Nikki Haley May Need The Supreme Court To Beat Donald Trump

WASHINGTON — Having failed to beat Donald Trump in New Hampshire’s primary, what had seemed like her most promising opportunity, Nikki Haley’s last, best hope of defeating the coup-attempting former president for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination may now be in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The high court is already scheduled to hear oral arguments next month on the Colorado Supreme Court’s previous ruling, which found that Trump is an insurrectionist because of his words and deeds up to and on Jan. 6, 2021, and he is therefore ineligible to appear on a ballot. And justices could also refuse to take up an anticipated federal appeals court decision denying Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution for anything he did as president. That could potentially lead to a felony conviction on Jan. 6 charges before the summer nominating convention.

A quick ruling on either would put the potential of Republicans nominating either a convicted felon or someone not even eligible for office front and center, as millions of GOP primary voters prepare to cast ballots on March 5’s Super Tuesday.

“If the court of appeals writes a good, tight opinion, and the Supreme Court decides that they agree, that would be the easiest way out for them as well,” said Steve Duprey, a former Republican National Committee member from New Hampshire.

With no other major competitors left against Trump, Haley likely has the ability to inject that question into the race, both through paid advertising and through news coverage of her remarks.

Since the exit of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday, Haley has shown a much feistier attitude toward Trump than in the previous year. In the past week, she has repeatedly hit him for confusing her with former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; has called him “insecure” for lashing out at her in a “temper tantrum” in his post-primary speech in New Hampshire; and has been trying to goad Trump into debating her one-on-one.