Trump is snubbing Haley voters—and it could cost him the election

It’s been three weeks since former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley suspended her bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Despite her departure, Donald Trump has continued to lose significant numbers of primary voters to Haley. 

As Daily Kos’ Kerry Eleveld has reported, President Joe Biden has reached out to appeal to these Haley voters. Trump … not so much. According to The New York Times, Trump has made no move to contact Haley or to reconcile with the voters who sought another option in the primary.

It’s not just Haley voters who Trump refuses to woo. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped out of the race in January and promptly endorsed Trump. But months later, DeSantis is not joining sycophantic former candidates Sen. Tim Scott and Vivek Ramaswamy at Trump rallies, and Trump is encouraging a MAGA candidate to jump into the House race against a Florida representative who initially supported DeSantis in his White House run.

Voters voicing their displeasure during primary season but returning to the party fold on Election Day: It’s a tale as old as American democracy. But that divisiveness can still do some damage—and no one is as divisive as Trump.