Nikki Haley’s rival for the Republican presidential nomination has piled on her in recent days, arguing that she really hopes to become former President Donald Trump’s No. 2 if he gets the GOP nod.
Criticism has increased in intensity after New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu endorsed Haley Tuesday, giving a boost to the candidate who polls show ranks second in the first national primary behind Trump.
Rivals Chris Christie and Ron DeSantis have argued that the former South Carolina governor has no real interest in being president, saying he has kept his attacks on Trump to a minimum – criticizing the national debt that has grown under his watch and saying that the “chaos” following the former the president.
In a CNN interview Wednesday with Sununu, Haley — who launched her campaign with a pledge to make politicians over 75 undergo regular mental fitness tests — said the 77-year-old Trump is “suitable” for the job, but added that she wants ” a new generation of leaders.”
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at a Town Hall event at Tempesta’s, in Keene, NH AP
That prompted Christie, who has billed himself as the only candidate ready to take on the 45th president outright, to rip into Haley at a town hall in Londonderry, NH Wednesday night — saying the former ambassador to the United Nations should “run as he [Trump’s] running couple.”
“You can’t keep trying to stick this needle where you don’t want to offend anybody,” the former New Jersey governor said.
Meanwhile, Matt Wolking — a representative for the DeSantis-supporting super PAC Never Back Down — pointed out Haley’s reluctance to criticize the 45th president’s record in an email blast. He also emphasized that Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara did not rule out Haley being elected as VP.
Attacks on Haley have increased since she rose in the polls, with Christie recently taking the spotlight after she won support from Gov. Chris Sununu. Reuters
“Crazier things have happened,” the former wife of first son Eric Trump told Newsmax’s Eric Bolling of Haley’s chances Monday afternoon. “I don’t know, I would never say never to Donald J. Trump.”
“Trumpworld didn’t rule out Nikki Haley as Trump’s running mate – and why would they?” Wolking said. “It’s not like Haley said anything very negative about Trump. After all, his ad dollars were spent on attack ads against DeSantis, something Trump will no doubt appreciate after he encouraged her to run for president this year.”
Haley’s spokeswoman, Olivia Perez-Cubas, denied the allegations, telling The Post: “That’s a pretty weak attack coming from two friends competing for third place.”
The idea of Trump choosing Haley as his running mate is not limited to his rivals.
Former House speaker Kevin McCarthy said last month that Haley would be a great VP choice if Trump wanted to make a “political” decision.
US President Donald Trump announces that he has accepted the resignation of Nikki Haley as US Ambassador to the United Nations, in the Oval Office on October 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. Getty Images
“If I were a politician, and I would advise someone, you would choose the vice president which is about addition, not subtraction. So you’re not going to pick someone who’s already your equal,” McCarthy told the New York Times DealBook Summit Nov. 29. “Now if I’m voting for a purely political decision, what it looks like today is the anti-Trump vote going to Nikki Haley.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), on the other hand, criticized the prospect of Haley being given any position in the Trump administration.
“MAGA will revolt if Nikki Haley is given training in the incoming Trump administration,” Greene said on X Tuesday.
“He represents the last wing of the neocon establishment American Republican Party that we are completely done with.”
The Trump and Haley campaigns did not respond to inquiries from The Post about the prospects for a 2024 alliance.
The two GOP contenders have traded blows recently, with Trump calling Haley “bird brain,” but were on good terms when Haley served as US ambassador to the UN.
The former president hasn’t made any public signs that he’s considering Haley as a serious VP candidate, and the former South Carolina governor has repeatedly argued he’s in the 2024 race to win and he’s not “playing for second.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
