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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
After losing big to Donald Trump on Super Tuesday, former UN ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley made a significant statement.
During a press conference on Wednesday morning in South Carolina, Haley announced that she is dropping out of the 2024 race.
“I said the campaign was grounded in my love for our country. Just last week, my mother, a first generation immigrant, got to vote for her daughter for president. Only in America. I am filled with the gratitude for the outpouring of support we’ve received from all across our great country. But the time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets. And although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in,” Haley said.
“Our national debt will eventually crush our economy. A smaller federal government is not only necessary for our freedom, it is necessary for our survival. The road to socialism is the road to ruin for America. Our Congress is dysfunctional, and only getting worse. It is filled with followers, not leaders. Term limits for Washington politicians are needed now more than ever. Our world is on fire, because of America’s retreat. Standing by our allies in Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan is a moral imperative,” Haley added.
Haley concluded: “But it’s also more than that. If we retreat further, there will be more war not less. As important while we stand strong for the cause of freedom, we must bind together as Americans, we must turn away from the darkness of hatred and division. I will continue to promote all those values, as is the right of every American. I sought the honor of being your president. But in our great country, being a private citizen is privileged enough in itself. And that’s a privilege I very much look forward to enjoying.”
WATCH:
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.@NikkiHaley: “The time has now come to suspend my campaign.” pic.twitter.com/2lDzyBZDgG
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) March 6, 2024
JUST NOW: Nikki Haley has officially suspended her presidential campaign.
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) March 6, 2024
Before Super Tuesday, Haley repeatedly stated she would remain in the race to the end.
On Sunday, she won her first Republican Party presidential primary in the nation’s capital.
Haley won the Washington, D.C., Republican primary 63% to Trump’s 33% with nearly all the votes counted, according to the Associated Press.
Trump has dominated in all of the other contests that have taken place thus far, winning in some states by more than 70 points.
Haley’s campaign responded to the win by stating on social media: “This makes Nikki Haley the first woman to win a Republican primary in U.S. history.”
Despite Trump’s steadily growing lead, the former governor of South Carolina has repeatedly vowed to remain in the race through Super Tuesday.
“Tonight’s results in Washington, D.C., reaffirm the object of President Trump’s campaign—he will drain the swamp and put America first,” the Trump Campaign said in a statement.
“While Nikki has been soundly rejected throughout the rest of America, she was just crowned Queen of the Swamp by the lobbyists and DC insiders who want to protect the failed status quo. The swamp has claimed their queen. President Trump will fight for every American who is being let down by these very DC insiders and devastated by Joe Biden’s failures,” the statement added.
Trump responded to Haley’s win in DC, posting on social media: “I purposely stayed away from the D.C. Vote because it is the ‘Swamp,’ with very few delegates, and no upside. Birdbrain spent all of her time, money and effort there. Over the weekend we won Missouri, Idaho, and Michigan – BIG NUMBERS – Complete destruction of a very weak opponent. The really big numbers will come on Super Tuesday. Also, WAY UP ON CROOKED JOE!”
“Birdbrain is a loser, record low performance in virtually every State,” Trump continued, noting that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis “easily beat her” while he was still in the race.
“I enjoy watching the Bird disavow her PLEDGE to the RNC and her statement that she would NEVER run against President Trump (‘A great President’),” he added. “Well, she ran, she lied, and she LOST BIG!”
Earlier, Haley appeared to walk back a pledge she made to support whoever wins the 2024 Republican nomination.
During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Haley attempted to claim that she signed the pledge in order to participate in the Republican primary debates.
“As long as we are competitive, I’m going to continue to fight,” Haley said. “I don’t look too far ahead.”
“The RNC pledge,” she said. “I mean, at the time of the debate, we had to take it to where, ‘Would you support the nominee?’ And in order to get on that debate stage, you said yes. The RNC is now not the same RNC,” Haley said. “I think I’ll make what decision I want to make.”
“Let’s talk about Super Tuesday. If you wake up on Wednesday and you haven’t won anywhere, and that’s an if, would you then need to make the decision that it’s time to drop out of the race?” host Kristen Welker asked.
“I’ve always said this needs to be competitive. As long as we are competitive, as long as we are showing that there is a place for us, I’m going to continue to fight. That’s always been the case,” Haley said.
Welker asked, “Based on what you’re saying, Ambassador, are you prepared to stay in this through the convention? Is that your plan?”
Haley deflected again, saying, “If the people want to see me go forward, they’ll show it. They’ll show it in their votes.”
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