GOP could’ve had it all but missed a historic opportunity

The opportunity has passed, but Republicans could have made history if they had nominated a younger female candidate against the Democrats’ 81-year-old male incumbent, President Joe Biden.

Here’s how they missed their opportunity: Instead of nominating Nikki Haley, the energetic and telegenic 52-year-old former ambassador to the United Nations and governor of South Carolina, the Republican Party once again nominated 78-year-old former President Donald Trump.

Haley could have unified moderate Republican voters, the MAGA base that gave Trump his platform and success, and independent voters unaffiliated with either party.

Although she waged an expensive and tiresome campaign, raising over $56 million to communicate her vision for a post-Trump Republican future, Republican primary election voters did not buy into her arguments about Trump; and they were not persuaded by almost $100 million spent by outside groups championing Haley’s message.

Her words and actions since conceding defeat to Trump on March 6 cause one to wonder if she even believed her own arguments against Trump.

Instead of remaining true to her prior words and warnings about Trump, Haley genuflected — once again — at the altar of Trump, said a mea culpa, and gave a full endorsement at the Republican National Committee Convention on July 16.

What Haley, her advisers, Trump and the broader public did not know was that President Joe Biden would drop out and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris on July 21 — a mere five days after Haley’s endorsement speech.

Strategists of all varieties, since the days of Sun Tzu through Karl Rove and David Axelrod, have waxed poetic about the importance of using the element of surprise to your advantage.

Haley retreated from the “Never Trump” Republican movement led by former Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois likely due to the illusory promise of a potential Cabinet post or cushy gig when (not if) Trump won a second term against his aging rival Biden.

And, her team may have influenced her calculus by arguing that endorsing Trump now would benefit her even if he lost the election in November since she could always run again four years down the road.

Republican voters could have had it all — if they had voted for Haley to be their nominee. She would have gained the momentum bestowed by being a young, accomplished woman of color with an inspiring “only in America” story.

Instead, Republicans chose to cling to an angry past and forsake a promising future. Now, they watch in flatfooted confusion and consternation as the Democratic Party ushers in a pragmatic and joyful message led by Harris.

The Republicans missed a historic opportunity and will soon learn if Haley’s comments to New Hampshire voters will prove prophetic as she stated, “Most Americans do not want a rematch between Biden and Trump. The first party to retire its 80-year-old candidate is going to be the party that wins this election. And I think it should be the Republicans that win this election.”

Rafael Yániz is a political analyst and attorney based in Miami.