She’s has her eyes on another presidential candidate.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley recently expressed openness to the idea of potentially teaming up with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a running mate, stating that she would welcome such collaboration if DeSantis were inclined to join forces. During a joint interview with NBC News and the Des Moines Register, Haley’s remarks highlighted her intention to independently vie for victory over former President Donald Trump, who currently maintains a considerable lead in the polls.
Addressing the prospect of partnering with DeSantis to challenge Trump, Haley emphasized her primary objective to surpass Trump on her own merits, indicating a willingness to align forces if DeSantis showed interest. Conversely, DeSantis, when asked about the possibility of joining forces with Haley, questioned the purpose behind such a union, labeling Haley as a “phony” and a favorite of the “Never Trumpers,” intensifying the verbal sparring between the two contenders.
Despite DeSantis’ pointed remarks, Haley notably refrained from extensive commentary on him during her interview. Instead, she covered various topics, including assessments of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s candidacy, critiques she faces from the right, and reflections on the racial challenges she encountered while growing up.
The exchange escalated further as DeSantis accused Haley of pursuing the position of Trump’s vice president, a claim that Haley swiftly dismissed. Refusing to directly respond to the prospect of being Trump’s VP if offered, Haley tactfully avoided what she deemed as a ploy by her adversaries, asserting, “I am not running to be vice president.”
As polls place Haley as the second frontrunner behind Trump in New Hampshire, pressure mounts on Christie, a contender targeting similar moderate and independent voters, to reconsider his campaign’s viability. While Haley refrained from urging Christie’s withdrawal, she questioned the efficacy of his continued candidacy, particularly as he focuses less on campaigning in Iowa and South Carolina.
With the Iowa caucus looming, Haley aimed not for an outright win but rather a strong performance. She asserted the possibility of a candidate displaying strength despite trailing Trump by a double-digit margin in certain states, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of the electoral landscape.
While Haley traditionally holds confidence in her home state of South Carolina, she declined to commit to exiting the race if she were to lose there, prioritizing her ongoing efforts to impede Trump’s dominance in the state’s polls, where he leads by a wider margin than in New Hampshire.
