Hogan says 2024 GOP race ‘not impossible’ for Haley

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Sunday that GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley may still have a chance at clinching the Republican 2024 nomination despite former President Trump’s double-digit lead in the polls.

Hogan said on ABC’s “This Week” panel that the New Hampshire primary “sometimes really surprises us,” suggesting that Haley could come out with a win in the state. Hogan also endorsed Haley for the nomination last week and praised her for having the “momentum” to be the GOP’s best candidate next November.

“That’s the place where things happen that you don’t expect to happen. Look at Bill Clinton. Look at John McCain, and the fact that she’s only down 11 with a lot of momentum. It’s not going to look anything at all like Iowa,” Hogan said.

He also said a lot of independent voters will come out in support of Haley to stop Trump from securing the nomination because it is an open primary in which voters of all affiliations can cast a ballot.

“And I think what you’re going to see is a lot of independents. There’s no Democratic primary, independents that want to stop Donald Trump. This is the last line of defense. Republicans, the 50 percent of Republicans that don’t like Trump. Tuesday’s their day, so she got a couple more days. Let’s see what plays out,” Hogan said. 

“But it’s not impossible for her. If she overperforms expectations, I think she rolls into South Carolina with a lot of momentum,” he added.

According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling averages, Trump is leading Haley by about 11 points with about 47 percent support. Haley has about 36 percent, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trailing with a distant 5.7 percent. The New Hampshire primary will be held Tuesday, just over a week after Trump won the Iowa caucuses.