Former GOP candidate Nikki Haley, despite dropping out months ago, continues to snub Donald Trump and sway votes away from him. The former governor of South Carolina and U.N. ambassador recently thanked around 100 contributors during a private, two-day donor retreat in Charleston, South Carolina. During this event, her staff discussed the campaign’s fundraising and strategy, with Trump receiving little to no mention, according to POLITICO.
This comes just days after reports that Haley is still garnering votes in the primary, even after withdrawing from the contest in early March. Haley received significant percentages of the vote in three Republican primaries on May 14, amassing about 105,000 votes, according to The Hill. Decision Desk HQ’s election statistics show that Haley secured 20 percent of the vote (around 47,000) in Maryland, while Trump received 80 percent.
In Nebraska, she garnered 18 percent (about 37,000) compared to Trump’s 80.1 percent, and in West Virginia, she received 9.4 percent (21,000) versus Trump’s 88.4 percent. At the Charleston retreat, Haley did not endorse Trump or encourage her followers to support his candidacy, participants noted. Though she has not disclosed her next political move beyond joining the conservative Hudson Institute think tank, the retreat demonstrated that she still enjoys strong support from dedicated funders and fans.
The event detailed the campaign’s financial specifics. Together, the super PAC and the campaign raised $162 million, with $82 million from the super PAC and $80 million from direct contributions. Of these funds, $30 million came from large donations, while at least $50 million was raised at the grassroots level. Approximately 300,000 contributors supported the campaign, with 145,982 being new Republican digital donors, adding significantly to the GOP fundraising ecosystem.
After withdrawing from her presidential campaign, Haley refrained from endorsing Trump, stating that he needed to win over her supporters. This is noteworthy given Trump’s derogatory comments towards Haley voters, calling them names like “birdbrained” and “the swamp.” This indicates a significant portion of Republican supporters may be reluctant to back Trump. President Joe Biden has actively sought to win over these potential voters, stating, “Donald Trump made it clear he doesn’t want Nikki Haley’s supporters. I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign.”
Even pro-Haley PACs have shifted their support towards Biden over Trump. Shortly after Haley withdrew, the pro-Haley organization PrimaryPivot rebranded itself as Haley Voters for Biden. The Lincoln Project, according to co-founder Reed Galen, plans to target these voters with a $50 million campaign aimed at persuading them in battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Arizona against Trump as the general election approaches.
