Nikki Haley Misfires With Attack On Trump
In the past week, Nikki Haley, former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, has taken aim at President Donald Trump. On Fox News, she declared Trump “the most disliked politician in all of America,” suggesting he couldn’t win a general election. But a deeper look into the data reveals a glaring disconnect between Haley’s rhetoric and the reality reflected in the polls.
The numbers from RealClearPolitics’ favorability tracker tell the story. It’s Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), not Trump, who holds the unenviable title of the most disliked politician in America, with an average net-favorable rating of more than negative 35 percentage points.
Trump, in comparison, sits at around negative 19 points among all voters, in the same ballpark as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Regarding GOP rankings, Trump remains the party’s most popular figure, leading the primary polls by over 41 points.
Trump has remained a figure of immense influence within the party, and his recent indictments on various charges have not dampened his standing among Republican voters. He opted to skip last week’s initial Republican debate for a 45-minute interview with Tucker Carlson on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, in which he criticized McConnell as a “bad guy” undermining the Republican base.
Haley, who served under Trump, appears to be attempting a course aimed at attracting the middle ground. Despite the backing of corporate media and establishment GOP megadonor PACs, she has been struggling to gain traction in the primary, polling at less than 4% support.
As the 2024 race heats up, Haley’s strategy seems to be one of differentiation, distancing herself from Trump and warning against a potential President Kamala Harris. Yet, her criticisms seem out of step with a Republican base still largely loyal to Trump.
In the realm of politics, perception often shapes reality. But in this instance, Haley’s perception doesn’t match the data, nor does it seem to align with the sentiments of Republican voters. With the 2024 election season well underway, it’s crucial to stick to the facts. When it comes to favorability among politicians, the data does not lie — even when some politicians stretch the truth beyond recognition.
