Former presidential candidate Nikki Haley has said she will vote for Donald Trump in the November US election.
Washington:
Former presidential candidate Nikki Haley said on Wednesday that she will vote for Donald Trump in the November US elections, ending months of silence after abandoning the race to choose a Republican to face Joe Biden.
The 52-year-old former South Carolina governor abandoned her White House ambitions in March but had not previously indicated whether she would support the man who repeatedly referred to her as “bird brain.”
However, she continued to win a significant share of the vote in the presidential primaries – underscoring the persistent refusal of a sizable bloc of Republicans to support Trump.
“I have set my priorities on a president who will have the support of our allies and hold our enemies accountable, who will secure the border – no more excuses – a president who will support capitalism and freedom, a president who understands that we need less debt and not more debt,” she said.
“Trump has not been perfect on these policies. I’ve made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will vote for Trump.”
– ‘Zombie Campaign’ –
Haley’s tenacious vote led American media outlets to refer to her continued presence in the primaries, long after the curtain had fallen, as a “zombie campaign.”
Trump, 77, has failed to make inroads with Haley’s moderate support and will see her public show of support as a big plus ahead of the Republican nominating convention in July.
The primaries revealed Trump’s main flaw – the lack of appeal among moderates, independents and voters with college degrees that he will need to prevail against Biden.
Haley said, speaking Wednesday at an event for the Washington-based conservative think tank Hudson Institute, who added that she stood by her comments asking Trump to be kind to his support base.
“Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, and not assume they will simply stand with him. And I really hope he does,” she said.
Biden’s campaign had been reaching across aisles, hoping to attract Haley voters.
It launched a TV commercial in April targeting suburban battlegrounds with the message: “If you voted for Nikki Haley, Donald Trump doesn’t want your vote.”
Trump — who is considering several Republicans as his running mates in November — indicated in early May that he is not considering Haley for vice president.
The 77-year-old real estate mogul has everyone guessing who he will choose as his running mate in the November vote.
“Nikki Haley is not being considered for the position of vice president, but I wish her the best!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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