Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has locked down ballot access in 21 states and territories, her campaign confirmed.
The former US ambassador to the United Nations is preparing for a long-haul 2024 GOP primary battle, her allies say, pointing to her second-place polling position in New Hampshire and South Carolina, where she used to serve as governor.
“Republicans across the country are tired of losing and ready to move on from the drama of the past,” Rick Wiley, political advisor for Haley’s campaign, said.
“That’s why Team Haley has been working around the clock to make sure Nikki Haley quickly qualifies to be on the ballot in all 50 states and territories. Today marks our 21st ballot qualification and it’s full steam ahead.”
Haley has qualified to be on the ballot in Iowa, US Virgin Islands, New Hampshire, Nevada, Washington, North Dakota, Hawaii, American Samoa, Missouri, Arkansas, Utah, North Carolina, Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Massachusetts, Washington, DC, Tennessee, Georgia, Idaho and South Carolina, her campaign said.
Haley, 51, is polling in third place nationally and in second place in the South Carolina and New Hampshire contests, according to the RealClearPolitics aggregate of polling.
The first GOP primary contest is slated to take place on Jan. 15, 2024 in the Iowa caucuses.
Then on Jan. 23, 2024, New Hampshire voters will weigh in on the primary.
Haley’s home state of South Carolina is scheduled to hold its GOP primary on Feb. 24, 2024 and Super Tuesday is slated for March 5, 2024, featuring over a dozen races, including many of the ones where she’s now on the ballot.
Given her polling position, Haley’s campaign has argued that she is the most viable alternative to former President Donald Trump, the current GOP frontrunner.
“EVEN IF DeSantis were to do well in Iowa, which is a big ‘if’ given his current decline, he is in such a weak position in New Hampshire and South Carolina that it doesn’t matter. He has no end game,” Haley’s campaign manager Betsy Ankney wrote a memo earlier this month.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ allies have pointed to his second-place position nationally and in Iowa to argue that he will have momentum at his side when the voting begins.
Republican hopefuls for the presidency are slated to square off on Dec. 6 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the fourth debate.
That verbal bout will be moderated by NewsNation, Megyn Kelly and the Washington Free Beacon.