Posted on 11/28/2023 6:12:50 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Nikki Haley, who once served as U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina governor, received a major endorsement from one of the biggest conservative activist groups in the country, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), on Tuesday. The endorsement adds another layer of complexity to the current Republican presidential primary.
Haley, who has been picking up some momentum in the polling, is seen as one of the three top contenders in the primary. She is vying with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for second place behind former president Donald Trump, who still has a commanding lead on both of them.
AFP's endorsement is a wrinkle in the race for both Trump and DeSantis, who are both looking for stronger fundraising in a primary that is using up a lot of Republican resources. The organization, however, says it is time to offer "America the opportunity to turn the page on the current political era."
AFP Action stayed out of the 2016 and 2020 presidential cycles but has significant resources to try and boost Haley's campaign: The group reported raising more than $70 million in its last public filing, in June, with $25 million coming from Koch himself and another $25 million from one of his nonprofit groups.
The group first announced plans to oppose Trump back in February, based in large part on concerns about his ability to defeat President Joe Biden. Since then, however, the Republican base has only embraced Trump more.
He now leads his closest primary rival in national polls, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, by nearly 50 points in 538's average. Haley narrowly trails DeSantis in the national average.
But the situation in early-voting states is slightly different and Trump is a relatively weaker front-runner there, even though he still leads the field by double digits.
AFP is also working on an ad campaign for Haley using those resources.
Haley and DeSantis have been attacking each other in recent weeks - and most notably during a recent primary debate - as the two hope to prove to voters they are a better alternative to Trump. Haley, in particular, is hoping to use her experience as a former Ambassador to the United Nations to solidify support from the more neoconservative wing of the party, as well as offer what her campaign seems to be messaging as a more level-headed approach to domestic policy.
Haley says that she's "honored" to have gotten the support of AFP.
"I’m honored to have the support of @AFPAction, including its millions of grassroots members all across the country," she said in a statement and in a tweet on Tuesday morning. "This election is a choice between freedom & socialism, individual liberty & big government, fiscal responsibility & spiraling debt. We have a country to save."
The latest poll, from Emerson College, has Haley ahead of DeSantis, with 9 percent of the vote to DeSantis' 8 percent. Trump is far ahead of both with 55 percent. In Iowa, recent polling has Haley behind DeSantis.
Sounds like koch bros changed horses in the middle of the race.
What an embarrassment for desantis.
Will they put up some kochboxes in the early primary states for the mules?
Says nothing about Haley, but a ton about “Americans for Prosperity.”
NO! NAY! NIKI!
How does her stance on social media equate with individual freedom?
She is not CONSTITUTIONALLY ELIGIBLE!!! HER PARENTS ARE NOT NATIVE BORN!!
She was a governor. She quit.
She was an ambassador. She quit.
Bad waste of good money. To each his own.
“She is not CONSTITUTIONALLY ELIGIBLE!!! HER PARENTS ARE NOT NATIVE BORN!!”
——————
That is not the standard.
She - the candidate - has to be a “natural born citizen.” Not her parents. However, to be “natural born” one must naturally have no loyalty to any foreign country, which is only the case if you are born to two parents who are US citizens at the time of your birth. So the real question here is: We’re both of her parents citizens when she was born?
BTW, I am VERY much opposed to her not merely being the Republican candidate, but also to her holding any position in government. She is not a loyal person, not with her disrespect and disloyalty towards Donald Trump. But let’s get the facts right about the eligibility standards for President.
Indeed...NOT voting for a chick.
I absolutely have no problem with the candidate sex, and in Haley‘s case I have a problem of her being an anchor baby. Not a natural born citizen. That is my sole primary red line that I won’t cross.
Well, there is that, of course.
AND, as noted above, she is a QUITTER!
Niki is not ready for prime time, and likely never will be.
Kochs are betting on a LOSER!
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