We know about Haley’s Comet, but now a word about Haley’s Problem.

While Nikki Haley vows to remain in the race, there are two things to watch:

  1. What will the Koch network do?  They were of considerable help in Iowa and New Hampshire, committing resources to her campaign. To continue to do so risks the wrath of Trump. Of course, if they continue to support her, they may reason that with Trump they can always buy their way back into his good graces. Plenty of precedent for that.
  2. Will she finally go after Trump as an election-denying loser?  Forget his indictments and generally loathsome comments and behavior. That just entertains his base. It may be too late to create a problem for him, but it is the only feasible path that can justify support from the minority of Republicans opposed to Trump. If she stays in, there is always the chance that a felony conviction will alter the playing field.

Haley needs to decide if she wants to be seen as a grinning fool (cue Tim Scott and Vivek Ramaswamy) or possibly the future of the GOP (assuming there is one after Trump). After all, Trump made fun of Ted Cruz’s wife, Marco Rubio’s height, and they have endorsed him. And, by the way, his VP pick is almost certain to be Elise Stefanik, who stabbed Liz Cheney in the back to take over as Republican Caucus Chair to ingratiate herself with Trump.  All in all, a perfect Trump VP.