Haley and her team are furious!
Nikki Haley’s campaign strongly criticized the Republican National Committee (RNC) and its chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, on Thursday, objecting to a draft resolution contemplating former President Donald Trump as the presumptive GOP nominee. The resolution, put forth by RNC committee member David Bossie, a former Trump campaign official from 2016, contradicts Haley’s commitment to carrying on with her campaign into her home state of South Carolina for the upcoming primary.
Dismissing the RNC’s influence, Haley’s campaign spokeswoman, Olivia Perez-Cubas, asserted, “The opinions of the RNC are inconsequential. We will let millions of Republican voters nationwide determine our party’s nominee, not a group of insiders in Washington.” Perez-Cubas suggested McDaniel’s involvement by proposing the organization of a debate in South Carolina, hinting at potential apprehensions about Trump facing off against Nikki Haley on stage for an extended period.
In response, RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper clarified that such resolutions are introduced by RNC members, not McDaniel. The Resolutions Committee would determine whether to present it for a vote at the annual meeting.
Despite the potential for voting as early as next week, not all RNC members endorse declaring Trump the nominee. Committee member Bill Palatucci from New Jersey criticized the resolution as “disparaging to millions of primary voters” and illustrative of Trump’s “authoritarian inclinations.”
Haley, the remaining contender against Trump, confronts formidable odds following Trump’s victories in Iowa and New Hampshire. Early polls suggest a potential substantial defeat for Haley in the South Carolina primary. McDaniel, advocating for party unity, urged Haley to step back after the New Hampshire setback, emphasizing the imperative to overcome President Joe Biden.
Expressing gratitude for the RNC’s consideration, Trump advocated for securing the nomination through voters, stating that, for the sake of party unity, the RNC should abstain from pursuing the plan.