Despite her comments from earlier this year when she dropped out of the GOP nominee race, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has now said she will vote for the man she once called “unhinged.”
The remarks from the former US ambassador to the United Nations came at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank.
“As a voter, I put my priorities on a president who’s going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border, no more excuses,” Haley said. “A president who would support capitalism and freedom, a president who understands we need less debt, not more debt.”
She went on to say that while former President Donald Trump was not “perfect” on several of his policies, she would vote for him over President Joe Biden.
“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 be voting for Trump,” she said.
“Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they’re just going to be with him,” Haley added. “And I genuinely hope he does that.”
After dropping out in February, Haley, who was the last major challenge to Trump, said that she felt “no need to kiss the ring,” opting not to support Trump like every other candidate had.
Bob Gardner, a San Francisco Republican strategist and campaign advertising expert, joined KCBS Radio to shed light on the possible motive for Haley’s decision.
Gardner noted that despite not campaigning, Haley was still getting a good amount of support from primary voters, something that could hurt the former president.
“This is a big factor in the GOP. I mean, Donald Trump needs to bring Haley voters into the fold. And this is certainly a good way for him to start,” he said.
While some have called her endorsement “soft,” it is a start for those who have become anti-Trump Republicans.
“I think she carries a weight. I mean, she was the last, last woman standing. She has a lot of credibility, both as a governor and in foreign policy. And this can help soften the edges,” Gardner said.
Still, he did share that the decision could have been more of a self-preservation tactic than a true vow of support.
“If she wants to be, down the road, if she wants to run again, I mean, she has to,” he said. “Trump is the obvious nominee, and she has to endorse the nominee as a good Republican.”
Some anti-Trump Republicans were quick to throw shots at Haley for submitting to the former president, including former Congressman Adam Kinzinger.
“Not a surprise but: Pathetic,” Kinzinger wrote in a social media post about Haley’s comments.