Things are not going well for 2024 GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
During an interview on Fox News, host John Roberts confronted Haley about her poor polling in South Carolina and point-blank asked her, “Why go through with it?”
“Last question, just on that whole point of South Carolina, a new CBS poll out, shows that Donald Trump is 35 points ahead of you. Now he’s increased his lead. And here’s a question I have. We’re just a little more than a week away from South Carolina at the moment. It looks like you’re going to go into that contest and lose badly in your home state, which will forever be a cloud over your political career. Why go through with it?” Roberts asked Haley.
“So first of all, that’s what they said before New Hampshire, and I got 43% of the vote. Our polls do not show that that is not what we’re saying, and we’re going to close that gap,” Haley began.
“More than that, you’re asking me about my political career. That’s the problem with politics. Donald Trump’s worried about his image. Joe Biden’s worried about his image. I’m not worried about mine. I’m worried about the future of America. I’m worried about my kids and what country they grow up in. I’m worried about your kids and what country they grow up in,” Haley continued.
She added, “This isn’t personal. It’s not about me or what happens to me. This is about the fact that if we don’t see how bad this can get, it’s already bad. If we don’t become part of the solution and realize that we can change it, that’s the problem. I will say again, don’t complain about what happens in a general election if you don’t play in this primary because Donald Trump cannot win a general election.”
“He’s already said he’s going to spend more time in court than on the campaign trail. He spent $50 million of campaign contributions towards his personal court cases. The RNC is broke. Republicans will not win if you continue down this path. The reason Donald Trump wants me to get out so badly is because he wants help paying his court fees. That is not the job of the RNC. That’s not the job of taxpayers,” Haley concluded.
WATCH:
Former President Donald Trump is polling far ahead of Haley in her home state of South Carolina.
According to a Fabrizio, Lee & Associates poll conducted for the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. PAC, Trump garnered 66 percent of support among likely South Carolina Republican primary voters. He more than doubles Haley’s 31 percent.
Trump’s support is made up of 59 percent of respondents who indicated they will “definitely” vote for him and an additional six percent who said they “probably” will.
In contrast, seven percent of poll participants expressed they would “probably” support Haley, while 24 percent stated they would “definitely” support her. There is another four percent who remain undecided.
Once voters are informed that former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), who co-chaired the House January 6 Select Committee, has endorsed Haley, her support decreases to 29 percent, whereas Trump’s support remains unchanged. Additionally, the percentage of voters who would “definitely” vote for Haley decreases from 24 percent to 21 percent.
“Despite her positive job approval and millions of attack ads against President Trump, Republican primary voters in South Carolina remain unswayed by Haley’s weak attempts to change their minds. South Carolina solidly remains Trump country,” a memo from the polling firm concludes.
Several influential conservatives have also called on Haley to end her hopeless quest for the 2024 GOP nomination and unite around Trump.
The calls come as Haley has gone 0-4 in the first series of primaries, and she is trailing Trump by a wide margin in South Carolina.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
