With the support of women and Democrats, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley may become the first female presidential nominee from the Republican Party in July. With 44% of Republicans in Iowa being female registered voters, that accomplishment might start there.
For the first time, a fresh survey of Iowa Republicans prior to Monday’s caucus ranked Haley ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. According to same study, over 20% of probable caucus attendees support Haley, compared to 13% for DeSantis.
Following the heated verbal exchange between Haley and DeSantis during the last debate, which focused on immigration, abortion, their respective political histories, and front-runner former President Donald Trump, the survey was made public.
Haley made reference to her motherhood while speaking at a rally in Ankeny following the debate in Iowa, where her two kids were seated in the front row. She discussed the rights of parents in education:
Haley remarked, “For all of you strong moms and girl dads out there, we need to raise strong girls because strong girls become strong women, and strong women become strong leaders.” “If you have biological boys playing girls’ sports, none of that occurs.”
Certain campaign volunteers are observing that voters are uneasy with Haley’s femininity. Working with Team Haley in South Carolina, Sylvia Jefferies said she has observed that some Republicans don’t take Haley’s candidacy seriously just because she is a woman.
Jefferies took a plane from South Carolina to witness the last Republican debate in a Des Moines sports bar prior to the Iowa primaries. When Haley was the governor from 2011 to 2017, she had her back.
Jefferies claimed that Haley’s disposition is what draws her to her. Jefferies, whose primary concern is immigration, praised Haley’s work in the United Nations, calling her smart and forceful.
“We need a good southern mama in the White House,” Jefferies remarked. “She is an individual who is attempting to save this nation from the same old, same old.”
For the campaign, Jefferies knocks on doors in her native state in an effort to engage voters by highlighting Haley’s femininity.
According to Jefferies, “you start talking to them about their mothers and grandmothers.” “Oh, no, my grandmother wouldn’t put up with that,” they respond. Do you not perceive that resemblance in Nikki?
According to Jefferies’ observations, some male voters find it difficult to regard a woman as having the same “strength” as the president rather than merely as a contender for office.
Jefferies thinks Haley’s most recent debating performance will boost her reputation, though. According to Jefferies, her remarks during the discussion were more forceful and “in your face.”
Calder Parott, a registered Republican from rural Iowa and former Democrat, now backs Haley. Three months ago, Parott and a friend switched parties. Prior to that, they had both worked on Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign in 2020.
“We felt that we had to switch parties to back Nikki Haley,” Parrott stated. “I believed that (Haley) is the most qualified candidate going forward to put this nation back on the right path.”
Parrot stated that he believes Haley would ultimately receive the support of many moderate voters, particularly women. He said that her campaign should highlight her views on abortion, crediting them as the most promising item to lure moderates.
Haley declared herself to be “pro-life” during a visit to Iowa in April for a “Women for Nikki” event, but she also stated that she doesn’t criticize those who disagree with her more than she does those who do.
