Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) has spent more than $76 million in her primary challenge against former President Donald Trump. The ex-South Carolina governor has refused to drop out of the GOP presidential primary race despite repeatedly losing primary contests against Trump.
$76 MILLION? Nikki Haley Spent a Ton of Cash Trying to Defeat Trump in Four States; Reporthttps://t.co/3QkfeNcYLn
— Sean Hannity 🇺🇸 (@seanhannity) February 28, 2024
Haley has lost the Iowa caucuses and primaries in New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, and Michigan. Despite this, she has vowed to remain in the presidential race until Super Tuesday.
The former South Carolina governor has spent a substantial amount of money in her presidential campaign, which has been devastated by Trump. Her expenses are said to have limited the funding that the Republican Party needs to challenge President Joe Biden effectively.
At the end of January 2024, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) released financial records showing that Haley’s campaign had just $15 million cash on hand.
Haley has received financial contributions from political action committees (PAC) supporting her presidential bid. Notably, Democrat billionaire megadonor Reid Hoffman has donated to the former South Carolina governor’s campaign.
Given Haley’s unlikelihood of becoming the GOP presidential nominee, conservatives have called on the former South Carolina governor to depart the race and endorse Trump.
A group of 12 conservatives, including a former governor, media personalities, and an ex-U.S. attorney general, previously sent a letter calling for Haley to drop out of the presidential race.
“While you have waged a spirited campaign for the 2024 Republican Party nomination, it is clear you cannot win the GOP nomination,” the letter states. “We applaud your efforts, but your candidacy is over.”
The group includes former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore (R), former Rep. Bob McEwen (R-OH), Conservative Action Project Chairman Kenneth Blackwell, Conservative Leadership PAC Chairman Morton Blackwell, Media Research Center President Brent Bozell, and former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese, among others.
In their letter, the conservatives cited a historical event demonstrating the damage that could ensue in a nominating contest.
“In 1964, then-[New York] Governor Nelson Rockefeller stayed in the race against [Arizona] Sen. Barry Goldwater too long, even when it was apparent he had lost the nomination,” the conservatives wrote. “As a result, Rockefeller ended up hated by the rank and file of the GOP. Do you really want to become the Nelson Rockefeller of the 21st century?”
