UMass Lowell Political Scientist Available for Interviews
02/14/2023
Media Contacts: Emily Gowdey-Backus, Emily_GowdeyBackus@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
Nikki Haley, a former Republican governor of South Carolina who Tuesday announced her run for the presidency in 2024 “looks good on paper,” but otherwise has an uphill battle to win the nomination, according to a UMass Lowell political scientist available for interviews.
A video declaring Haley’s intentions is posted to her Twitter account and drawing interest. Nevertheless, Haley, who served as former President Donald Trump’s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has a long way to go before becoming a household name, said UMass Lowell’s John Cluverius, director of survey research in the university’s Center for Public Opinion.
“She is one of the few Trump administration appointees to retain both her independence and her reputation, but it’s not enough,” Cluverius said. “She’s not well known outside of elite circles in the party and attention and fame are key to the nomination. As ambassador to the UN, she was largely invisible to an audience of everyday voters.”
He is available to discuss:
- What Haley needs to do nationally to have a shot of the GOP nomination
- What she needs to do in South Carolina to insure a win there
- How she matches up against Trump and other rivals she could face for the GOP nomination.
An expert in research methods and state and local politics, Cluverius is an associate professor in UMass Lowell’s political science department. To arrange an interview with him, contact Emily Gowdey-Backus or Nancy Cicco.