OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Communications consultant Frank Luntz stated that a campaign appearance by former Ambassador Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump will help the latter win swing voters, claiming that the demographic “will listen to her.”
“Trump has said that Nikki Haley, once his nemesis in the primaries, could join him on the trail. She’s done a robocall for him. She’s recorded robocalls on his behalf,” observed anchor Brianna Keilar before asking, “But if he — if the Trump campaign deploys her, what kind of voters could that help with? And where do you think that they’ll use her?”
“It will help with younger women because Trump is doing so well among older men. It’ll help in these swing states. And Nikki Haley brings interest, brings attention among independents, among swing voters. There aren’t many left, but what is left, they will listen to her,” answered Luntz. “And it will be a surprise because she has been so challenging of him, so negative towards him up to now. It’s a very smart strategy.”
“But in the end,” he concluded, “it’s not going to be the surrogates. It’s going to be what they [the candidates] say and how they say it in the last 48 hours that will determine these final votes. The key for Haley [Harris] is absolutely turnout, 18 to 29 women. The key for Donald Trump is absolutely union votes, young African-American men, and Latinos. It’s too close to call right now. Who does better with those groups is the one who gets elected.”
WATCH:
.@FrankLuntz on Nikki Haley joining Trump on the campaign trail.
“Nikki Haley brings interest, brings attention among independents, among swing-voters. There aren’t many left but what is left they will listen to her and it will be a surprise because she has been so challenging… pic.twitter.com/hWQJ8FjnEY
— Martin Walsh (@MWalshUS) October 23, 2024
Haley, a former Republican presidential candidate who sparred with Trump during the 2024 primary season, is firmly backing the 2024 GOP nominee.
Haley, who briefly served as Trump’s U.N. ambassador, is in talks to join him on the campaign trail in an attempt to win over disaffected Republicans.
“The details and dates for the joint appearance haven’t been fully worked out, but the likeliest scenario would put the two together at a town hall toward the end of the month, perhaps involving Fox News personality Sean Hannity, the sources said,” The Bulwark reported.
“Facing a yawning gender gap, Trump’s campaign has hosted five other town halls moderated by female political figures since August, but none with the stature of Haley. The former ambassador ran a tough primary race against Trump, becoming the last Republican standing against him. Though the primary ended on a contentious note, she spoke on his behalf at the Republican National Convention on July 16,” the outlet added.
A well-known Republican consultant familiar with discussions in Trump’s campaign said Haley has “already exceeded expectations helping us out,” adding that “she has done a robocall supporting Trump and she has helped fundraise for the [former] president.”
“There’s no reason to doubt her loyalty and willingness to help,” the source said. “Now they just have to get the schedules lined up.”
Some people close to Trump weren’t sure that a joint event would happen, though. They thought that bad feelings could get in the way.
A Trump associate who did not want to be named said, “I’ll believe it when I see” Haley on stage with Trump.
“I hope it happens,” the adviser said, adding that Haley would be a great addition to Trump’s town hall series with women hosts, such as former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in Wisconsin, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in Michigan, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn in Michigan, Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna in North Carolina, and Fox News host Harris Faulkner in Georgia.
“Anyone who wants to make America great again, secure our southern border, restore law and order, and bring down inflation only has one option on the ballot, and that option is President Donald J. Trump,” said Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who criticized Harris. “We welcome all Americans who share these values to join our team.”
Back in August, Haley made it clear that Haley declared that she is firmly backing Trump.
