Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley on Friday went after fellow Republican candidate and former Gov. Chris Christie (R.N.J.), raising the possibility that her campaign may be helping former President Trump's reelection. He claimed that there was.
Mr. Christie has struggled to regain momentum as he focuses on campaigning in New Hampshire. Several Republican operatives, including some of Ms. Haley's allies, have called on her to withdraw from the race and support Ms. Haley.
“He's not playing at Iowa. He's not playing at South Carolina,” Haley said in a comment. Des Moines Register interview. “If he wants to beat Trump, I think he can figure out exactly how to make that happen. But that's for him to see and for him to decide. I would urge anyone to withdraw from the race. I'm not going to tell you. I'm going to run on my own.”
Mr. Christie has positioned himself as Trump's most vocal critic on the campaign trail, campaigning on the promise that he is the only person who can prevent Mr. Trump from winning a second term.
Haley said such efforts would only confuse voters and could actually help Trump by taking votes away from other Trump challengers.
“I think everyone is scratching their heads, saying, “You say you want to beat Trump, but are you the only one who can help Trump win?'' she said.
Ms. Christie has previously attacked Ms. Haley and other Republican rivals for their reluctance to actively criticize Mr. Trump, and recently claimed that Ms. Haley is merely Mr. Trump's running mate.
Mr. Christie has about 11 percent support in New Hampshire, where he has focused his campaign, according to an average Hill/Decision Desk poll. Trump holds a nearly 12 percentage point lead in the Granite State, with 41.6% of voters supporting him and Haley 29.7%.
“There are people who think I can walk away from this race. They're crazy,” Christie said in an interview on MSNBC this week. “As the only person who will face him directly, I will continue to fight.” [Nikki Haley] He could play as a vice presidential candidate. ”
Nationally, Mr. Christie's primary support rating is just 3 percent, according to The Hill/DDHQ average.
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