(Charleston) She got into the race: Republican Nikki Haley announced on Tuesday that she would run for the 2024 US presidential election, becoming the first notable candidate to challenge Donald Trump.
“I am a candidate for the presidential election,” said the 50-year-old in a video to her supporters.
The former diplomat, rightly appointed to the UN in 2017 by Donald Trump, had been approached for several weeks to announce her entry into the competition for the White House.
She will, in all likelihood, be one of the only women to stand for election.
“Incredible luck”
“Even in our darkest days, we are incredibly lucky to live in America”, says in her video this daughter of an Indian immigrant couple, who grew up in a small town in South Carolina, before to become governor.
But Democratic President Joe Biden and the Washington “establishment” have an “appalling” record, regrets the Republican.
Nikki Haley had promised a “special announcement” on Wednesday to her supporters in Charleston, South Carolina, where workers were still busy installing speakers and platforms on Monday evening.
She will speak there in her first large rally inaugurating her campaign.
” New generation ”
In her message, Nikki Haley calls for a “new generation of leaders”, criticizing in passing the record of the Republicans in the last election, where Donald Trump, 76, was kingmaker.
Stuck in a series of cases, the former president, candidate since November 15, does not benefit for the moment from the dynamics of campaign that he hoped for.
The former real estate mogul didn’t immediately react to Nikki Haley’s announcement.
After having gone it alone for three months, the former American president is gradually seeing the ranks of his Republican rivals fill up.
Donald Trump’s former vice-president, Mike Pence, his ex-head of diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, the governors of Virginia and New Hampshire… many Republicans are considering a possible announcement soon.
According to opinion polls – to be taken with a grain of salt of course – Nikki Haley is not necessarily the biggest threat to Donald Trump.
The latter will probably have to face a competitor coming directly from her state: South Carolina senator Tim Scott is also very openly flirting with a candidacy.
Coincidence of the calendar? The elected African-American will also participate in an event this week in the seaside town of Charleston.
But the spotlight is mostly on Ron DeSantis – Governor of Florida and rising star of the party, placed at the top of the voting intentions in some polls. He hasn’t officially entered the race either.
The battle for the Republican nomination therefore promises to be bitter.
” Pop corn ”
Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, or another… The candidate chosen by the Republican camp at the end of the primaries will face in November 2024 the one nominated by the Democratic Party.
“Haley’s announcement officially kicks off the long-awaited messy 2024 Trumpist primary,” said Democratic Party Leader Jaime Harrison. “Bring out the popcorn,” he added, implying that there would be action and casualties like in a Hollywood blockbuster.
President Joe Biden has said so far that he “intends to run again”, and has promised to make his decision public at the start of the year.
And little by little, the architecture of his possible candidacy also begins to take shape.
No Democrat has yet come forward to challenge him.