Former U.N. Ambassador and Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley stated that she will vote for former President Trump in November, marking a significant change that could impact the 2024 race. Haley's endorsement could boost Trump as he continues to struggle to attract her voters in the recent Republican primary elections, even after she suspended her own presidential campaign.
Haley garnered about 20% of the votes in the Republican primary contests, representing a warning sign for Trump's campaign. She also received double-digit voting shares in key suburban counties in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia, areas that could determine the election outcome.
During a conversation at the Hudson Institute, Haley remarked that while Trump was not "perfect" on a number of policies, President Biden was a "disaster." She said, "I will vote for Trump. Having said that, I am committed to what I said in my speech when I suspended my campaign."
She continued, "Trump would be wise to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me." In her remarks at the Hudson Institute, she noted, "It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in and out of our party who have not supported him."
This speech marks Haley's first public comments since she suspended her presidential campaign in March. Axios reported that Haley and Trump, the last remaining major candidates in the Republican primary, still have a cool relationship. Given her strong standing among moderate Republicans and independent voters leaning Republican, the pressure on her to support a candidate in November has been increasing.
Haley's decision represents a loss for Biden's campaign, which has been actively trying to target Haley's voters.
