OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The results are in and former President Donald Trump has defeated former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley in the Republican primary in Virginia.
These are the first results on what promises to be a Super Tuesday avalanche of votes that places former President Trump on the cusp of being the Republican nominee again.
BREAKING: Decision Desk HQ projects Donald Trump wins the Virginia Republican Primary. pic.twitter.com/0PuZ3oGsaU
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) March 6, 2024
For her part Nikki Haley made news this week when she appeared to signal that she may not endorse the former president in the election again presumptive Democrat nominee, President Joe Biden.
In an interview broadcast on Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Haley endeavored to assert that she signed the pledge to take part in the Republican primary debates.
“As long as we are competitive, I’m going to continue to fight,” Haley said. “I don’t look too far ahead.”
“The RNC pledge,” she said. “I mean, at the time of the debate, we had to take it to where, ‘Would you support the nominee?’ And in order to get on that debate stage, you said yes. The RNC is now not the same RNC,” Haley said. “I think I’ll make what decision I want to make.”
“Let’s talk about Super Tuesday. If you wake up on Wednesday and you haven’t won anywhere, and that’s an if, would you then need to make the decision that it’s time to drop out of the race?” host Kristen Welker asked.
“I’ve always said this needs to be competitive. As long as we are competitive, as long as we are showing that there is a place for us, I’m going to continue to fight. That’s always been the case,” Haley said.
Welker asked, “Based on what you’re saying, Ambassador, are you prepared to stay in this through the convention? Is that your plan?”
Haley deflected again, saying, “If the people want to see me go forward, they’ll show it. They’ll show it in their votes. They’ll show it in their donations. They’ll show it in the fact that they want us to continue to go forward. This is about really trying to get everyone to realize that this primary isn’t between Donald Trump and Nikki Haley.”
“I’ll make what decision I want to make,” Haley said. “But that’s not something I’m thinking about. And I think that while you all think about that, I’m looking at the fact that we had thousands of people in Virginia.”
Welker then asked: “You’re laying this out in very stark terms. It sounds like, from your perspective, this is a battle for the Republican Party. You’ve been sharpening your attacks against Former President Trump. Everyone has noticed in recent days, in recent weeks. Have you taken the prospects, the possibility of endorsing him off the table at this point? But is it off the table, Ambassador? It sounds like you are in a different place. Are people misinterpreting what you’re saying? Have you moved to a place where you’re no longer planning to endorse him?”
“Well, I think, first of all, 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. What I can tell you is I don’t think Donald Trump or Joe Biden should be president,” Haley responded, again deflecting.
The MSNBC host went on to ask: “You did sign a pledge, an RNC pledge to support the eventual nominee. Do you still feel bound by that pledge?”
“I have always said that I have serious concerns about Donald Trump. I have even more concerns about Joe Biden,” Haley claimed.
“So, is that a no? Are you bound by the RNC pledge?” Welker tried asking her again.
“The RNC pledge– I mean, at the time of the debate, we had to take it to where, “Would you support the nominee,” and in order to get on that debate stage, you said yes. The RNC is now not the same RNC. Now, it’s –” Haley began before Welker cut her off.
“So, you’re no longer bound by that pledge?” Welker asked.
“No, I think I’ll make what decision I want to make. But that’s not something I’m thinking about. And I think that while you all think about that, I’m looking at the fact that we had thousands of people in Virginia, we’re headed to North Carolina, we’re going to continue to go to Vermont, and Maine, and all these states to go and show people that there is a path forward. And so, I don’t look at what if. I look at, “How do we continue the conversation?” Haley said.
