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THE NATIONAL MEDIA LOVES A HORSE RACE: A close election is good for ratings and subscriptions, so the press naturally wants a photo-finish. This explains the breathless coverage yesterday of the endorsement of Nikki Haley by the conservative billionaire Charles Koch and his Americans for Prosperity Action.
BUT THE SUSPENSE is simply to see who will finish second to Donald Trump, who’s far ahead in Iowa, leads in New Hampshire and has overwhelming support from Republican voters in virtually every other state. Nothing — not more criminal charges, not verbal gaffes, nothing — seems sufficient to take down Trump even though Haley now has some momentum.
SOMEONE — EITHER HALEY OR RON DeSANTIS — may eventually consolidate the anti-Trump vote in the GOP, but the former president leads the pack by at least 50 points in most GOP state primaries. Even a mild slump by Trump, to be expected, would leave him with a lead of landslide proportions in most states.
SO WHY IS NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGNING SO HARD for second place? We were at a great event last night with investment pros who asked — what does she have to gain? Our response: she gets name recognition for a 2028 run, a lucrative job as a TV commentator, a possible vice presidential nomination — and of course there’s always the issue of Trump’s health. He’s 77 and Joe Biden may be in better shape.
SO HALEY IS THRILLED TO ALLY with Koch’s powerful campaign network and get access to more sources of financing. She needs all the help she can get, after DeSantis won the endorsement of Iowa’s Republican governor earlier this month; the state’s leading Christian evangelist also has endorsed the Florida governor. Polls show a dead heat between DeSantis and Haley for a second place finish in Iowa.
IT’S EASY TO LIKE HALEY: We’ve seen her several times at conferences and have always found her to be quick, funny, charming, bright and sensible, especially on foreign policy. She pushes a lot of positive buttons, unlike the dour and stiff DeSantis, who has been a good governor but seems to lack sizzle on the national stage. Let’s see how he performs on Thursday night in a highly-promoted Fox TV debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
THE VOTING BEGINS IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS, and it’s possible that some Republicans could be persuaded to change their allegiances. That’s what the media is hoping for — a horse race, with Nikki Haley closing fast. Trump has alienated a large percentage of Republicans in Washington, but not enough to deny him the nomination.
Related: Joe Biden’s Stunning Fall Among Young People
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