Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday played down her recent statement that New Hampshire voters would “fix” the Iowa caucus results, telling a town hall audience in the Hawkeye State that she was just “cutting back.”
“Oh my,” Haley gasped awkwardly after receiving groans of disapproval from the crowd at Grand View University in Des Moines when CNN host Erin Burnett brought up the mistake.
The former South Carolina governor however defended his comments, arguing that people were taking the statement too seriously.
“We have done over 150 town halls. You also have to have fun,” Haley said.
The White House hopeful, who polled in second place in New Hampshire, compared to his third-place finish in Iowa, told Granite State voters at a town hall event Wednesday that they “have a chance to get this right,” by voting for him.
“You know Iowa started it. You know you fixed it … you know my sweet home state of South Carolina brought it home,” Haley, 51, added during the Milford, NH, forum.
“So, we are in this town hall. We have 700 people in New Hampshire. We’re going to separate and yes, I said that,” Haley told the Iowa crowd, explaining her comments.
During a town hall at Grand View University in Iowa, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley told New Hampshire voters that they would “fix” the Hawkeye State’s caucus results. CNN
He claimed that people in the three early nomination states – Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina – often “make fun of each other on different things.”
“New Hampshire is making fun of Iowa. Iowa makes fun of South Carolina. That’s what we do,” Haley said.
“I think the problem in politics right now is, like, too serious and too dramatic,” he argued. “If we have fun. I don’t live, eat and breathe politics all the time. I also like to have fun.”
Haley defended her comments, arguing that people were taking the remarks too seriously. CNN
Haley went on to emphasize her fondness for Iowa and her remarks show no lack of confidence in how she will perform in the upcoming caucuses.
“I’ve been coming here for months, going to every part of Iowa, shaking hands, answering every question, being the last person to leave at every town hall. You will see me fight until the end on the last day in Iowa,” he said.
“I’ll probably say something funny in Iowa tomorrow about South Carolina and New Hampshire. It’s a way to not take things so seriously,” Haley added, drawing applause from the town hall audience.
Haley trails former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Iowa poll.
Haley also claimed that people in the three early nomination states – Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina – often “joke with each other on different things.” AFP via Getty Images
The RealClearPolitics polling average measured his support in the Hawkeye State at 16.1%, compared to 18.6% for DeSantis and 51.3% for Trump.
The Iowa caucuses will take place on January 15th.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
