WASHINGTON – Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday previewed a “big announcement” she plans to make in two weeks, extensively anticipated to be the launch of her 2024 US presidential run — making her the primary Republican to throw down the gauntlet to Donald Trump within the race for the White House.
“My family and I have a big announcement to share with you on February 15th! And yes, it’s definitely going to be a Great Day in South Carolina!,” she tweeted.
Casting herself as a youthful, brisker various to the previous president, Haley has been hinting at a White House bid for weeks, not too long ago posting a video on social media during which she declared: “It’s time for a new generation to lead.”
The 51-year-old, who served for six years because the governor of South Carolina, is predicted to formally announce at an occasion in Charleston, the Palmetto State’s largest city, on February 15.
At this level within the 2020 cycle, 10 Democrats had launched campaigns or exploratory committees, however Trump is thus far the one Republican to take action this time round.
Haley, who was Trump’s United Nations ambassador for 2 years, had mentioned she would not run in opposition to her former boss.
But her announcement would affirm that Trump is not going to run uncontested, and Haley is unlikely to be the final Republican to throw their hat within the ring.
Other Republicans seen as potential rivals to Trump embody Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump’s vp Mike Pence and secretary of state Mike Pompeo, and former Maryland governor Larry Hogan.
“It’s exciting to see the leadership that’s coming out of South Carolina,” mentioned Nancy Mace, a uncommon anti-Trump House Republican, at a political occasion in Washington on Wednesday, confirming that she was anticipating an invite to Haley’s announcement by the tip of the day.
She did not affirm whether or not she can be attending, nonetheless, telling the gang on the occasion organized by congressional media outlet Axios that she was “looking at” presumably endorsing Haley.
– Yearning for change –
Trump mentioned on his option to a rally Saturday in South Carolina’s capital, Columbia, that he had spoken to his former envoy on the cellphone and had inspired her to run.
The daughter of Indian immigrants, Nimrata “Nikki” Randhawa was raised in Bamberg, South Carolina as a Sikh, however now identifies as Christian. She is married to a South Carolina National Guard officer and has two kids.
She rose shortly within the southern state’s politics, constructing a repute as a plain-spoken conservative in its House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011, when she was elected governor.
She was the face of range in a cupboard criticized for being too white, and left the administration in 2018 with a robust world profile — and a repute for standing as much as her mercurial boss.
But Haley’s messaging on Trump has all the time been inconsistent.
She endorsed senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz in the course of the 2016 Republican presidential major, calling the brash property baron “everything a governor doesn’t want in a president.”
Since leaving authorities, her reward of the Trump presidency has been offset by her criticism of his private conduct, together with his involvement within the 2021 assault on the US Capitol.
Haley averages three % in 2024 major opinion polls, based on Morning Consult, trailing far behind Trump at 48 %, DeSantis at 31 %, and Pence in single digits.
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis mentioned on the Axios occasion elected officers in Washington are “not particularly popular” in a polarized America craving for change.
“I think President Trump needs to come before the American people, like others that are going to enter in the primary, and build a case,” he mentioned.
“People are asking me am I picking somebody at this point. I say, my goodness, it’s February of 2023. I want to hear the case.” — Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
