- Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is aimed at killing Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina
- The South Carolina primary will be held on February 24
- Trump is looking to Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, a former 2024 candidate, to endorse him in an effort to upset Haley
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign wants to kill former Amb. Nikki Haley’s presidential bid in her home state of South Carolina.
As Trump and Haley campaign furiously in New Hampshire this week, Trump’s team is looking ahead to the Feb. 24 Palmetto State primary as the place where the knockout will be achieved.
A Trump adviser called South Carolina a “Waterloo” for the ex-president’s main rivals, according to The New York Times.
“South Carolina is where Nikki Haley’s dreams will die,” Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita told the newspaper.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made the same calculation and plans to campaign in Haley’s home state this weekend.
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is aimed at eliminating the former UN ambassador. Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina, where a primary election will be held on February 24. Haley is seen leaving a campaign event in Hollis, New Hampshire on Thursday
Former President Donald Trump (left) seeks out South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (right), hoping to earn his endorsement ahead of the South Carolina primary. Scott was a 2024 presidential hopeful until he dropped out of the race in November
“If Nikki Haley fails to win her home state, she’s done for and this becomes a two-way race — and her donors are starting to come to the same conclusion,” a top DeSantis campaign official said. told CBS, who first reported DeSantis’ Saturday and Sunday schedule.
DeSantis already made one trip to South Carolina, campaigning in Greenville on Tuesday morning after Monday night’s Iowa caucuses – a symbolic trip to show his campaign would continue.
Trump, who absolutely dominated the Iowa caucuses, hopes to make it a one-man race sooner or later.
While he has publicly attacked Haley at campaign events in New Hampshire, Trump has also courted Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, hoping the former 2024 candidate will endorse the ex-president ahead of the late February primaries, according to reports. The Times reported.
Trump used this tactic on DeSantis — in an effort to show dominance in his rivals’ home states — by announcing that he had blocked Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s endorsement on the morning of the Iowa caucus.
Senator Rick Scott of Florida had previously supported Trump.
The ex-president already has the support of Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
The latest South Carolina poll, led by Emerson and released on January 5, shows Trump with a commanding lead in Haley’s home state.
He wins 54 percent of South Carolina voters, while Haley — who was governor from 2011 to 2017 — is at 25 percent.
DeSantis, who has just targeted South Carolina, is at 7 percent — just ahead of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy — candidates who have both dropped out.
During a campaign stop in Hollis, New Hampshire Thursday, Haley laughed off a question about DeSantis’ plan to campaign in the Palmetto State this weekend.
“He’s closer to zero than me,” Haley said. “I mean, he’s invisible.”