Staff Reports
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has been stirring up quite the commotion by challenging former President Donald Trump to a debate. However, her opponent, Trump, is not having any of it and is pulling out all the stops to push her out of the race.
At his rallies in New Hampshire, Trump made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t thrilled about Haley’s presence in the primary. He accused her of forming alliances with RINOs and never-Trumpers, claiming that she was aiming to attract liberal and Biden supporters to vote for her. Trump even went as far as to ban any of his donors from contributing to Haley’s campaign.
— Rafael Carrero 🇺🇸 🇵🇷 (@RafaelCarrero2) January 26, 2024
In response to Trump’s ban, Haley took to social media to defiantly urge supporters to donate to her campaign, even going so far as to create T-shirts for donors to proudly display their “barred” status. But Trump didn’t stop there. He revived a birther-style attack, spreading rumors about Haley’s eligibility to be president based on her parents’ citizenship. He also brought up old rumors about Haley’s marriage to cast doubt on her character, much like the unsubstantiated attacks against President Barack Obama during his presidency.
During his New Hampshire victory speech, Trump relentlessly went after Haley, calling her an imposter and making snide remarks about her attire, making it abundantly clear that he was not the least bit happy with her presence in the race. This scorched-earth approach has become Trump’s signature style in the race, leaving no stone unturned in his efforts to thwart Haley’s campaign.
Trump’s bid to block Haley donors from his campaign didn’t deter everyone, as former Trump White House press secretary Sarah Matthews promptly sent a donation to Haley and publicly announced her support. Furthermore, Trump is garnering support from the Republican National Committee, with RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel voicing her belief that it’s time for the party to unite behind Trump and insinuating that there might not be a viable path forward for Haley.
Haley, on the other hand, remains steadfast in her call for a debate with Trump and continues to ding the RNC for not organizing one in South Carolina. Despite the intense pressure, Haley managed to raise an impressive $2.6 million in just 48 hours since her New Hampshire primary defeat, a clear sign that she is not backing down without a fight. Her spokeswoman, AnnMarie Graham-Barnes, fired back at Trump’s threats, emphasizing the choice between personal vendettas or real conservative leadership in the election.
It’s clear that sparks are flying in the Republican primary race, with both Haley and Trump digging in their heels and refusing to back down. The battle between the two promises to escalate as the race heats up, leaving no doubt that this will be one heck of a showdown for the conservative base’s support.
