With Ron Desantis out of the race, there will be calls for Nikki Haley to drop out and endorse President Trump in the spirit of unity. But she should resist and stay in until the Republican convention, for two reasons.

First, the Republicans who don’t support former president Trump need a voice. If Haley stays in, she will provide a voice to those disenfranchised Republicans, she will have the second most delegates, and perhaps she can use those in bargaining. She could try to negotiate that the Republicans have a platform. Or for planks in that platform that represent her constituency. Or for a prime time speaking spot at the convention. This is what the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the candidate for Democratic nomination did in1984 and 1988. Haley has already said she will support the Republican nominee, so she can’t be accused of dividing the party or preventing unification.

Should she consistently get 40% of the vote, that would represent a significant percentage of the Republican party. Some have argued that voters should have more than one choice or that the choice should not be between voting for Trump or not voting.  There is no “none of the above option.” Haley received 60% of the registered independents in New Hampshire. That is a better choice for the GOP than having disaffected Republicans not vote or vote for a third party.

The second reason is there is a long time between now and the Republican convention in July. Thirty percent of Republicans say they don’t believe Trump would be fit for the presidency if he was convicted, and there is a chance that Trump will be convicted by then. If Haley stays in, she could serve as a backup to Trump. No football team would play without a backup quarterback and the Republican party shouldn’t either.

Haley will probably run for office again, perhaps in four years. This would be a great time to build the experience of running a national campaign. If she continues to campaign, she will build awareness or name recognition, relationships that can be leveraged in the future. Rep. Liz Cheney decided to give up short-term power for something much more important. History will view Cheney’s actions favorably.

Haley must make a similar decision. In four years, she would be the Republican front runner and wouldn’t be facing Trump or an incumbent president. If she decides to capitulate and become loyal to Trump, ask Mike Pence what good that did him. Trump is not likely to be supportive in return. Like Cheney, Nikki Haley must decide if is it best for the country to endorse Trump and or if it is in her best interest to do so given her own political ambitions.

I say she should stay in and consolidate the pro-Republican, anti-Trump wing of the Republican party.

Ed Gaskin is Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and founder of Sunday Celebrations