Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) is set to announce she is running for President on February 15, according to multiple reports.
Haley, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump Administration, would enter what is expected to be a crowded Republican field into which former President Trump has already tossed his hat.
An announcement would be a backtrack on a statement Haley made in 2021, when she told the Associated Press, “I would not run if President Trump ran, and I would talk to him about it.”
During an appearance on Fox News on January 20 (Haley’s birthday), the 51-year-old had teased “leaning in” to a run, saying it was time for a new generation and new leadership, setting herself apart from 76-year-old Trump and 80-year-old President Biden.
However, when asked by host Sean Hannity how her policies would differ from Trump’s, Haley was short on details, replying, “Most of the policies that he did, I totally agree with.”
Among the other GOP contenders in 2024, Haley’s steepest competition is likely to be former President Trump and potentially Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose team is actively preparing for 2024 and has identified possible staff in early primary states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, sources tell The Washington Post.
A new poll from the University of New Hampshire found that likely New Hampshire Republican voters preferred DeSantis over Trump 42% to 30%. Haley came in third, polling at 8%.
