By Natasha Korecki -
NBC News
It's becoming a familiar scene.
Nikki Haley loses a primary to former President Donald Trump, she appears on stage the night of the defeat and, in a speech in which she shakes her fist, she promises that she will continue in the race.
But after the setback this Saturday in her home state, South Carolina, Haley still has not won any of the primaries in the first states and campaign analysts and voters believe that the longer she stays in the race, the more risk she runs of damaging her future. politician and his brand.
[Donald Trump wins the South Carolina Republican primary, according to Noticias Telemundo projects]
He is increasingly being linked to Democrats.
His Republican support is declining and his attacks against Trump have provoked reproaches from Republican Party voters, in a party in which the former president now rules.
For political observers like Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett, Haley's endgame is increasingly uncertain.
"She wants to go out her way, which I guess is on fire
," Bartlett said.
Haley in Charleston, South Carolina, on February 24.Chris Carlson / AP
Haley's appeal with moderates, independents and Democrats "has absolutely hurt her in South Carolina," he added.
"She will condemn her in the Super Tuesday states and there is no chance that Republicans will choose a leader at a convention that Democrats want as an alternative."
South Carolina GOP Chairman Drew McKissick said he only saw Haley increasingly underperforming if she lost to Trump in that state by double digits and would pay the cost for delaying the party's efforts on the vote. presidential election.
[How Alabama's ruling on frozen embryos puts Republicans in trouble ahead of the elections]
"I think a lot of introspection is needed at this point, for sure," McKissick said.
"You get to a point where you've gone too far and, politically, you start to do yourself more harm than good."
Carol Cooper, a South Carolina voter, said she was a fan of Haley when she was governor, but that his negative campaign against Trump has disappointed her.
"I used to support her, but not anymore because she attacked President Donald Trump," Cooper said.
"I don't like the fact that she kind of backstabbed Trump."
As the fight drags on, Haley increasingly faces unpleasant theories such as that she is receiving support primarily from Democrats who are skipping their states' primaries.
This week he faced questions about whether he would join a supposed unity bid with Democratic Party challenger Dean Phillips, something he would reject, he told Fox News on Friday.
In an interview Saturday with NBC News'
Meet the Press
, California Governor Gavin Newsom praised her as a strong replacement for the Democratic Party.
"I don't know why Democrats would want her out of the race," Newsom said.
"She is one of our best substitutes. She is defining the opposition to Trump credibly and effectively."
[Trump attacks Haley by asking about her husband's whereabouts. He is deployed with the armed forces]
Rob Godfrey, a Republican strategist and former deputy chief of staff to Haley when she was governor of South Carolina, said the longer the race drags on, the less time Republicans will have to focus their attention on the general election.
Staying, he said, "does not come without the risk of potentially damaging her own political brand among the people she might want to attract should she want to run in the future."
At the same time, he added, it could be forgotten by 2028.
"Voters, activists and donors, not to mention journalists, have shorter attention spans and memories than ever," he noted.
"Even if there is some risk in alienating one or all of those groups by prolonging the contest, the long-term impact would likely be little or none."
On Saturday night, after the South Carolina results were announced, Haley spoke about her political prospects beyond the 2024 race.
"This has never been about me or my political future," Haley said.
"We need to defeat Joe Biden in November and I don't think Donald Trump can. Almost every day, Trump alienates people."
Haley said it was clear from Saturday's results that Trump was ahead with nearly 60% compared to 40% for her.
"I'm an accountant: I know that 40% is not 50%, but I also know that 40% is not a tiny group," Haley said.
Last Thursday, the candidate indicated that she was doing it for the future of the Republican Party.
"I'm not doing this for me. First they said I wanted to be vice president. I think I've shown that it's not what I'm looking for," she said.
"Then they talked about my political future.
I don't care about a political future, if that were the case I would already be out."
Michael Santos, a Democratic voter, said he voted for Haley and appreciated her tenacity to stay in the race despite the odds.
"It's infuriating Donald Trump," he said.
"So that's the most fun."