Rethinking the RNC Pledge
Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and current Republican presidential candidate, has suggested that she may not be bound by the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) pledge to support the eventual nominee. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Haley acknowledged that while she initially had to pledge her support to get on the debate stage, the “RNC is now not the same RNC.”
When asked directly if she’s no longer bound by that pledge, Haley responded, “No, I think I’ll make the decision I want to make, but that’s not something I’m thinking about.”
Distancing from Trump Endorsement
Haley’s remarks come as she campaigns through Super Tuesday states, vowing to stay in the race despite former President Donald Trump’s dominance in the nominating contests so far. While she reiterated her belief that neither Trump nor President Joe Biden should be president, Haley was hesitant to commit to endorsing Trump if he secures the nomination.
When pressed if she’s leaning against endorsing Trump, Haley stated, “I truly am not thinking about any of that.”
Contrasting with Trump, but Not “Never Trump”
Haley has ramped up her criticism of the former president in recent weeks, emphasizing the need to contrast her candidacy with Trump’s. However, she insists that her campaign does not represent a “Never Trump” movement.
“If you talk about an endorsement, you’re talking about a loss. I don’t think like that when you’re in a race. You don’t think about losing. You think about continuing to go forward,” Haley said.
As Trump closes in on the Republican nomination, reports suggest he is already looking to reshape the structure of the RNC to better suit his desires for the general election and beyond.