I’m on a plane to the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s annual SHOT Show event in Las Vegas that I attend and cover every year. Still following New Hampshire’s results.
Trump won, obviously, that wasn’t going to change. As I write this 29% of precincts are in and Haley is over 12,000 votes behind and the gap is widening. She’s over performing in New Hampshire due to independents but under-performing horribly in her own home state. She says she’s not dropping out which causes me to quote the great Ricky Bobby’s daddy who said “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”
Look, Haley isn’t getting to the 1,215 delegates needed to win the nom. It’s not going to happen. Her donors must be hitting Hunter’s crack rock pretty hard to keep shelling out millions. She chose Nevada’s caucus over their primary in their weirdo dual process so she’s not picking up any delegates there. It’s just pageantry at this point.
That said, I’m still going over the returns and as I’ve discussed this week, there are some warning signs from independents and moderates, just as there was in Iowa. There is a reason why the phrase “Reagan Democrat” is a thing. Find the 80% you agree on and drive it over the finish line. Debate the 20% after. Democrats are already running attack ads on that 20% though in an effort to break any remnants of the 2016 coalition. The RNC has no comeback, no plan. Where Haley bombs with the base Trump wins, where Trump bombs with independents, Haley over-performs. For better or worse, Trump has to appeal to these middle of the road margin voters — where elections are decided — to win in November and do it without running to the center. This means deliberate, persuasive messaging that sells liberty without compromise.
I’ll have a deep dive on this tomorrow, live from SHOT.
2nd place is just the first loser.
I think Haley is the on hitting the crack pipe!