I tend to agree with HY, Haley is following the lane for a shot at the ‘28 nomination and isn’t the only one doing this.
Governors Kemp and Sununu (and Youngkin & DeSantis from the MAGA right) are all engaging in a version of the same dance to varying degrees.
Now, if Trump wins this election, I’m not so sure this works as well for the Haley/Sununu side, and TBD how much momentum JD Vance would have, but he will have a lot of money already lined up for the race post Trump second term.
If we have an wipe out of the GOP tonight that the polls are not detecting, then I think the Haley/Sununu lane will be better positioned but likely will have to battle with Never Trump Republicans trying to recapture the party in the image of Reagan. But that seems remote right now, so the never-Trumpers seem stuck in the wilderness until at least the next election cycle.