Haley faces tough questions from voters — and a kid — in New Hampshire after Civil War comments controversy

CNN —

The honeymoon period of Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign is over.

After enjoying weeks as a rising star, the former South Carolina governor is facing a heightened level of scrutiny not just from her GOP rivals, but from voters.

That new dynamic was on display during a swing through New Hampshire where Haley stumbled over a question on the cause of the Civil War by failing to mention slavery and was accused of being a flip flopper by a nine-year-old child over her unwillingness to criticize former President Donald Trump.

Haley has shown an ability to appeal to independents and moderates by eschewing culture war fights, calling for consensus on issues such as abortion and attempting to avoid controversy. While those qualities have made her an appealing general election candidate, they have led to unforced errors, embarrassing clarifications and tense exchanges with voters ahead of the official start of the primary next month.

It has also undercut one of the central arguments of her campaign, that she’s someone who is willing to give voice to things others are afraid to say.

“There’s no flip flopping,” she told reporters during a gaggle Thursday after she clarified that “of course” she believed the Civil War was about slavery. “I’ve never been a flip flopper. What I do is I speak hard truths, whether people like it or not, and I let the chips fall where they may.”

During one exchange in Lebanon, New Hampshire, a voter said she was “coming up short” on “moral clarity” compared to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

“This is a chance to redeem yourself after last night’s slavery thing,” the voter said. “Would you be able to say categorically that you won’t accept being Trump’s vice president? The