Nikki Haley suggests she’s no longer bound by RNC pledge to back eventual nominee
Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley suggested that she may no longer be bound by the pledge she made to the Republican National Committee to back the eventual nominee.
“At the time of the debate, we had to take it,” Haley told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview that aired Sunday. “The RNC is now not the same RNC,” she added alluding to forthcoming changes at the organization, engineered by her rival and far-and-away GOP primary frontrunner Donald Trump.
When pressed further about whether she was bound by that pledge, Haley replied, “No, I think I’ll make what decision I want to make, but that’s not something I’m thinking about.”
If Haley were to drop out of the campaign, Trump would be the only Republican left to endorse, unless she were to reach across party lines and support a Democrat.
The 52-year-old cited former President Trump’s plans to shakeup leadership at the RNC, including backing North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley to lead the group, senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita to become the party’s chief operating officer, and daughter-in-law Lara Trump to serve as co-chair.
In order to qualify for the RNC-sanctioned debates, aspirants had to take a pledge to support the eventual nominee, among other commitments. Trump did not participate in those verbal bouts.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has publicly vowed that he will not back Trump in the November presidential election despite taking that pledge.
Thus far, he has not faced penalties for that. Christie declined to back Haley after he dropped out in January, citing concerns that she might give Trump her stamp of approval.
“Republican voters have delivered resounding wins for President Trump in every single primary contest and this race is over. Our focus is now on Joe Biden and the general election,” Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Post when asked about Haley’s remarks.
The Post connected the RNC for comment.
Haley also dinged Trump for his actions revolving around the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, but stopped short of calling for him to get convicted in the federal case pending against him.
“Having the rally was not a crime. To turn around and not stop people from breaking the law when he had the opportunity to do that is questionable and that’s what I think the courts are going to have to play with,” she said.
Haley also criticized Trump for running up the national credit card and shifting the Republican Party in a more “isolationist” direction.
She was unsure about whether Trump would abide by the Consitution, citing his talk about “revenge” and “retribution.” Back in late 2022, the 45th president mused about terminating parts of the Consitution.
“I don’t know. I mean, you always want to think someone will,” she replied when asked. “I don’t think there should ever be a president that’s above the law. I don’t think that there should ever be a president that has total immunity.”
Haley also weighed in on the controversy of in vitro fertilization after Alabama’s Supreme Court determined that embryos should be classified as children, which prompted several IVF clinics to pause their operations.
“I want every parent who wants that blessing to be able to have that and government shouldn’t do anything to stop it,” Haley said, backing federal protections.
She also talked about protection for embryos and noted “My personal opinion is that embryos are babies.”
Well over a dozen presidential nominating contents, consisting of about a third of the up-for-grab delegates on the Republican side are set to take place Tuesday.
Trump has won every contest that he’s competed in thus far and touts 244 delegates to Haley’s 24. He needs 1,215 delegates to lock down the party nod.
“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,” Haley replied when asked if she intends to remain in the race until the July Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
She further argued that the battle between her and Trump is about “the direction of the Republican Party.”
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