OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Nikki Haley has formally announced that she has suspended her presidential campaign.
The announcement came after a tough Super Tuesday for the former United Nations ambassador who only achieved one victory in Vermont.
“We must bind together as Americans,” she said.
“In all likelihood, Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee when our Party convention meets in July. I wish him well,” she said.
But she refused to endorse Trump on Wednesday.
“I have always been a conservative Republican and have always supported the Republican nominee, but on this question, as she did on so many others, Margaret Thatcher provided some good advice when she said ‘Never just follow the crowd. Always make up your own mind.’
“It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our Party and beyond it who did not support him, and I hope he does that,” she said.
“At its best politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away,” she said. “This is now his time for choosing.”
Before she was crushed by the former president in her home state, Haley was questioned by Fox News host Bret Baier about her reasons for staying in the campaign, and if she wants to be former President Donald Trump’s vice president, she was emphatic in her answer.
“Where can you paint a picture on Super Tuesday where you can get a victory?” Baier said.
“We’re gonna see what happens tomorrow. But look, the problem when people say, “Why is she doing this? Why is she doing that?” At first, they were like, “She’s doing this because she wants to be vice president.” I think we’ve pretty much settled that. Then they’re saying–“ Haley said before Baier interrupted.
“Have we settled it?” he said.
“There is no political motivation. If there was political motivation, I would have gotten out of this a long time ago,” she said.
“By the way, have we settled the vice president thing?” the anchor said.
“Of course we’ve settled it! I mean there is in no way,” she said.
“So, it’s done?” the host said to which the candidate responded, “I’ve said it for months, it’s done.”
“Also, looking at a political future – I wouldn’t be doing this if I was worried about a political future. I would’ve gotten out already. I’m doing this trying to wake up our country,” she said.
Haley, who has been challenging former President Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primary, has given a “State Of The Race” speech.
She gave the speech on Tuesday and some had anticipated she would be leaving the contest days before an expected drubbing in her home state of South Carolina.
“Some of you, perhaps a few of you in the media came here today to see if I’m dropping out of the race, she said. “Well I’m not.”
She then went into a campaign speech that did not really change anything as she is headed toward what looks like it is going to be a pummeling in South Carolina this week.
In anticipation of that defeat she said she will stay in “until the last person votes.”
“South Carolina will vote on Saturday, but on Sunday I’ll still be running for president. I’m not going anywhere,” she said.
“We’ve all heard the calls for me to drop out. We all know where they’re coming from: the political elite, the party bosses, the cheerleaders in the commentator world. The argument is familiar. They say I haven’t won a state, that my path to victory is slim. They point to the primary polls and say I’m only delaying the inevitable. Why keep fighting when the battle was apparently over after Iowa?
Look, I get it. In politics, the herd mentality is enormously strong. A lot of Republican politicians have surrendered to it. The pressure on them was way too much. They didn’t want to be left out of the club.
Of course, many of the same politicians who now publicly embrace Trump, privately dread him.
They know what a disaster he’s been and will continue to be for our party. They’re just too afraid to say it out loud. Well, I’m not afraid to say the hard truth out loud.
I feel no need to kiss the ring. I have no fear of Trump’s retribution. I’m not looking for anything from him.”
