Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday downplayed her recent remarks that New Hampshire voters would “fix” the results of the Iowa caucuses, telling Hawkeye State town hall attendees that she “didn't do anything”. “I'm just taking out the other side,” he said.
When CNN host Erin Burnett brought up her gaffe at Grand View University in Des Moines, Haley drew groans of disapproval from many in the audience, and then sighed awkwardly, “Oh my god.”
However, the former South Carolina governor defended her remarks, arguing that people were taking them too seriously.
“We've served over 150 city halls. We hope you enjoy it too,” Haley said.
The White House front-runner, who finished third in Iowa and second in New Hampshire, asked Granite State voters to vote for his supporters during a town hall event Wednesday. “We have a chance to get the right result,'' he said. she.
“You know Iowa is starting it. You know it's fixing it…I know my sweet South Carolina is bringing it home,” the 51-year-old said. added Haley at a forum in Milford, New Hampshire.
“So here we are in this town hall. There were 700 people in New Hampshire. We're breaking up, yes, I said that,” Haley told the Iowa crowd. Explained the comment.
She argued that people in the early candidate states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina often “joke with each other about different things.”
“New Hampshire is making fun of Iowa. Iowa is making fun of South Carolina. That's our job,” Haley said.
“I think the problem with politics right now is that it's too serious and too dramatic,” she argued. “As long as we're having fun. I don't live, eat, and breathe politics all the time. I like to have fun, too.”
Haley went on to emphasize her fondness for Iowa and emphasized that her comments do not indicate a lack of confidence in how she will perform in the upcoming caucuses.
“I've been here for months, going to every corner of the state of Iowa, shaking every hand, answering every question, and being the last one to leave at every town hall. On the last day of Iowa, I'll fight to the end.” “You'll see,” she said.
“Tomorrow I'll probably be in Iowa saying something funny about South Carolina and New Hampshire. It's a way to make it all less serious,” Haley added, adding that the town hall attendees It received applause.
Iowa polls show Haley trailing both former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Her approval rating in the Hawkeye State is 16.1%, compared to 18.6% for DeSantis and 51.3% for Trump, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
The Iowa caucuses will be held on January 15th.
