Presidential hopeful Nikki Haley took a defiant stance on Tuesday, saying she’s “not going anywhere” and vowing to fight “harder than ever” for South Carolina’s Republican Party presidential primary despite trailing Donald Trump by double digits in her home state.
Haley gave an impassioned speech about the race in Greenville, South Carolina, just four days before the state’s primary, amid calls from fellow Republicans to resign. She said she’s squatting.
“Some of you, maybe some of you in the media, came here today to see if I’m dropping out of the race,” Haley said. “Well, I’m not, far from it.”
Haley rejected calls for her departure, claiming they came from the “political elite” and insisting she had not won a single state to date. She came third in Iowa, second in New Hampshire, and lost the Nevada primary to “none of these candidates” when Trump won the state’s caucuses.
Haley said she will still run for president on Sunday regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s South Carolina primary. She pointed out that another 21 states and territories will vote in the 10 days after South Carolina.
Haley blasted Trump during her campaign speech in Greenville ahead of the South Carolina primary on Saturday. She said she will remain in the race regardless of the results of the primaries in her home state
Haley denounced Republicans who called on her to resign, saying people deserve a choice in the primaries, “not a Soviet-style election.” She said of Trump that she sees no reason to ‘kiss the ring’
‘Quitting would be the easy route. I never took the easy route,” Haley said. “I’ve been the underdog in every race I’ve ever run. I’ve always been David, taking on Goliath, and like David, I’m not just fighting someone bigger than me, I’m fighting for something bigger than myself.”
Haley has criticized Trump on the campaign trail but stepped up her attacks on the Republican presidential nominee on Tuesday, calling him “unstable” and “unhinged.”
“People have the right to have their voices heard, and they deserve a real choice, not a Soviet-style election where there is only one candidate and he gets 99% of the vote,” Haley said. ‘We do not anoint kings in this land. We have elections, and Donald Trump in particular needs to know that we are not rigging the elections!’
She said the country does not want more chaos and madness, and argued that Americans do not want another rematch between Trump and Biden.
“Ultimately, Donald Trump is the only candidate who helps Joe Biden because Trump is the only Republican who can beat Biden,” Haley said.
Haley called Biden and Trump two old men who were only getting older.
‘We’re talking about the most demanding job in human history. You don’t give it to someone who is at risk of dementia,” Haley said.
Haley pauses to regain her composure as she speaks about her husband’s military deployment during her “state of the race” speech on Tuesday. She said her husband is fighting for the country he loves
Haley with her husband at a campaign event in March 2023. Michael Haley, who serves as a major in the South Carolina Army National Guard, deployed overseas last year
At one point in her speech, Haley became visibly emotional as she spoke about her husband Michael, a major in the South Carolina Army National Guard who is currently serving overseas.
“As I prepare for what lies ahead, Michael is at the forefront of my thoughts. “I wish Michael was here today, and I wish our kids and I could see him tonight, but we can’t,” Haley said, holding back tears.
“Michael fights for the country he loves, as do all his brothers in arms, wherever they are stationed in our dangerous world. They took their stand because America is worth fighting and even dying for,” Haley said. “Now I will continue to defend my position because America is worth living for.”
Haley’s emotional comments about her husband being deployed abroad come after Trump recently joked about his absences on the campaign trail.
During a rally, Trump recalled that Haley had come to see him earlier at Mar-a-Lago and brought her husband with her, before saying, “What happened to her husband?” What happened to her husband? Where is he? He is gone! He knew.’
Trump’s campaign released a memo on Tuesday saying the end of Haley’s campaign is near. Based on their analysis, they predict that even with a generous model for Haley, Trump will win the Republican nomination on March 19. Based on current data, they estimate that he will secure the necessary 1,223 delegates by March 12.