Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told the Post on Friday after launching his “Never Nikki” initiative that Nikki Haley will run against President Biden in the 2024 general election. He said he was an “outlier” among the candidates.
of anti-recommended The bill, ahead of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, calls the former South Carolina governor a “big government” government with little interest in fiscal responsibility or civil liberties (issues fundamental to the liberal senator). ” is intended to be defined as a Republican.
“I wanted to make it clear that neither liberals nor conservatives think she's one of us,” Paul told the Post, adding that Haley, 51, and the rest of the Republican primary race He argued that there were “clear distinctions” between people. She is keen on foreign aid, in the sense that she is most keen on sending more money to Ukraine. ”
Paul has previously supported former President Donald Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns, but as of Friday he was not yet ready to make a final announcement on who he would support in 2024. I'm pretty sure it's not Mr. Haley.
He said that includes launching the “Never Nikki” campaign. website Attacking some of her policy positions is “kind of the beginning of the process of me getting involved” in the 2024 campaign.
“One thing I'm absolutely sure of is that Nikki Haley does not represent the liberal wing or the fiscal conservative wing of the Republican Party,” Paul said.
“I think she represents 'big government' like the Mitch McConnell, Dick Cheney and John McCain factions of the Republican Party,” he argued.
Paul called Haley's November proposal to force social media users to verify their identities before posting and her October debate comment that she wanted a “Department of Defense” rather than the Pentagon “to people like me.” He specifically cited the rhetoric as “warning those who are
“Not one liberal I've ever met has said they like Nikki Haley,” Paul said. “The idea that you have to register your name with the government to participate. [on social media] …That alone will get the libertarians out of the room. ”
He added that Haley's proposed social media reforms “disqualified her for libertarian-leaning Republicans,” adding that the candidate “almost all of our country's founders chose to remain anonymous for fear of the government.” They accused him of a clear lack of “historical knowledge to know that he wrote the article under a false name.”
Paul teased that he may have “more to say next week” about which candidate he supports in 2024, depending on the results of the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15.
“There's a good chance we'll get support by New Hampshire,” he said.
“I’m not kidding that my endorsement will suddenly change the race, but I think I can make some impact in New Hampshire,” Paul said.
Haley's approval ratings have surged in recent months in both Iowa and New Hampshire, with RealClearPolitics polling averages showing the former U.N. ambassador running for second place in both states where she was an early candidate. has been done.
Haley has an approval rating of 17.8%, two points ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, 45, in the Hawkeye State, but 35 points behind Trump.
In the Granite State, where voters head to the polls on Jan. 23, Ms. Haley is trailing the 77-year-old former president by about 14 points and ahead of Ms. DeSantis by 18 points.
Paul said he would have to “reconsider” whether to support Haley over Biden or a third-party candidate if she wins the Republican nomination, but added, “I would like to use my influence to I hope she is not selected as a candidate.”
