'You’re finished': Nikki Haley trolled for saying 'may the best woman win' after Ron DeSantis drops out

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE: During a campaign address at Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, New Hampshire, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley declared, "May the best woman win," as she responded to the unexpected withdrawal of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis from the presidential race on Sunday afternoon, January 21.

Standing beside the state's Governor Chris Sununu, Haley conveyed her sentiments to potential supporters. "I want to say to Ron, he ran a great race, he's been a good governor and we wish him well," Haley said. "Having said that, it's now one fella and one lady left."

DeSantis's Critique and Haley's Response

However, as DeSantis exited the race, he didn't do so quietly. He took the opportunity to criticize Haley, characterizing her as representative of an outdated Republican establishment.

The Florida Republican said he endorsed Trump "because we can't go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear, a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents."

The unexpected turn of events prompted a response from Haley, who told CNN's Dana Bash that DeSantis didn't give her a heads-up about his departure. "No, he didn't call or inform me. And, look, this is what the fellows do," she said.

Shifting Dynamics of the Republican Primary

The development significantly alters the dynamics of the Republican primary, narrowing it down to a two-person race between the frontrunner Trump and the underdog Haley.

New Hampshire, renowned for allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in its primary, was considered a crucial battleground for Haley. However, recent polls still show Trump leading with a double-digit margin.

The Emerson College poll released on Sunday indicated Trump with 50% support among New Hampshire voters, while Haley trailed at 35%. CNN's poll showed a slightly tighter race, with Trump at 50% and Haley at 39%. DeSantis, who focused on Iowa, stood at just 6-8%, highlighting the uphill battle facing Haley.

Looking ahead, Nevada becomes a crucial battleground, although Trump and Haley won't appear on the same ballots due to differences in the state's primary and GOP caucus processes. With DeSantis out, Trump is poised to secure all of Nevada's delegates, presenting a strategic advantage in the overall delegate count.

Undeterred by the polls, Haley announced plans to compete in Nevada's primary, expressing confidence in her campaign's financial strength. Despite trailing Trump in her home state of South Carolina, Haley declared her intention to stay in the race through the Palmetto State primary.

"South Carolinians know, I won that state twice. They know I'm a fighter. They know I'm going to go all of the way through," she told CNN. "I'm also an accountant. So we saved a lot of our dollars to make sure we could be strong in South Carolina." 

"We're going to be stronger in New Hampshire than we were in Iowa. We're going to be even stronger in South Carolina than we were in New Hampshire. And we'll keep on going until we're the last woman standing," Haley insisted.

Social Media mocks Nikki Haley

However, her comment "May the best woman win" drew mockery on social media, with some pointing out that she is the only woman in the race.

"Considering that she's the only woman running, that isn't exactly the highest compliment," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"Oh lawd. Wasting millions on an unelectable candidate like Haley makes no sense. The Republican base doesn't like her," another wrote.

"She fills out fish stores. Trump fills out stadiums. Y’all are not the same," someone else quipped.

"Nikki take notes from Ron and drop out," a comment read.

"You’re finished. DeSantis supporters will support Trump. Buh bye," another added.