Nikki Haley: Breaking the Presidential Glass Ceiling with Silence
Nikki Haley aims to shatter the political glass ceiling, yet subtly avoids directly acknowledging it
Nikki Haley is subtly making history in the political arena with her Republican presidential campaign, without explicitly stating her goal of breaking the highest glass ceiling.
Currently, there are no saints in DC, which is why I believe that the White House needs a strong and fearless woman in charge," declared the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador with a smile during a campaign event on Wednesday night. She was responding to a voter's inquiry about the legal issues confronting politicians in Washington.
With the Republican primary elections approaching in just a month, Haley is attracting bigger crowds and receiving more enthusiastic applause from voters like Thalia Floras, who are eagerly seeking an alternative to former President Donald Trump.
Floras, a Nashua resident who has actively engaged with several candidates during their visits to New Hampshire, commented, "While it would be fantastic to have a female president, that's not the focus here. I believe we've moved beyond discussing gender. It's about supporting the most qualified candidate, and currently, she is the strongest candidate in the Republican Party."
It's important to note that not all of Haley's supporters are women. In addition, many Republican women are not backing Haley, as most polls indicate that Trump continues to maintain a strong majority of support across all demographic groups.
CNN
Trump holds a strong lead in Iowa, however, these GOP women are considering other candidates. The demographics of Haley's supporters stand out from those of her opponents, attracting mothers bringing their daughters and older women seeking to witness the making of presidential history in their lifetime.
Retired financial adviser Helene Haggar is adamant that it's long overdue for the United States to elect a female president. "It's time to remove the testosterone from the White House and replace it with a woman, but not just any woman. Not Kamala Harris, but Nikki Haley," declared Haggar, sporting a blue shirt with the message "Sometimes it takes a woman."
Haggar got the shirt from the Haley campaign a few months back after making a small contribution to support her candidacy. She grinned as she saw Haley at a Manchester event last week and expressed her admiration for her strength and intelligence above all.
"I really appreciate her practical approach, and the lack of drama compared to our previous president," Haggar stated. "Many other countries have had female leaders, so why not here?"
Haley rarely directly addresses that question, despite her repeated rejection of identity politics and careful approach to discussions about gender. However, she often uses it as a lighthearted defense, as she did during the recent fourth Republican debate in Alabama.
As her opponents launched pointed criticisms, especially regarding her donors, she responded, "I appreciate the attention, gentlemen. Thank you for that."
On Wednesday night, she used a similar phrase when questioned about her stance on abortion. Despite her opposition to abortion rights, she approaches the issue as a personal matter and discusses it with more complexity than other Republican presidential candidates.
"When it comes to discussing abortion," Haley said, "I don't believe that men know how to approach the conversation in a respectful manner."
During a November debate in Miami, her GOP rival Vivek Ramaswamy criticized her hawkish views, likening her to "Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels." Haley responded with a smile, saying, "It's actually 5-inch heels, and I only wear them if you can run in them."
Haley is the fifth prominent woman to pursue the Republican presidential nomination, following in the footsteps of Carly Fiorina, the ex-CEO of Hewlett-Packard who ran in 2016, and Michele Bachmann, a former congresswoman from Minnesota who ran in 2012. Elizabeth Dole briefly sought the presidency in 2000, and Margaret Chase Smith, a senator from Maine, did so in 1964.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, the first woman to secure a major party's nomination, has found herself at the center of the 2024 campaign, with her image being used to attack Haley. A super PAC backing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has released TV ads, widely discredited as misleading, that imply Haley was influenced by Clinton to enter politics.
During Haley's campaign rallies, which conclude with the candidate greeting supporters as Sheryl Crow's lively rendition of "Woman in the White House" plays in the background, over twenty women in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina have been describing Haley in a similar fashion in recent weeks.
"Jane Barth, an Iowa Republican, described Haley as intelligent, resilient, and passionate following a visit to a barbecue restaurant in West Des Moines," CNN reported.
"Debra Hutton, a South Carolina Republican, was impressed by Haley's level-headed approach and focus on real issues rather than relying on rhetoric, during a rally in Bluffton last month," according to the same source.
Camille Prince, who relocated to South Carolina after Haley's departure from the governor's office, expressed her admiration for Haley's values, morals, and experience. "I am new to South Carolina, but she's my girl now."
Haley is determined to attract suburban women back to the Republican Party following an exodus during the Trump era. Her strong support among women is a key factor in polls showing her performing much better in a potential matchup with President Joe Biden, a point she emphasizes to underscore her electability.
Before winning the primary, she must overcome the uphill battle of Trump's dominance in the race. As the Republican race nears its conclusion, Haley has stopped repeating her campaign announcement rallying cry and applause lines, signaling a shift in her strategy.
Haley's approach to gender resonates with engineer and space physicist Erin Jorgensen, who brought one of her daughters to see the former governor at a recent campaign event in Manchester. "I appreciate that she doesn't rely on her gender as an advantage," Jorgensen said. "People often assume she's only getting votes because she's a woman or that she's in her position solely because of her gender."
Jorgensen expressed her belief that it was long overdue for the country to elect a capable woman as president. "Being a woman doesn't automatically earn my vote. The right person for the job, I'm glad that person might finally be a woman," said Jorgensen, while nearby Haley greeted people. "I brought my daughter here because I hope that one day she can tell her grandkids, 'I met her. I met her when she was the first female president of the United States.'"
