Of the Republican 2024 contenders, Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina, sticks out for all the right reasons. Haley carries with her the kind of experience that is invaluable and not easily replicated. She has a focused, sober attitude, which is a refreshing contrast to the hysteria the country has been immersed in these past several years.
Haley is the only woman in the GOP field of candidates. It does no good to embrace a Democratic Party mindset that places gender at the top of one's list of accomplishments, as with Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris. In her own list of qualifications, Haley's biology doesn't factor. But she is a woman, and it's not "woke" to recognize that. She would indeed make history as the first female president. Acknowledging this isn't a negative. The conservative mentality to view ability instead of biology doesn't mean we must ignore the latter entirely. This is especially true in an era when biological women are shoved out of spaces traditionally reserved for them.
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On abortion, Haley brings a nuanced view. In an April speech and on the debate stage, Haley made clear her interest in both protecting life in the womb and helping mothers. It is possible to work at ensuring unborn life isn't destroyed just because it's "inconvenient" while recognizing the equal worth of the mother. The phrase "love them both" applies.
At the first Republican presidential debate in August, Haley easily commanded the stage. She led with her wealth of knowledge and the skills she acquired leading a state and then standing on the world stage at the U.N. In a particularly heated exchange, Haley told Vivek Ramaswamy, "You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows." The line was met with thunderous applause. Haley wasn't delivering a baseless attack. She wasn't going for verbal clickbait. She was stating the plain truth: Ramaswamy possesses a glaring lack of intellectual prowess when it comes to foreign affairs. And in an age when we need to keep allies close and push back against enemies, a juvenile, uneducated attitude is not only unsuitable but can be dangerous.
During the second debate on Wednesday night, Haley continued her streak with another fierce, straightforward performance. Among her competitors, she stood out as the most passionate. She went after Ramaswamy due to his defense of using TikTok to reach the next generation, saying, "Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say."
Regarding Ramaswamy's terrible attitude toward Russia and its aggression toward Ukraine, Haley remarked, "A win for Russia is a win for China."
In terms of healthcare, Haley listed three ways to address the crisis, including tort reform. During the night, she sparred with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) on energy and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) on spending. Haley does well in debates because she doesn't back down. She appears hungry for the job. More than that, it's clear she's capable. And she is ready to answer for or defend anything thrown her way.
Following the August debate, Haley enjoyed a bounce in the polls. Pre-debate polls before Wednesday night showed she currently sits in third place behind former President Donald Trump and DeSantis. According to Politico, a strategist close to the Biden campaign recently stated, "If they nominate Nikki Haley, we're in trouble."
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Reportedly, certain Republican donors are looking to Haley as a better option than DeSantis. Haley doesn't wilt on the national or international stage. Her connection to and work in the Trump administration doesn't taint her. She has a vast amount of experience and knowledge. She remains unapologetic and focused. Haley doesn't use gender as a crutch but also doesn't diminish her role as the lone woman in a field of men.
Nikki Haley is the presidential candidate the Republican Party desperately needs. Her leadership would be a welcomed course correction. The question is, are GOP voters mature enough to turn the page on Trump?
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.