She is raising concerns about fairness within the party.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley voiced strong criticism against the Republican National Committee (RNC) on Sunday, asserting that the organization was not acting as a neutral entity in the upcoming 2024 party primaries. Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Haley, who stands as the primary GOP contender against former President Donald Trump, openly stated that the RNC was clearly not maintaining fairness in the primary process.
When questioned by moderator Kristen Welker about her perception of the RNC as an honest broker, Haley responded unequivocally with, “I mean, clearly not.” She expressed reservations about the RNC’s decision to determine the nominee after only two states had cast their votes, emphasizing the importance of allowing the American people to have a substantial role in the selection process.
Highlighting that a majority of the 1,215 delegates required for nomination were yet to be allocated, Haley argued for empowering Americans to actively participate in decision-making regarding the nominee. She criticized Trump for exerting pressure on the RNC to take a decisive stance, stating that he had overstepped and commended his subsequent decision to step back.
Facing questions about her own candidacy, Haley refrained from insisting on an outright win in her home state of South Carolina on Feb. 24 but underscored the significance of surpassing her performance in the New Hampshire primary. She acknowledged the importance of building momentum and demonstrating strength in South Carolina, downplaying the necessity of an unequivocal victory while emphasizing the need for improvement over previous results.
Regarding her commitment to the race, Haley expressed her intention to stay in through Super Tuesday, though she declined to commit to participating in the Republican National Convention in July. She adopted a measured, one-step-at-a-time approach, reaffirming her determination to continue the journey.
The RNC has not responded immediately to Haley’s comments, and she dismissed any significance attached to their statements, expressing a lack of concern about the RNC’s position. The RNC, under the leadership of Chair Ronna McDaniel, had previously signaled a willingness to rally behind Trump if he continued to perform well in early caucuses and primaries, emphasizing the party’s focus on unity to defeat President Biden in the general election.
