Haley expected to win Nevada primary: Why it doesn't mean much

(NewsNation) — Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is expected to win a symbolic victory in the Nevada Republican primary with former President Donald Trump opting to run in the state’s caucuses.

Traditionally an important, hard-fought state, Nevada’s primary battles won’t be as significant this year.

Trump is running virtually unopposed in the state’s caucuses Thursday, a race which will be used to allocate delegates to the national convention.

Haley, Trump’s top GOP opponent, is instead participating in Tuesday’s state-run primary. This race has no delegates at stake.

Voters can participate in both the Republican primary Tuesday and the Republican caucuses Thursday.

In Tuesday’s Republican primary, there is a “none of the above” option. Joe Lombardo, the state’s Republican governor and a Trump supporter, has said he will vote “none of the above” on Tuesday and caucus for Trump on Thursday, meaning Haley’s main “challenger” Tuesday will likely be Trump supporters marking “none of the above” on their primary ballots.

Meanwhile, Haley’s campaign continues to raise millions in campaign funds between thousands of new individual contributors as well as many big-money donors. Her campaign has raised nearly $70 million, including two major contributions from billionaire hedge fund managers.

Haley poked fun at her GOP opponent’s war chest on “Saturday Night Live,” saying Trump had to use $50 million of his own campaign money to pay his growing legal fees and leaning into the message that nominating Trump will mean another Biden presidency.

“How many times do we have to lose because of one person, before we say maybe we don’t need that fellow anymore,” Haley said during a rally, alluding to Trump’s previous loss. “We’re there.”

As Haley is expected to win the Nevada primary, her team is preparing for the South Carolina primary, which is just over two weeks away. Her campaign tells NewsNation she is in this race for the long haul.

On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden campaigned in Nevada on Sunday and Monday. He will appear on the ballot along with self-help author Marianne Williamson and other lesser-known Democratic challengers. U.S. Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota missed the filing deadline and won’t appear on the ballot.

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