Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley appeared to be uncertain on Sunday about whether she would follow through on her promise to back the eventual Republican presidential nominee if she fails to secure the GOP primary against her competitor, Donald Trump.
Last year, Haley willingly signed the loyalty pledge in order to take part in the party debates. However, Trump, who did not engage in the debates, chose not to sign the pledge.
In recent times, Haley has expressed growing concerns about the former president and during her appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, she refrained from giving a clear answer on whether she would endorse Trump if he secures the GOP nomination.
During an interview on “Meet the Press,” Haley expressed her perspective on endorsements, emphasizing her focus on moving forward rather than dwelling on the possibility of losing. She made it clear that she does not believe either Donald Trump or Joe Biden should hold the position of president.
During the discussion moderated by Kristen Welker, Haley was questioned about the pledge she had signed. In response, she indicated that she had signed the vow with the intention of qualifying for the debate stage. Haley also highlighted that the Republican National Committee, currently undergoing a leadership change, is not the same organization as when the pledge was formulated.
According to Haley, the RNC pledge required candidates to commit to supporting the party’s nominee in order to participate in the debate. However, she suggests that the RNC has changed since then.
“I will make the decision that I want to make,” she replied when questioned about whether she still felt obligated to uphold her promise.
“But I’m not really thinking about that,” she said, emphasizing her intention to participate in several upcoming primaries during Super Tuesday.
She dismissed the idea of contemplating “what ifs,” stating, “I don’t indulge in such speculation.”
Trump has consistently defeated Haley in all of the early primaries and is projected to maintain his lead. However, Haley has made the case that her significant share of the vote, exceeding 40% in certain states, indicates a strong desire among voters for an alternative to Trump.
According to recent polls, it appears that she is not expected to win any, or very few, primary states in the future.
Haley has expressed confidence in staying in the race until Super Tuesday, but she has been uncertain about her plans beyond that day.
Although she has grown more uncertain about endorsing Trump if he secures the nomination, she would not be the first candidate to vehemently criticize him before eventually backing his campaign for the presidency.
During the 2016 Republican National Convention, Texas Senator Ted Cruz urged conservatives to “vote your conscience,” refraining from endorsing Trump. However, he later revealed that he had reversed his stance “after thoroughly contemplating the matter for several months.”
