Why Nikki Haley’s presidential run fails to impress desis?

Indian American contender comes across as a used car sales woman, says author Dan Mayur

When Nikki Haley announced her White House bid earlier this month, she became the first Indian American to seek the Republican nomination and the first major candidate to challenge former President Donald Trump’s comeback campaign.

Ironically, while Indians do not fail to toast every single Indian-origin achiever around the world, Haley’s announcement went across the desi circles without much of a whimper.

Read: Nikki Haley joins 2024 US presidential race (February 14, 2023)

So, is it that Haley, born, Nimrata Nikki Randhawa — the first ever Indian American woman governor in America, a successful politician whose parents arrived from Amritsar to America not too long ago despite checking all the boxes for a poster girl of immigrant dreams — still fails to connect with the Indian American voters?

One reason for her limited fan base could be her rather confusing political stand. After all, Haley was all set to oppose Donald Trump in 2016 but then soon became a Trump supporter only to now again turn around and run against Trump. Add to it that Haley has kept her self conveniently away from any of the issues Indian immigrants face in particular may have further jaded her appeal.

Read: Michael Haley: Possible First Gentleman of America (February 15, 2023)

Indian American novelist and pop culture commentator Braham Singh, who wrote thriller ‘Bombay Swastika’ set in India says, “Nikki Haley’s desi heritage as a news item is recent. While the recent attack from conservative Ann Coulter was vicious, my take on her is that she is a genuine and solid conservative who did a decent job as a governor which is not easy.”

“But she is uncomfortable playing to the media and that’s evident in her statements. I think as with Kamala Harris, her being desi is incidental,” he says.

Read: Haley launches run for president, becoming 1st Republican to challenge Trump (February 14, 2023)

Political observers also feel that Haley fails to connect and is unlikely to gain any traction with any group. Texas based culture commentator and author Dan Mayur says, “Nikki Haley comes across as a used car sales woman — saying what the customer/voter wants to hear but she really has no principles or conviction.”

“This is a woman who opposed Trump then supported him, got into his cabinet, then opposed him, then again supported him and now is running against him,” he says. “She goes in the direction the wind blows. She does not represent women, she does not represent Indian women by any means. She is really going nowhere. No wonder that she fails to connect.”

Read: Nikki Haley faces a serious uphill climb: The Hill (February 3, 2023)

Read: Nikki Haley poised to enter 2024 presidential race (February 1, 2023)

Read: Nikki Haley pulls key support from Ron DeSantis (February 9, 2023)

Read: Nikki Haley poised to enter 2024 presidential race (February 1, 2023)

Read: Nikki Haley hints at presidential run in 2024 (January 21, 2023)

Read: Republican Nikki Haley enters 2024 presidential race (February 14, 2023)

Read: Nikki Haley hints at 2024 presidential run (November 22, 2022)