Haley’s comments have raised eyebrows.
On Tuesday, former GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley offered her insights into the 2024 race as Vice President Kamala Harris gains traction in critical battleground states leading up to November’s election.
In an interview with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier on “Special Report,” Haley advised Republicans and former President Trump to concentrate on policy and effective messaging rather than focusing on rally crowd sizes, Harris’ background, or questioning her intelligence.
“You won’t win by fixating on these distractions. The American people are discerning. They deserve to be treated with respect and intelligence,” Haley asserted. “The focus should be on the voters, not Harris. Engage with them directly and make your case for their support.”
Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, also urged Republicans to move past grievances about Harris and her reluctance to participate in a formal interview since becoming the Democratic nominee.
“We anticipated that she wouldn’t be forthcoming with interviews, and that’s their prerogative,” Haley remarked. “However, that doesn’t prevent us from discussing her policies and positions. We need to be proactive in addressing what she stands for.”
Haley expressed confidence in the importance of confronting Harris’ policy stances directly. “She’s stated her positions clearly. For instance, her support for allowing illegal immigrants to vote and receive driver’s licenses, her opposition to fracking which threatens American jobs, and her economic policies that could increase taxes and redistribute funds from non-college graduates to those with higher education,” Haley said. “These are issues we need to spotlight.”
As of Tuesday, Harris has not held a formal press conference or in-depth interview for 23 days. Last week, she mentioned in Detroit that she has requested her team to schedule her first interview since becoming the Democratic nominee by the end of the month.
Haley also emphasized the importance of targeting specific voter groups, including suburban women, independents, moderate Republicans, and conservative Democrats. She highlighted key issues such as the economy, the handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, the lifting of sanctions on Iran, and the mixed signals on support for Israel, all of which reflect poorly on the Biden administration’s record, with Harris closely involved in these decisions.
“This administration’s failures reflect on Kamala Harris. We need to define her by her record and discuss these issues openly,” Haley advised.
Although Haley endorsed Trump at the Republican National Convention in July and supports his bid for the presidency, she made it clear she has no desire to return to a role in his administration.
“Trump knows how to secure a win; he just needs to execute now,” Haley stated. “I fully support his victory because the alternative of a Kamala Harris and Tim Walz administration is unacceptable.”