Haley’s endorsement is a major victory for her — and a blow to Florida Governor Rick Scott. Ron DeSantis has presidential ambitions.
The endorsement is a significant victory for Haley and another setback for Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis ‘ aspirations for the presidency. The endorsement is a significant victory for Haley and another setback for Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis ‘ aspirations for the presidency.
Haley’s endorsement is a major victory for her — and a blow to Florida Governor Rick Scott. Ron DeSantis has presidential ambitions.
LOADINGERROR LOADING. Americans for Prosperity Action, a key component of the political network founded by the billionaire Koch brothers, is endorsing Nikki Haley in the GOP presidential primary, the group announced in a memo Tuesday.. The endorsement represents a significant boost for Haley less than two months from the first GOP nominating contest in Iowa, where Haley is virtually tied for second place with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Haley has been steadily rising in polls as the main alternative to Donald Trump, the front-runner for the nomination, culminating in a critical moment now for her campaign that AFP is well-positioned to aid.. Advertisement. “AFP Action is proud to throw our full support behind Nikki Haley, who offers America the opportunity to turn the page on the current political era, to win the Republican primary and defeat Joe Biden next November. She has what it takes to lead a policy agenda to take on our nation’s biggest challenges and help ensure our country’s best days are ahead. With the grassroots and data capability we bring to bear in this race, no other organization is better equipped to help her do it,” reads the memo from AFP Action senior adviser Emily Seidel.. The super PAC founded by Charles and the late David Koch had vowed to spend tens of millions of dollars to prevent Trump from becoming the 2024 nominee after sitting out the last two presidential elections. Already the group has spent heavily on anti-Trump mailers and other outreach to influence the election.. The political network founded by the Koch brothers endorsed Nikki Haley for president on Tuesday.. via Associated Press. Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, has seen her popularity rise slowly but steadily since launching her campaign in February. Not only is she almost tied with DeSantis in Iowa, she has completely surpassed him in New Hampshire, the second nominating state for Republicans.. Advertisement. In a statement, a DeSantis spokesman said the nomination is akin to handing the nomination to Trump since Haley cannot beat him.. “Congratulations to Donald Trump on securing the Koch endorsement,” DeSantis communications director Andrew Romeo said. “Like clockwork, the pro-open borders, pro-jail break bill establishment is lining up behind a moderate who has no mathematical pathway of defeating the former president.”. The Koch network, which supports a more libertarian-leaning conservatism, has long clashed with Trump on personal and ideological grounds, even as they succeeded in seeding his administration with key staffers. Haley, with her willingness to raise the Social Security age for younger Americans and support of tax cuts, is a far better match for the Kochs than the more populist and authoritarian Trump or DeSantis.. The AFP endorsement will benefit Haley with a direct-mail operation supporting her candidacy as well as field organizers who can knock doors and reach voters on her behalf. It will allow her to better compete with DeSantis, whose campaign has largely been run through a super PAC, Never Back Down, funded with tens of millions of dollars he raised in his Florida gubernatorial campaign. The group has been at odds with the official campaign operation over strategy as DeSantis slides in the polls. DeSantis allies recently launched a second super PAC, Fight Right, which released a new ad last week comparing Haley to 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.. AFP says in the memo that it acquired data revealing that 75% GOP primary voters are open to a Trump alternative. Furthermore, the group says that its internal metrics show Haley handily beating Joe Biden in battleground states. Haley is “by far the strongest candidate Republicans could put up against Joe Biden in a general election,” AFP writes.. Advertisement. “In sharp contrast to recent elections that were dominated by the negative baggage of Donald Trump and in which good candidates lost races that should have been won, Nikki Haley, at the top of the ticket, would boost candidates up and down the ballot, winning the key independent and moderate voters that Trump has no chance to win.”. The first GOP nominating contest is Jan. 15 in Iowa, followed in quick succession by New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Besides Trump, Haley and DeSantis, the GOP field features former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.. Support HuffPost. The Stakes Have Never Been Higher. 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That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.. Help keep news free for everyone by giving us as little as $1. Your contribution will go a long way.. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the very foundations of our democracy are at stake. A vibrant democracy is impossible without well-informed citizens. This is why HuffPost’s journalism is free for everyone, not just those who can afford expensive paywalls.. We cannot do this without your help. Support our newsroom by contributing as little as $1 a month.. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the very foundations of our democracy are at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a vibrant democracy is impossible without well-informed citizens. This is why we keep our journalism free for everyone, even as most other newsrooms have retreated behind expensive paywalls.. Our newsroom continues to bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes on one of the most consequential elections in recent history. Reporting on the current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly — and we need your help.. Support our newsroom by contributing as little as $1 a month.. Support HuffPost. Related. Republican Party2024 electionsRepublican primaryNikki HaleyKoch Brothers. Charleston, South Carolina, Elects First Republican Mayor Since 1870s. Mitt Romney Names The 2 Republican Presidential Candidates He Won’t Support. Evangelical Leader Taunts ‘Chump’ Trump With ‘Golden Showers’ Dig
