Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, raised an impressive $11 million in the first six weeks of her presidential bid, unveiling a healthy sum that stands out when compared to the meager amount raised by Donald J. Trump during the same period after his candidacy announcement. Around 70,000 donors from all 50 states donated to Haley’s campaign, with the vast majority of the donations being under $200. Haley has become a beacon of hope to many in the Republican party, who see her as a seasoned, reasonable alternative and she has positioned herself as a “tough-as-nails woman” with her energetic campaign stops.
Haley definitely has her work cut out for her, as the early polling has revealed she is trailing behind the President Donald and Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida. President Biden is also predicted to be on the ballot for a second term should he formally declare his candidacy. Other noted Republican contenders include Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Tim Scott, and Chris Sununu. On the Democratic side, Marianne Williamson has declared her second presidential campaign, although few take it seriously.
Stand for America PAC, a political action committee aligned with Haley’s campaign, has raised $17 million and had $2 million on hand at the end of 2022, according to filings. At the same time, Trump’s super PAC reported having over $54 million on hand while DeSantis’ super PAC reported raising $30 million since March 9. The funds raised by campaign committees are however seen as a more reliable measure of a candidate’s appeal, since these are held to strict caps in comparison to the unlimited funds raised by PACs.
At the close of the money fund-raising period, Haley’s campaign noted that she had about $7.8 million in her funds. Eric J. Tanenblatt, a Georgia-based Republican strategist, underscored the significance of these numbers and noted that it gives the campaign “a good foundation to build on.”
Aided by Tanenblatt’s fund-raising efforts and those of more party members, Nikki Haley has become a viable contender in the 2024 Presidential election.
