The Republican presidential primary is not over, as Nikki Haley is trying to remind everyone. In fact it’s still early - that is if you’re speaking technically, about the actual calendar.
But it feels like it might as well be over. As we know, Donald Trump’s resounding victory in Iowa and Haley’s second-place finish in New Hampshire (that’s second out of…two…major candidates) mean that barring unforeseen circumstances, it’s going to be very tough for Haley to make the delegate math work.
We know that because the GOP base - especially the white evangelicals I’ve reported on for so long - is just so ardently pro-Trump…and it’s (more of) the Republican base she needs to win over to win a primary, as Furman University’s Danielle Vinson told me this week for NPR’s All Things Considered. For that story, I also spoke to another South Carolina political scientist - Scott Huffmon at Winthrop University - who described the irony Haley faces in her home state: she’s popular, but it doesn’t seem to matter much when you’re up against Trump.
Still, unforeseen circumstances feel like the only thing you can sorta foresee these days. And there’s almost a month to go before South Carolina’s Republican primary (Nevada votes next, but their system is odd and South Carolina is really the next big thing before Super Tuesday in March). Vinson told me never to underestimate Haley, who knows the state as well as anyone and has navigated significant challenges in the past. At the same time, Huffmon told me, losing big in her own backyard could be embarrassing and maybe even detrimental to Haley’s future aspirations.
Which brings us back to Trump.
And what comes next. Including…the veepstakes. It’s never too early to try to guess who could be Trump’s pick for vice president! Especially in a year like this one.
Sue Davis, Mara Liasson and I had a chat for the NPR Politics Podcast about who might be on Trump’s list, what presidential candidates traditionally look for in a running mate, and why Trump might - or very well might not - do the traditional thing.
I caught a tiny little case of COVID while traveling in Iowa or New Hampshire (I thought I was just aging and sleep-deprived, but I took a test as soon as I got home last weekend and, well…that was more than just campaign fatigue). But I’m healthy again and testing negative, whew.
Beyond that, I’m off the campaign trail (and staying dry!) for a bit! Back to little daily annoyances like medical appointments - related to the car accident last year (bottom line, after some tests - things are coming along), and related to adolescent skincare. I won’t say more because I’m a loving mother, and I’ve 100% been there (sorry about those genes, kiddo).
The nice thing about being away, though, is it really does make you appreciate the little things about being home. Even the annoyances.
While playing personal assistant to the tween today, I had a memory of both boys sitting in the backseat of a different car in a different city years ago, the younger one in a car seat still, complaining about having to go to preschool. Now he’s in middle school. It was a good reminder that the moments I look back on nostalgically now - the cute little blondie in the backseat - were, at the time, moments I wanted to get past - the fussy little guy scowling at me from his booster.
I resolved to savor these moments - because I’m sure that someday I will feel nostalgic about the days spent hustling from my home office studio to crew practice or the dermatologist.
And - I’m preparing for the launch of my book in less than two months!!!
The Exvangelicals is out March 19 and I’m getting excited.
There will be a book tour and more news to come, soon. My calendar for the next few months is already making my head spin, but that’s a good thing.
If you’ve pre-ordered, thank you.
For one more day, Barnes & Noble is offering 25% off with code PREORDER25 at this link through 1/26. (This is for B&N members but free memberships are available: barnesandnoble.com/membership/):
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Wow! Between your shoulder, covid and the hotel (wet spot) ghost, your having quite the winter! Glad you're getting a chance to stay home for a while. Really looking forward to the book and the tour ... hope a NH stop will be on the schedule (unless you've already had more than enough of our Granite State 😉).