Crisco in the polls.