Haley's Hail Mary strategy depends on open primaries
Sophia Cai / AXIOS
Nikki Haley
is seeking a complex — and unlikely — path to the GOP presidential
nomination by relying on independent and Democratic voters in 13 states
with primaries that are open to non-Republicans.
Why it matters: It's a long shot, but Haley's Hail Mary strategy might help her chip away at GOP front-runner Donald Trump as he faces legal challenges that could complicate his campaign.
- Haley's team is pinning its hopes on the primary formats in South Carolina, Michigan and 11 of the 16 Super Tuesday states whose March 5 primaries aren't limited to registered Republicans.
Zoom in: The former UN ambassador also is bashing Trump in a flurry of media appearances, daring him to debate her and embarking on a fundraising frenzy this week.
- It's a tough sell: The GOP's base continues to rally around Trump, who won the season's first two contests, in Iowa and New Hampshire.


