Haley needed this badly, sadly she didn’t get it.
In a significant political development, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, a former contender for the White House, is poised to throw his support behind former President Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee. This move is seen as a notable snub to Nikki Haley, the former Governor of South Carolina. Senator Scott, who withdrew from the presidential race in November, had previously stated that he would not endorse any other candidate, as reported by the New York Post.
The official endorsement is expected to be made during a Trump campaign rally scheduled for later this Friday in New Hampshire, according to multiple sources cited by the New York Post. This endorsement by Senator Scott, coming just days before the New Hampshire primary on January 23, is a significant setback for Haley. It is noteworthy that Nikki Haley appointed Tim Scott to the Senate seat in December 2012, a seat he later won in two separate elections.
The timing of Scott’s endorsement aligns with the critical period leading up to the New Hampshire primary, where Haley is positioned as the closest challenger to Trump. Winning this primary is crucial for Haley if she aims to impede Trump’s momentum towards securing the GOP nomination in Milwaukee later this year.
In response to reports of Senator Scott’s anticipated endorsement, Nikki Haley remarked, “It’s intriguing to see Trump aligning with Washington insiders, especially considering his commitment to ‘drain the swamp.’ However, individuals will inevitably follow their own paths.” This statement, conveyed by Haley’s spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas, reflects her perspective on the unfolding political dynamics.
Senator Scott’s endorsement provides a significant boost to Trump’s candidacy, garnering support from 26 out of the Senate’s 49 Republicans. This development comes on the heels of Trump’s resounding victory in the Iowa Republican caucus, where he triumphed over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis by a substantial margin of nearly 30 percentage points. Meanwhile, Haley secured a third-place finish in the Iowa caucus.