Nikki Haley gave a fairly cryptic and decidedly lackluster speech to suspend her presidential campaign Wednesday morning. Haley didn't even bother to exhibit an iota of enthusiasm or optimism for the future. One of the first rules of politics is: Make a positive impression, even when you're conceding. This closing campaign speech says volumes about why Haley failed to connect and why she lost so badly. Much speculation still exists on whether she will join a No Labels ticket, though Haley herself has ruled such out, but if you take her speech at face value, it appears she is content to return to private life. From her concession speech on Wednesday:

I sought the honor of being your president, but in our great country, being a private citizen is privilege enough in itself, and that's a privilege I very much look forward to enjoying.

But Haley has a piper to pay. Those monied donors chose her for a reason, and it's hard to fathom immolating yourself to the degree that she has unless you will be required to fulfill a promise or were promised something beyond the millions in campaign cash. We will see the unfolding of Nikki 2.0 in due course. Will it be opposition candidate, NeverTrump magpie, or above-the-fray stateswoman? Haley has a long career of being able to trade masks and loyalties when necessary. The question is, which one will she put on next? In what camp will she now align herself?

So Nikki Haley will exit the race today and NOT endorse Trump, as she said vowed she would in order to get on the debate stage.

Not a woman of her word. Typical RINO politician.

Good riddance. Go collect your 30 pieces of silver.

— 🇺🇸 The FJC 🇺🇸 (@The_FJC) March 6, 2024

Haley burned any confidence she may have had from voters with her manipulation of open primaries and her greedily and unapologetically scooping up leftist donor money. Despite the hopeful and politically clueless who think she will run as an independent candidate in 2024 or that she has a shot for 2028, in my view, she is done politically. 

Heard Nikki Haley might be suspending her dream of becoming president. Nikki you allowed the deep state and democrats to destroy the political career you had. They used you and you were to stupid to see it. You will never have a political career again you are done.

— American Islandman (@N76247476Man) March 6, 2024

However, she has enough supposed foreign policy and electoral credentials to be seen as an expert and a person who can speak to the "future" of the nation. Liz Cheney, former congresswoman and member of the lucky last name club, is the poster child of this. Even after she was roundly rejected by the voters of Wyoming, Cheney is still held up as a contributor to political discourse. She delights in pontificating and postulating about how dangerous Trump is, what America needs to move forward, and dancing her NeverTrump dance while lining her pockets from speeches, panels, and media appearances. Haley will likely tour the political elite circuit with speeches and fundraisers for her donors' pet causes and initiatives. I would bet money that MSNBC has already offered her a pundit slot where she can continue to play the messy middle and pretend she's a sane conservative.

But this pathway leads to coming off as less stateswoman and more shrew. Again, Cheney is a clear example of this. My colleague Matt Vespa at our sister site, Townhall, called this out before Super Tuesday.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley virtually announced that former President Donald Trump shouldn’t expect a call for unity from her should he win the Republican nomination. Haley has won one primary contest but will suffer nationwide humiliation on Super Tuesday. Not that it needs to be said but winning the DC Primary isn't some massive achievement or turning point: DC Republicans are practically Democrats.

Despite her war chests drying up as liberal donors begin to withhold checks, Ms. Haley said in a recent interview that she isn’t worried about losing. She's focused on moving forward. I used to think Joe Biden was the only person with mental health issues running this year—Haley might be joining him in that category.  

It’s a window into a delusional world where Haley either thinks she can win the nomination or damage Trump. 

Haley forecast more of that vibe in her concession speech.

In all likelihood Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee when our party convention meets in July. I congratulate him and wish him well. I wish anyone well who would be America's president. Our country is too precious to let our differences divide us.

If that's the case, then why is she refusing to endorse him? There would be no greater showing that you believe in unity than that act. Instead, Haley chose to use a quote from British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to deepen her excuse.

I have always been a conservative Republican. and always supported the Republican nominee. But on this question, as she did on so many others, Margaret Thatcher provided some good advice, when she said, "Never just follow the crowd. Always make up your own mind." It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond that who did not support him, and I hope he does that.

Nikki Haley's constant comparison of herself to Margaret Thatcher is inappropriate and grating.

I had the honor of meeting Mrs Thatcher a number of times. She was a leader of blazing conviction and unwavering principle.

Nikki Haley is...not.

— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) March 6, 2024

Quite a show of arrogance to lecture not just Trump but all the people who voted for him without hesitation. Yet, even in her defeat, Haley talks down to Trump and all those voters who rejected her for him. But, what's that truism? A wounded animal is often the most dangerous. The classy response would be to go off to lick your wounds. Haley instead chose to use this moment to issue what seem like veiled threats.

At it's best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away. And our conservative cause badly needs more people. This is now his time for choosing.

We already know that Haley had her time of choosing, and she chose self-aggrandizement and money over integrity, an honest campaign, and the American people. Haley is now trapped in a gilded cage; we'll soon see to what degree her benefactors feathered her nest and toward what purpose.