CNN anchor Dana Bash put a spotlight on the debate strategy of former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley during a Thursday segment on Inside Politics, and it’s the one thing that truly sets her apart from the other candidates: her femininity.

As the last woman standing in the Republican presidential primary, Bash posited to her panel that Haley was leaning into her womanhood as a way to stay above the fray of the squabbling male candidates. CNN national politics correspondent Eva McKend agreed:

Bash: I’ve been thinking about this since last night. The way that Nikki Haley uses her femininity, the fact that she is the only woman up there. It’s very intentional, and it’s very… It’s subtle, but it’s not so subtle.

McKend: It isn’t. And, you know, she uses it to her benefit. She, I think, says that she’s not interested in engaging in identity politics, but she definitely plays up the fact that she’s the only woman on that stage.

Bash: Calling everybody “fellas.”

McKend: Yes. And what we saw from her, really, I think, you know, some people say, well, this wasn’t her strongest. But I think that we saw from her a quiet confidence. It really illustrated that she knows she’s winning. She didn’t have to engage in some of these tit-for-tat fights because she’s doing well. So why even get in the gutter?

Bash: Yeah. That it’s kind of a mom move, I think.

Watch the video above via CNN.

The post ‘Kind of a Mom Move’: CNN Anchor Delves Into Nikki Haley Leaning Into Femininity During GOP Debate first appeared on Mediaite.

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