Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said before South Carolina voted that she was staying in the race. Now she has a number to explain why: to fight for the 40%.
With 99% of the returns in, Haley is sitting at 39.5% to former President Donald Trump’s 59.8%.
“I’m an accountant. I know 40% is not 50%,” Haley said in her remarks Saturday night. “But I also know 40% is not some tiny group. There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative.”
Thus Haley’s argument is that there is a 40% slice of the Republican primary electorate that deserves representation, at least into March. Only four states have voted so far, and just a fraction of the delegates needed to secure the nomination have been awarded.
