How to fight Donald Trump as a Republican and survive

What? Nikki Haley is still in the race?

Yes, despite pressure from her fellow Republicans to drop her challenge to front-runner and former President Donald Trump, the former South Carolina governor sounds determined to stick around awhile — and as insurgent bids go, she’s not doing badly.

She may be well behind the former president in Republican primary votes and opinion polls, but she has scored big in another way: She has demonstrated to others in her party that it is possible to take on Trump and survive. Even thrive, at least if we’re talking about one key measurement of strength — campaign cash.

Trump has made primary victories look easy. In the ordinary course of political events, losses like the ones Haley’s suffered would mean the donations would disappear. But, even after Trump threatened donors to Haley following his New Hampshire primary win, she has continued to score big in the money race.

Let’s review. Haley took in $17.3 million during the fourth quarter, according to her public Federal Election Commission filing, which is more than twice the $8.2 million she raised in the previous quarter. That was before a single primary vote was cast, though.

What’s proven more interesting is how her fundraising has accelerated even after she began losing primaries to Trump.

What accounts for this unusual dynamic? A Reuters-ipsos poll conducted after the New Hampshire primary provides a clue. In that poll, 67% said they were “tired of seeing the same candidates in presidential elections and want someone new.” Some 18% said they would not vote if Biden and Trump were their choice.

So far, of course, Trump is prevailing where it counts — at the ballot box. But Haley has shown real grit in ignoring the insults from Trump.

So, as much as Haley is nearly certain not to win her party’s nomination, her staying power against formidably long odds is in some ways downright inspiring and instructive. By her actions, she has shown fellow Republicans they can defy Trump’s chokehold on their party and preserve their integrity if they show a little spine and give themselves a chance.

Clarence Page at cpage@ chicagotribune.com.