PETERBOROUGH, New Hampshire – Nikki Haley sought to downplay the lack of support she has accrued in her home state of South Carolina, attributing it to her tough approach toward the legislature.
This week, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), whom he appointed to the House in 2013, endorsed his opponent, former President Donald Trump.
South Carolina’s Republican governor, Henry McMaster, 76, also previously endorsed Trump and was set to meet him in Manchester on Saturday night.
“You won’t see me have many legislative endorsements in South Carolina. And the reason is that I forced them to start showing their votes on the record, against their will; that’s documented,” Haley told reporters during a brief meeting after an event at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture.
Early in her term as governor of South Carolina, Haley signed legislation to require lawmakers to cast more recorded votes.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign has criticized Haley for garnering only 14 endorsements from current or former state lawmakers, even though she garnered 74.
Tim Scott officially endorsed Donald Trump on Friday. AFP via Getty Images
“I forced them to approve ethics reform, even though they didn’t want to do it,” he continued before boasting about vetoing spending items. “So there’s a reason the South Carolina legislature doesn’t love me.”
On Friday, Scott wholeheartedly endorsed Trump, arguing that “we need a president who will unite our country” and praising Trump’s policies, including on the border.
Haley briefly commented on Scott’s endorsement of Trump, before moving on to his lack of endorsement from South Carolina lawmakers.
“I was disappointed, of course I was disappointed. You have to live with that decision. I don’t have to live with that decision,” she lamented.
Nikki Haley will face Donald Trump in a high-stakes clash in New Hampshire. ZUMAPRESS.com Nikki Haley appointed Tim Scott to fill a Senate vacancy in 2013. AFP via Getty Images
When asked about McMaster’s pro-Trump bewilderment, Haley told her story.
“I’m sorry, is that the person I ran for governor against and beat? Just checking,” she chided.
McMaster ran for governor of South Carolina in 2010, but lost to Haley. After she took the reins, Haley gave her a position at the South Carolina Port Authority. He later won election to be lieutenant governor in 2014.
After Haley resigned to become US ambassador to the UN in 2017, McMaster ascended to the governor’s mansion.
“Yet another almost-80-year-old trying to make an impact,” complained New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who endorsed Haley and flanked her in the group.
The current governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, supports Donald Trump. AP
Haley has received the endorsement of Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), who has campaigned with her, including in Iowa.
Additionally, she argued that members of Congress are eager to give her an official seal of approval because she craves changes like term limits, asked for proof of mental competency and threatened to cut their salaries if they don’t approve a budget. on time.
“I call on elected officials because accountability is important,” Haley said. “So if Donald Trump wants all those politicians, and they all want to go, they can go, but that’s all I’m fighting against.”
DeSantis has apparently set his sights on South Carolina as he looks for an opportunity to get his 2024 bid back on track. On Saturday he stumped in the Palmetto State, rather than New Hampshire.
Haley was optimistic about his prospects in South Carolina.
“First of all, I was a Tea Party governor,” she said before listing some of her accomplishments. “We made South Carolina proud again, we made it the beast of the South.”
“I’ve won South Carolina twice, twice. I know the people of South Carolina, they’re tough. They want you to earn it,” he continued. “I’m going to do it like I did it twice before.”
Donald Trump is the Republican favorite for 2024. Getty Images
Trump has a commanding 52% in South Carolina, followed by Haley at 21.8% and DeSantis at 11%, according to the latest aggregate from RealClearPolitics.
South Carolina’s Republican primary race is scheduled for Feb. 24, nearly a month after the Granite State contest.
Haley has been banking heavily on a strong showing in New Hampshire to help catapult her to the Republican nomination.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn