Her campaign is seeking to play the long game as the GOP primary remains between her and President Trump.
CONCORD, N.H.—Nikki Haley addressed passionate supporters, appearing happy to have placed second in New Hampshire, saying she is staying in the race.
As of 8:45 p.m. ET with 28 percent of the votes counted, Haley had 45.6 percent of the vote to former President Donald Trump’s 53.4 percent.
“New Hampshire is first in the nation,” she said. “It is not last in the nation.
“This race is far from over” as there are more states in play, she continued.
Ms. Haley congratulated President Trump on winning the primary, but warned that the GOP nominating President Trump would be a losing proposition.
“A Trump nomination is a Biden win and a Kamala Harris presidency,” she said.
Ms. Haley reiterated her call for President Trump, who is dominating in the polls, to debate her.
“Our fight is not over because we have a country to save,” she said.
Ms. Haley expressed confidence that South Carolina, where she was governor between 2011 and 2017, will go for her again as she said she will beat the “establishment.”
“We’re going home to South Carolina,” she said.
Ms. Haley repeatedly said ahead of the primary that she was seeking a “strong” finish in New Hampshire.
Ahead of the results, Nathan Shrader, associate professor of politics at New England College in Henniker, N.H., told The Epoch Times that while Ms. Haley could do well in New Hampshire, it will not be enough to catch up to President Trump.
“Nikki Haley may win the New Hampshire primary because the electorate here is less socially conservative than in places like the Midwest and Deep South, plus independents can openly vote in either party primary,” he said.
“With that said, I do not believe a Haley victory will be sufficient to stop Donald J. Trump’s march to his third consecutive nomination by the Republican Party,” continued Mr. Shrader.
“Ambassador Haley oddly cast this is as a two-person race between her and Trump after placing third in the Iowa Caucuses. I still see this as a one person race with Donald Trump far ahead of his remaining GOP rivals.”
