‘One of our better surrogates’

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has become one of the “better surrogates” for Democrats in 2024, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday. 

Haley, who is Donald Trump’s last remaining GOP primary rival, has attacked the former president throughout the race, arguing that the 77-year-old is too old to serve another term White House and warning that his “chaos” will hurt Republican chances at the ballot boxes in November. 

“I think she’s one of our better surrogates, so I hope she stays in [the GOP primary race],” Newsom, 56, told CNN host Jake Tapper, arguing that her criticisms of the former president are “spot on.”

“I hope she does well tomorrow — at least, well enough,” the Golden State governor added, referring to Saturday’s South Carolina GOP primary, where Haley – the state’s former governor – trails Trump by more than 23 points, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls. 

“I’m enjoying this primary. And I hope it continues, so I wish her luck,” Newsom added. 

Haley, who has yet to win any of the GOP primary or caucus contests, appears to have a slim chance of beating Trump for the party’s nomination.  

Trump has secured 63 delegates from wins in Iowa, New Hampshire, the US Virgin Islands and Nevada, while Haley has acquired only 17 delegates. 

Fifty delegates are at stake in Haley’s home state primary. 

While the California Democrat wished Haley well, he did not deny that she has a very slim chance of beating Trump.

“Trump’s the nominee,” Newsom asserted. “We all know that. You know that. Everybody out there knows that.”

“There’s no evidence to suggest, no polling to suggest, there’s nothing to suggest … momentum or otherwise, that she can win any state in the Republican primary coming up.”

Newsom noted that his assessment of Haley’s chances is not intended to be “dismissive.” 

“I have respect for the former governor — a lot more than the former president Donald Trump,” he explained. “But as I said, I wish her good luck in the context of being out there and making the case we’re making against Donald Trump equally.”

The Haley campaign has welcomed support from Democrats in the hope that it will help take out Trump. 

A super PAC backing her candidacy sent out mailers this week reminding South Carolina Democrats that if they didn’t vote in the party’s Feb. 3 primary, they have a chance to vote in Saturday’s Republican contest. 

“Make a difference” the SFA Fund Inc. mailer reads, according to NBC News. “Please participate by voting for Nikki Haley.” 

Haley’s campaign has also been bankrolled by more than 5,200 donors who contributed to President Biden’s 2020 White House bid, including more than 1,500 who gave over $500,000 just last month, according to Politico. 

In an impassioned speech Tuesday, the former South Carolina governor and Trump administration official vowed to stay in the race beyond the Palmetto State contest. 

“I’ll keep fighting until the American people close the door,” Haley said. “The presidential primaries have barely begun. Just three states have voted — three.”

Haley has previously declared that she plans to continue her campaign for the GOP nomination until at least the March 5 Super Tuesday contests, when 15 states will hold primary elections.