In the 2024 race for the Republican nomination, tensions were high between former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump, as both vied for the party’s top spot. However, months after a spirited and contentious campaign, Haley has made a significant move reflecting a united front.
Nikki Haley is now releasing all 97 of her delegates and urging them to support Trump at next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, according to Politico’s Meridith McGraw.
“The nominating convention is a time for Republican unity,” Haley is anticipated to say in a statement. “JOE BIDEN is not competent to serve a second term and KAMALA HARRIS would be a disaster for America. We need a president who will hold our enemies to account, secure our border, cut our debt, and get our economy back on track. I encourage my delegates to support Donald Trump next week in Milwaukee.”
When asked if Haley would attend the upcoming convention, her spokesperson Chaney Denton responded, “She was not invited, and she’s fine with that. Trump deserves the convention he wants. She’s made it clear she’s voting for him and wishes him the best.”
After leaving the Trump administration in 2018, Haley remained a prominent figure in the Republican Party. She praised certain aspects of Trump’s presidency while also being willing to critique him when their views did not align. Her stance seemed strategically calibrated to maintain support among the Trump base while also appealing to more moderate Republicans.
As speculation about the 2024 Presidential race heated up, Haley’s relationship with Trump became more scrutinized. Despite earlier assertions that she would not run against Trump if he sought the presidency in 2024, Haley decided to enter the race, signaling a shift from supporter to competitor. The move placed her in direct contention with Trump, altering their relationship from allies within the same administration to rivals vying for the same nomination.
At the Iowa caucuses on January 15, Trump secured his first decisive victory. The former president continued his winning streak at the New Hampshire primary on January 23, defeating Haley by another resounding margin. Following Trump’s string of commanding wins on Super Tuesday, Haley suspended her campaign on March 6. Her only victories were in Vermont and the District of Columbia.
In May, Haley decided to endorse Trump after weeks of speculation. “I put my priorities on a president who’s going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border—no more excuses,” Haley said. “Trump has not been perfect on these policies; I have made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe.”
“So, I will be voting for Trump,” she concluded. “Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech: Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, and not assume that they’re just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that.”
While the Republican Party appears unified around their candidate, the same cannot be said for the Democrats. Within the Democratic caucus, there’s a noticeable lack of agreement regarding Biden’s bid for re-election. Just before a crucial Tuesday meeting dubbed a “come-to-Jesus” session, a small contingent of Democrats from key swing districts held an emotionally charged meeting complete with tears over Biden’s course of action.
(VOTE NOW: Is Biden Mentally Unfit To Serve As President?)
Source link