Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is attempting to counter potential attacks from Donald Trump in the upcoming New Hampshire primary, with a new video that showcases Trump’s previous commendations for her work.
What Happened: Haley’s campaign released a two-minute montage of instances where Trump can be seen lavishing praises on her. The video, which was shared prior to Trump’s rally in Portsmouth, N.H., includes clips of Trump commending Haley for her impressive tenure as South Carolina's governor and her role as U.N. Ambassador during his presidency, reported Politico on Tuesday.
In the video, Trump can be heard saying, “I think Nikki is gonna do a great job.” He also gives her credit for performing well as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and reducing spending on the international body by $1.3 billion.
The move is seen as Haley’s attempt to soften any anticipated criticism from Trump. Haley’s communications director, Nachama Soloveichik, suggested Trump’s change of tune is due to feeling threatened by Haley’s growing popularity.
Despite the fact that Haley is polling better in New Hampshire compared to other early states and nationally, she still trails behind Trump. A Boston Globe/Suffolk University/NBC-10 Boston poll shows Trump leading Haley by 16 points.
Since the Iowa caucuses, Haley has been conducting one public campaign event every day in New Hampshire. Trump, on the other hand, has been hosting almost nightly rallies in the state.
Why It Matters: Trump has consistently led the Republican competition ahead of the 2024 presidential election. However, Haley has seen a late surge and has been closing the gap, particularly in New Hampshire.
Trump’s significant lead was solidified further after winning the Iowa caucus Monday night. This victory has put pressure on Haley and other Republican candidates to perform well in the subsequent state primary elections.
Interestingly, a recent poll revealed that almost half of Haley’s supporters in Iowa would prefer to vote for President Joe Biden over Trump if he were the GOP nominee. This suggests that Haley is consolidating the anti-Trump vote.
The race for the 2024 Republican nomination continues with a keen focus on the upcoming New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries.
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