LOS ANGELES.–Former GOP Presidential Candidate Nikki Haley, 52, once the last hope of GOP’s “Never Trumpers,” said she May 22 would vote for Trump in 2024, irking some of her backers, like the Lincoln Project, vowing to never vote for the former President. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), 54, has forcefully denounced the Trump 2024 campaign, saying he could not win a general election, putting his hope in Haley who actually got very little backing in the GOP primaries. While other candidates like former Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, dropped out with comparable support to Haley, Haley soldiered on until she was wiped out on Super Tuesday March 5, suspending her campaign March 6. Haley endured the humiliation of losing Feb. 24 her home state of South Carolina, only to keep going with the backing of the Never Trump crowd.
Haley has watched carefully from the sidelines, seeing Trump’s poll numbers rise against 81-year-old President Joe Biden, delivering a whopping rally in the heart of Democrat territory in the Bronx May 23, commanding an audience of some 25,000. CNN’s Anderson Cooper reluctantly heard from imbedded reporter Kristen Holmes about Trump’s Bronx rally that showed he commands the largest audiences in modern electoral history. White House strategists constantly point to Trump’s gaffes to compensate for Biden’s known cognitive and physical impairments. But no one cognitively challenged can pull off the massive rallies, entertaining audience of sometimes two hours. Biden’s barely able of get a few dozen supporters at his campaign events, largely because of his known age-related issues. Say what you will about Trump, that’s not his problem.
Haley watches carefully Trump rallies knowing she could never command the same type of crowds at any of her campaign events. “I appreciated what she said,” Trump said about Haley saying she would vote for him in November. Trump and Haley traded prickly barbs during the campaign, with Haley going after Biden and Trump for their ages. But Trump has stated clearly that Biden’s age is not the problem, it’s his incompetence and abysmal decision-making. “You know, we had a nasty campaign, it was pretty nasty. But she’s very capable person, and I’m sure she’s going to be on our team in some form. Absolutely,” Trump said, not saying she’s been upgraded on the VP list. Trump won’t likely pick a VP until the July 18-21 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Haley and Trump differ on important issues, especially on the Ukraine proxy war against the Kremlin.
Haley backed Biden’s proxy war with the Kremlin in Ukraine, agreeing that without the war 71-year-old President Vladimir Putin would threaten the rest of Europe. Biden and Ukraine’s 46-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky have sold the Ukraine War as a way to stop Putin before he invades other European countries. Putin denied any such intent Feb. 8 with a face-to-face interview with former Fox News journalist Tucker Carlson. Putin said he wants to move the Ukraine War to the peace table under the right conditions but denied any intent on his part to go to war with NATO. Haley buys Biden and Zelensky’s rubbish for the Ukraine War. Only Trump promises to end the Ukraine War in 24 hours, something disputed by Zelensky who said he won’t concede any territory to the Russian Federation. Zelensky intends to push his untenable peace plan in Lucerne in June.
Haley and Trump disagree fundamentally over Ukraine, with Haley backing Biden’s proxy war in Ukraine against the Kremlin. Trump has said he would move the conflict to the peace table over Zelensky’s objections. Today’s rubbish in the New York Times about Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) vaulted to VP frontrunner is more fake news. Trump plays his cards close to the vest, no one has a clue about Trump’s VP pick until the RNC convention. Trump has acknowledged that former Housing Secretary Ben Carson, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), all are on Trump’s shortlist, despite the New York Time raising Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) name. Actually, former Rep. Tulsi Gbbard (D-Hawaii), comes up as well as a possible VIP pick. No one really knows anything because it’s a work in progress, not yet decided.
Haley’s admission that she’s vote for Trump is hardly a ringing endorsement. “Trump has not been perfect on these policies. I’ve made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So, I will be voting for Trump,” Haley said May 22 at the Hudson Institute. “Nikki Haley is not under consideration for the VP slot, but I wish her well,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Haley’s Never Trump backers aren’t happy with her announcement, hoping to hedge her bets if Trump wins the election in 2024. Trump’s rally in Democrat stronghold the Bronx was unprecedented, showing his widespread audience appeal, unlike Biden. Biden’s handlers hope they can package Biden with expensive ads, keeping him out harm’s way at public appearances. Biden’s handlers went on a limb promising him for two presidential debates staring June 27 in Atlanta.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
