Responding to Trump’s threat to exclude Haley supporters
Sponsor fundraising activities become more active… More money raised than Trump
Although approval ratings are far behind, the election campaign continues until at least March.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 30th (local time) that the campaign fund raising of candidate Nikki Haley, who lost repeatedly in two states where the US Republican presidential primary was held, is actually picking up steam.
Candidate Haley lost the New Hampshire primary last week, but as she emerged as Trump’s only opponent, online campaign donations soared to over $4 million. In addition, large donors who support candidate Haley are still supporting candidate Haley to continue the primary.
Billionaire Ken Griffin, a major Republican donor, announced on the 30th that he has supported candidate Haley, and a close associate of Griffin confirmed that he donated $5 million to candidate Haley this month.
◆Large donors continue to express their support for Haley
Griffin, founder of hedge fund Citadel, said, “Candidate Haley has demonstrated outstanding leadership, and her diplomatic achievements and policy lines will greatly contribute to the United States.”
Griffin also emphasized that he will be more involved in this year’s congressional elections. He said, “No matter who the Republican presidential candidate is, we will actively support House and Senate candidates who prioritize economic freedom and America’s strong internal and external security.”
Griffin appeared on CNBC on this day and said that he believes that if candidate Haley becomes the Republican presidential candidate, “she will dominate the (November) election.” However, he acknowledged that Haley’s chances of being elected were “less than they were eight weeks ago.”
Griffin did not say whether he would support Trump if Haley drops out of the race, but he did praise Trump.
He said, “Many people, including me, disapprove of Trump’s actions. However, as president, there are aspects of Trump that have contributed to greater international security,” he said.
Griffin criticized some states’ moves to ban Trump from running for president and the criminal prosecution of Trump. He said, “I hope that the president will be elected based on my vote, not through clever legal manipulation by members of the opposing camp.”
Candidate Haley is scheduled to attend a campaign fund-raising event in New York City on the 30th, which is regulated to between $3,300 and $16,600 per person. It is supported by Wall Street billionaires such as Stanley Druckenmiller, Henry Kravis, Ken Ngon, and Cliff Asness. Haley’s campaign hopes to raise more than $1.5 million at the event.
Candidate Haley plans to hold more than 10 events in southern Florida, California, and Texas over the next two weeks. The Florida event on the 31st will be held in Palm Beach, where Trump resides and the Mar-a-Lago resort. The event held in Miami will be hosted by Barry Sternlicht of Starwood Capital Group, a real estate investor and hotel businessman.
Trump’s statement that he will “permanently exclude” anyone who supports Haley from his political activities has angered some Republicans and moderate donors, who are increasing their donations to Haley’s candidacy.
James Hoffman, 62, a former investment manager in Massachusetts who has supported the Republican presidential candidate since 2016, said, “Trump has been trying to kick us out of the Republican Party for a long time, so he is attacking Haley’s donors.” “I don’t care if I get kicked out of Trump’s campaign slogan, which means “be great,” he said.
◆“Trump is a RINO (Fake Republican)”
Asness, a civil liberties advocate who co-founded AQR Capital Management, also defended campaign fundraising for Haley. In an online post, he said, “I think it was a good thing to donate a significant amount of money to Nikki early on. Because of this, they will donate more even if they are ‘excluded’ from Trump’s RINO (a term Trump uses to attack his political opponents as fake Republicans). “They are Republicans in name only,” he wrote.
Candidate Haley lost the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, but announced that she would continue her campaign at least until the Super Tuesday primaries held on March 5. On Super Tuesday, primaries in about 10 states are held simultaneously. Haley has been asserting that she is the only candidate who can prevent a confrontation between President Trump and President Biden.
However, candidate Haley is facing an uphill battle, trailing Trump by more than 30 percentage points in public opinion polls in her home state of South Carolina. Haley’s supporters expect her to win the Michigan primary on February 27th. A recent poll by polling firm FiveThirtyEight found that Trump leads Haley by more than 50 percentage points nationally.
Haley’s campaign began selling T-shirts with Haley’s name and the phrase “permanent exclusion” on the 30th, and said more than 15,000 were sold and more than $500,000 was raised.
Charles Koch, a sponsor of American Prosperity Action (AFPA), who has supported Candidate Haley since November of last year, announced at a California supporters’ meeting on the 27th that he will continue his campaign by advertising for Candidate Haley, sending emails, making phone calls, and visiting voters. . The group ran more than $1 million in advertising supporting candidate Haley in South Carolina after the New Hampshire primary.
Trump reportedly has no plans to air campaign ads in South Carolina. Candidate Haley’s campaign plans to air an additional $1.4 million worth of advertising.
Candidate Haley’s campaign announced that campaign fundraising in the fourth quarter of last year amounted to $24 million.
SFA Fund, Haley’s campaign fund super PAC, announced that it raised $50.1 million in the second half of last year. This is $4 million more than the amount raised by Trump’s super PAC, MAGA.
Candidate Haley’s side said that support for her has been increasing since the New Hampshire primary.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.