Former U.S. President Donald Trump is “clearly the better choice” over his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, according to former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Speaking to her supporters at a campaign rally in Michigan on Friday, Haley, who is 18 years younger than Trump, highlighted her unique position as the youngest woman to lead a major party presidential campaign and the only African-American woman in the race. Her remarks, underscored by the crowd’s cheers, included a statement that “we are not going back” to the Obama era. Haley’s endorsement could play a pivotal role in swaying undecided voters and shaping the election outcome.
She added that while she may not agree with Trump’s communications, style, or approach, she backs his policies, adding, “I am choosing policy over personality.” She was referring to the president’s extended remarks Friday criticizing writer E. Jean Carroll and other women who have accused him of sexual misconduct. She said she believes it will be up to the courts and that “we are gonna take care of this.”
Haley, who has yet to speak with Trump directly to support his campaign, is determined to bring her voters into the Harris fold ahead of Election Day. She urges undecided voters to carefully consider both candidates’ policy proposals, emphasizing her belief that Trump’s ideas will help to create more jobs and bring back the middle class, while Harris’s plans would increase costs for working families. The potential impact of her endorsement on undecided voters is significant, underscoring the weight of their decision.
In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal two days before the vote, Haley issued a stark warning. She cautioned that the country is on the brink of a ‘disastrous crisis’ if Democrats win control of the House and Senate. Her urgency in this matter is palpable, making the potential consequences of a Democratic win all the more pressing. Haley believes her party should unite behind a ‘presidential bipartisan commission’ to tackle issues such as health care and immigration.
While most of those who backed her in the 2016 Republican primary say they will be voting for Trump this year, Harris has room to gain ground in a crowded GOP field. A new survey by Blueprint shows that many of the voters who backed her in the primaries are now so turned off by Trump’s policies and behavior that they plan to write in, stay home, or vote for a third-party candidate, such as libertarian Chase Oliver. This shift in sentiment is largely due to dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of various issues, including the economy and the COVID-19 pandemic.
While campaigning across the US, Harris spent her weekend in Wilmington, Delaware, visiting her campaign headquarters. Among her tasks was printing out “Kamala for President” signs to tape over the obsolete “Biden-Harris” posters and reminding staff that women are driving the gender gap in this election. She condemned Republican messaging and ads that she said were offensive to women and skewed toward bromance and masculinity, arguing that it is not what works in the real world. The polls show that women favor Harris, while men lean towards Trump, who has performed well in the battleground states. Despite the shaky economy and ongoing investigations into his past, Trump has held steady in the polls. He leads in Virginia and ties with Harris in Pennsylvania while trailing her in Iowa.
