Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley once again urged former President Trump to agree to a debate as she cast her vote in her home state’s primary.
“I think it’s great for the Republican Party to have this competition,” she said in a video of an interview in South Carolina that was picked up by Mediaite. “The only thing missing from this is Donald Trump getting on the debate stage. He should be on the debate stage.”
Her comments came just days before Trump was expected to easily win the Republican primary in the Palmetto State, according to exit polls conducted by The Hill partner Decision Desk Headquarters.
Despite not winning this election cycle, the former South Carolina governor has vowed to stay in the race until Super Tuesday. Before voting closed on Saturday, Haley vowed to continue running.
“South Carolina votes on Saturday, but I will still be running for president on Sunday,” she said earlier this week.
Because of his overwhelming lead in the polls, Trump has not attended any Republican primary debates, sanctioned or unsanctioned by the Republican National Committee (RNC).
Haley has continually pressured the former president to agree to debate, once demanding that she “bring it” and show “what you’ve got.”
Earlier this week, during a town hall with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, Trump said he only viewed attending the general election debate as an obligation. The former president, who is preparing for a rematch with President Biden, added that he would do “as much as necessary” after winning his nomination.
Haley predicted Friday that even if Trump wins the RNC nomination, he won’t be able to defeat Biden.
“Donald Trump can’t win the general election,” Haley said in an interview with anchor Jake Tapper on CNN’s “The Read.” “You can let him win the primary you want. He can’t win the general election.”
“The United States is going to have a female president. It’s either going to be me or it’s going to be [Vice President] Mr. Harris,” she added.
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