Nikki Haley’s reluctance at first to say slavery was the cause of the Civil War during an event at a New Hampshire town hall this week is proving to be a mistake she can’t avoid in a state where she didn’t perform poorly Can.
Haley’s comments came during an event in Berlin when a pollster asked what she believed to be the “cause” of the civil war. Haley responded that it was over “how the government is run – freedom and what people can and can’t do.” His answer did not specifically mention the “freedom” that was at the heart of the matter: the ability to own slaves.
More than 48 hours later, Haley tried to walk back the comment the next day on “Good Morning New Hampshire,” saying that “of course the Civil War was about slavery,” but she focused her responses on Have also continued to keep in. Questions things like “individual freedom” and “economic freedom” as underlying drivers that cause civil war. Additionally, he has stated that the person who asked the question was a “plant” sent by the Democrats, a claim made without evidence.
“We’re on the third day and she’s still trying to recover from this,” said Matthew Bartlett, a New Hampshire-based Republican operative. “I’m not sure prosecuting the Civil War is a top issue for New Hampshire voters, but when you make a mistake you have to recover from it.”
“He needed to make his answer short, simple and patriotic,” he said. “Instead she’s trying to be philosophical and talk about economics and the lessons of capitalism. Just, like, wait.
What complicates the problem further is the situation where this particular mistake occurred. New Hampshire is a big part of Haley’s early state strategy, and a place she deemed suitable to promote her and formally turn the race into a two-person contest with former President Donald Trump the strong contender. Are. Election.
This is the state where Haley has spent most of her time and resources, and she has been leading there for about a month since the state’s first-in-the-primary. She secured the endorsement of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, an endorsement also eagerly sought by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and is leading in most public polls. A recent CBS News/YouGov poll found Haley at 29% of the vote with likely GOP voters, a number that represents a narrowing of her gap with Trump, who has led in public polling the most. The most recent New Hampshire survey has 44%.
A spokesperson for Haley said, “Everyone from Joe Biden to Donald Trump is attacking Nikki for one reason: She’s the only candidate who has momentum.” “For months, Nikki has been talking to every voter and fielding every question, and the excitement around her is real.”
The dynamics of the New Hampshire primary are unique compared to other primary states in the way that their Civil War-related comments may have an impact.
New Hampshire allows unaffiliated voters to participate in either party’s primary, giving significant influence to the generally more moderate portion of the state’s electorate. According to the Independent Voter Project, there are approximately 400,000 unaffiliated voters in New Hampshire, about 40% of the state’s total voters.
Helen Ross, an undecided voter who was intent on voting for Haley, told NBC News on Thursday that she thought it was “astonishing” that the former UN ambassador neglected to respond.
“It’s surprising to me that she faltered. However, this proves once again that she is concerned about alienating the MAGA crowd/base,” Ross said. “Shameful, but she can’t have it both ways.”
In Iowa, the comment did not appear to sway many voters.
Lisa Cragg, 58, of Edgewood, who works at a bridal store, remains undecided.
Craig said, “I think he answered the question well, I do. I think it wasn’t all just about slavery. The country was divided. So I think he answered it well.” “I think sometimes we focus too much on that (slavery). Not that it’s not important, but there was so much more to it than that, that’s just one issue.”
Dan Corbin, 69, of Cedar Falls, said after Haley’s event in his hometown Friday evening that he has decided to form a caucus for her next month. Self-employed Republicans indicated that Haley’s record as governor of South Carolina was more important than the way she answered the Civil War question.
Corbyn said, “There was controversy over her response about what was the Civil War fought for? I think she explained very well about the Confederate flag in South Carolina, where she was standing.”
Haley was in office when South Carolina removed the Confederate flag from its Capitol following the 2015 mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston.
New Hampshire’s more liberal primary electorate, partly due to the inclusion of unaffiliated voters, is also seen as a state where former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s long-term campaign has a chance to do well. He has defended Haley from attacks in the past, but used the Civil War mistake to amplify the message that he is the only candidate willing to tell the truth in the Republican primaries, a message he supported with a seven-figure New Hampshire TV deal. Growing together. On Thursday, he linked to Haley’s Civil War comments.
The Christie campaign cited Haley’s comments, saying, “The tone and message of the ad is a stark contrast to what we saw last night in New Hampshire.” “This is a different campaign because Christie is telling the truth in a way that no other candidate has been willing to do — no matter the topic.”
DeSantis, who is running fourth in most New Hampshire public polling, also attacked Haley for her response.
“The moment she faces any kind of scrutiny, she bows out,” DeSantis said. “I think that’s what you saw yesterday. Recognizing and accepting slavery’s role in the Civil War is not that difficult, and yet it seems like it was really hard.
DeSantis himself has faced criticism for his handling of the way black history is taught in Florida schools. This year, his administration’s Education Department signed off on new standards that included controversial language referring to “personal benefits” for slaves.
Bartlett, the New Hampshire incumbent, said the Haley campaign had done a bad job of demystifying the Civil War controversy, but he doubted it would materially change the dynamics of the New Hampshire primary.
“Ultimately, I don’t know that this will cause anyone to change their vote,” he said.
Others see the Civil War misstep as highlighting Haley’s perceived weakness as she tries to oust Trump from office: a fear of alienating Trump-loving Republican primary voters.
“Unfortunately for Haley, this town hall train crash was a perfect example of her greatest flaw; she is a fear-based candidate,” wrote veteran Republican operative Mike Murphy, who added that he is not a “fan” of Haley. , but are promoting them. Campaign because he likes him more than Trump. “Unlike Trump, Haley is a victim of fear, not a malicious peddler of it.”
