UNITED STATES: A former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, Nikki Haley, said on Tuesday that she would be entering the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race, which makes her face her onetime boss, former President Donald Trump.
The 51-year-old is the first major Republican candidate to take on Trump, who launched his third consecutive White House bid in November and remains the top figure in the party despite disappointing GOP results in the past three national elections.
Haley said in her announcement video that “it’s time for a new generation of leadership to rediscover fiscal responsibility, secure our border, and strengthen our country, our pride, and our purpose.” She will be giving a campaign launch speech in Charleston soon.
After giving her formal speech at the Charleston event on Wednesday, Haley will travel to Iowa and New Hampshire in the days that follow.
South Carolina was included by Trump late in January when he made his first campaign trip of the 2024 presidential race with Gov. Henry McMaster’s and the state’s senior senator, Lindsay Graham’s, support.
Haley said, “China and Russia are on the march.” They all think we can be bullied. Kicked around. You should know this about me: “I don’t put up with bullies and when you kick back, it hurts them more if you’re wearing heels.”
A lot of other Republicans would supposedly enter the race, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
A Republican National Committee member from South Carolina, Glenn McCall, said that he expects Haley to be a tough competitor, especially in her home state, stating that the GOP voters in the state want a “strong conservative who will implement policies that move us forward, but is also presidential and can draw people in, rather than alienate them.”
After being a part of the South Carolina legislature, Haley became the first woman and person of colour to be elected as South Carolina’s governor in 2010. He was chosen by Trump to form his cabinet after six years in 2017.
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