PETERBOROUGH, New Hampshire — Nikki Haley sought to minimize the lack of support she’s received from her home state of South Carolina, chalking it up to her tough approach to the legislature.
This week, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), whom he appointed to the lower house in 2013, endorsed his opponent, former President Donald Trump.
South Carolina Republican Governor Henry McMaster, 76, has also supported Trump in the past and is set to meet with him in Manchester on Saturday afternoon.
“You’re not going to see me have a lot of legislative support in South Carolina. And the reason is, I’m forcing them to start showing their votes on the record, against their will — that’s documented,” Haley told reporters during a brief banter after the event at the Center for History & Culture Monadnock.
Early in her tenure as governor of South Carolina, Haley signed legislation to require lawmakers to cast more record votes.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign has resulted in Haley getting only 14 endorsements from current or former state legislators, even though she got 74.
Tim Scott officially threw his weight behind Donald Trump on Friday. AFP via Getty Images
“I forced them to pass ethics reform, even if they didn’t want to,” he said before bragging about vetoing spending items. “So there’s a reason there’s no love for me, from the legislature in South Carolina.”
On Friday, Scott strongly endorsed Trump, arguing that, “we need a president who will unite our country” and praising Trump’s policies including at the border.
Haley briefly commented on Scott’s support for Trump, before turning to the lack of support from South Carolina lawmakers.
“Am I disappointed, of course I am disappointed. He had to live with that decision. I don’t have to live with that decision,” he lamented.
Nikki Haley is set to take on Donald Trump in a high-stakes race for New Hampshire. ZUMAPRESS.com Nikki Haley appointed Tim Scott to fill Senate vacancy in 2013. AFP via Getty Images
When asked about McMaster’s distaste for Trump, Haley recounted their history.
“I’m sorry, is that the person I ran for governorship and defeated? Just checking,” he said.
McMaster ran for governor of South Carolina in 2010 but lost to Haley. After he took over, Haley gave him a position at the South Carolina Ports Authority. He later won the election to become lieutenant governor in 2014.
After Haley stepped down to become the US ambassador to the UN in 2017, McMaster ascended to the governor’s mansion.
“Another almost 80-year-old trying to make an impact,” New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who supported Haley and flanked her in the gaggle, grumbled.
Current South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is endorsing Donald Trump. AP
Haley was endorsed by Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), who has campaigned with him, including in Iowa.
He further argued that members of Congress are trying to give him an official stamp of approval because he is desperate for changes like term limits, asking for mental competency tests, and threatening to cut their pay if they don’t pass a budget on time.
“I’m calling elected officials out because accountability is important,” Haley said. “So if Donald Trump wants all those politicians, and they all want to go, they can do it but that’s all I’m against.”
DeSantis appears to have his sights set on South Carolina as he looks for an opportunity to get his 2024 bid back on track. He deadlocked in the Palmetto State Saturday, instead of New Hampshire.
Haley is bullish about his prospects in South Carolina.
“First of all, I’m a Tea Party governor,” he said before recounting some of his accomplishments. “We made South Carolina proud again, we turned it into a beast in the South.”
“I’ve won South Carolina twice — twice. I know South Carolina people, they’re tough. They want to see you earn it,” he continued. “I’ll do it like I did it twice before.”
Donald Trump is the runaway 2024 Republican frontrunner. Getty Images
Trump commands 52% in South Carolina, followed by Haley at 21.8%, and DeSantis at 11%, according to the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.
The South Carolina GOP primary is scheduled for February 24, nearly a month after the Granite State contest.
Haley has been saving up for a strong showing in New Hampshire to help propel her to the Republican nomination.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
