DES MOINES, Iowa – With one week left until the start of the Iowa caucuses on the Republican presidential nomination calendar, Nikki Haley is gaining attention as a potential candidate.
But as Ms. Haley has risen in the polls, she has received more attention and has come under more attack from her rivals for the Republican nomination and from President Biden.
Bret Baier, chief political anchor for “Special Report,” and Martha McCollum, editor-in-chief and anchor for “The Story,” who served as U.N. ambassador under former President Donald Trump, spoke at a Fox News town hall Monday. Hosted by former South Carolina Governor). The administration fought back.
Among her targets is Biden, who hours earlier knocked her down for not mentioning slavery when answering a question about the causes of the Civil War.
What Nikki Haley said at the FOX News Town Hall in Iowa
2024 Republican presidential candidate, former United Nations ambassador and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley stands at City Hall with FOX News' Bret Baier and Martha McCollum, January 8, 2023, Des Moines, Iowa ) (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)
Hours earlier, the president had spoken in Haley's hometown, saying, “I want to be very clear to those who don't know: the cause of the Civil War was slavery.” Biden spoke at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. The church is a historically black church where nine parishioners were killed in a horrific shooting in 2015.
Asked for a response, Haley said, “Mother Emanuel Church is a sacred place.” “It's disgusting that Biden would show up there and give a political speech.
“Haley fought alongside racists in the '70s and has made racist comments throughout her career that have taught me, or anyone in the state of South Carolina, what racism, slavery, etc. mean,” Haley said. We don't need people like those who have been preaching,” he said. Associated with the Civil War. ”
As Biden ran for the White House during the 2020 presidential campaign, he spoke positively about two racist senators he had worked with in the Senate several years ago, saying at least He was criticized for showing a certain degree of civility.
High expectations: Pressure on Trump, DeSantis, Haley to perform in Iowa caucuses
Haley also said that after the Pentagon failed to disclose that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized for elective surgery and the president was missing for several days, “Biden should be fired.'' ' he claimed. “I can't believe this situation is happening.”
“The problem lies in the fact that Biden doesn't talk to the Secretary of Defense every day,” Haley said.
Ms. Haley has skyrocketed in recent months thanks to her acclaimed performances in the first three Republican presidential primary debates. Over the past month, she has trailed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the latest Iowa polls and national polls, and Trump, who has entered the White House for a third consecutive year and remains the likely front-runner in the nomination race. It is in second place. Run.
Haley quickly rose to second place, closing the gap with Trump in New Hampshire, where the first primary was held and where she came in second place just eight days after Iowa.
FIRST ON FOX: Haley's fundraising has skyrocketed in the past three months
President Trump and his political allies have increasingly targeted Haley in recent weeks. A super PAC aligned with the Trump campaign is running a new ad slamming Haley on the combustible issues of border security and illegal immigration.
“Mr. Haley also opposed Trump's wall, and Ms. Haley repeatedly advocated for amnesty for illegal aliens,” claims the narrator of the new spot, which began airing Monday. “Nikki Haley – Too weak and too liberal to fix borders.”
And during a Fox News town hall, the Trump campaign bombarded Haley with emails targeting her over immigration, taxes and the support she receives from some big-money Wall Street donors.
Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential candidate, former ambassador to the United Nations, and former governor of South Carolina, speaks to the audience at a FOX News town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 8, 2023. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)
In response, Haley argued, “Just because President Trump says something doesn't mean it's true.”
“He's lying about it,” she insisted. “And I say the reason he’s lying is because he’s excerpting some of what I said. I said we can’t just build a border wall. You have to do more than that. That’s what I said.”
But Haley and her campaign see the increase in attacks as a sign that Trump is growing concerned about Haley's upward trend in the polls.
“I appreciate all the consideration that President Trump is giving me. It's very kind and considerate of him,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump and his allies aren't the only ones targeting Haley. Two super PACs working with DeSantis and his campaign are also conducting target practice against Haley.
In a recent ad, Haley claims she drew inspiration from 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state and a popular Republican target.
“DeSantis is desperate. He's lying because he's losing,” Haley accused. “I never said Hillary Clinton was my inspiration.”
Mr. DeSantis will participate in a similar town hall on Fox News on Tuesday, and Mr. Trump will take questions from Mr. Baier and Mr. McCollum on Wednesday.
Get the latest on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more with Fox News Digital's Election Hub.
