Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley dismissed the idea that she might suspend her presidential campaign in a “state of the race” speech Tuesday, reiterating her intention to stay in the fight through Super Tuesday at the very least.
“That’s about the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. If I get out of the race today, it will be the longest general election in history,” she said in an interview with the Associated Press.
“Ten days after South Carolina, another 20 states vote,” she explained. “I mean, this isn’t Russia. We don’t want someone to go in and just get 99% of the vote.”
“What is the rush?” she asked. “Why is everybody so panicked about me having to get out of this race?”
Haley is expected to lose the South Carolina Republican primary Saturday, with many polls showing former President Donald Trump with a majority of the vote and Haley ranking behind him by double digits.
Despite Trump’s apparent dominance in South Carolina, Haley’s home state, she has signaled her intent to stay in the battle. Throughout February, Haley’s campaign has made a point of announcing leadership teams for several states that have nominating contests scheduled for after South Carolina’s. Haley has held events in California and Texas, while also campaigning in the Palmetto State, telegraphing a forward-looking campaign and not one preparing to shut down.
Haley further slammed Trump’s campaign for often questioning her on whether she expects to win any state. “Instead of asking me what states I’m gonna win, why don’t we ask how he’s gonna win a general election after spending a full year in a courtroom?” she asked, referencing Trump’s several criminal court cases, some of which are likely to go to trial ahead of the general election.
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“People are not looking six months down the road when these court cases have taken place,” she emphasized. “He’s going to be in a courtroom all of March, April, May, and June. How in the world do you win a general election when these cases keep going and the judgments keep coming?”
She told the Associated Press she is making plans through Super Tuesday on March 5. But Haley also said she hadn’t thought as far as the Republican National Committee’s convention in July.
