In a timely shot in the arm for Marco Rubio, South Carolina’s hugely-popular Indian-American Governor Nikki Haley has endorsed the Florida Senator for the Republican presidential nomination just ahead of Saturday’s crucial primary in the State.
“I wanted someone with fight. I wanted somebody with passion. I wanted somebody who has the conviction to do the right thing….I wanted somebody humble enough (who) remembers that you work for all the people,” Haley said as he explained her choice of Rubio, adding: “I wanted somebody that was going to go and show my parents that the best decision they ever made was coming to America.”
The Haley announcement preceded a newly-released CBS News/New York Times poll that put Donald Trump at the top nationally with 35 per cent, followed by Ted Cruz (18%) and Rubio (12%). Another national poll by NBC News/Wall Street Journal had Cruz on top with 28 per cent, followed by Trump (26%) and Rubio (17%).
The endorsement of Haley, who shot into national fame after her deft handling of the Charleston church shooting episode last June, had been actively sought by several Republican candidates, notably Jeb Bush, who publicly voiced his disappointment that he was not the chosen one.
Rubio, keen as he is to bounce back in South Carolina after his poor showing in the New Hampshire primary, thanked Haley for the endorsement, saying: “She embodies for me everything that I want the Republican Party and conservative movement to be about.”
Trump, clearly upset with Haley over her choice of Rubio, was quick to criticize her at a campaign rally, saying: “She’s very weak on illegal immigration. You can’t have that. We need strong, strong immigration policies.” In response, Haley said: “I think it’s unfortunate when a candidate comes into SC and doesn’t know South Carolina’s issues.”
The Haley move overlooking Trump, despite his status as the front-runner, did not come as a surprise, though. last month, while giving the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union address, she was critical of the “angriest voices” in the party in what was a clear reference to Trump’s rhetoric against Muslims and
immigrants.