‘No regrets’: Nikki Haley exits Republican presidential race

The former governor invoked Margaret Thatcher in a dignified concession speech, urging Donald Trump to earn her supporters’ votes but stopping short of endorsing him.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley. Picture: AFP

Nikki Haley has ended her presidential campaign, saying she has ‘no regrets’ and has challenged Donald Trump to ‘earn’ the vote of her supporters.

In a dignified concession speech after suffering heavy defeats to Mr Trump in the Super Tuesday Republican primaries, Ms Haley did not endorse the former president, but wished him well, saying “our country is too precious to let our differences divide us.’.

“It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. And I hope he does that,’ she said. “At its best politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away and our conservative cause badly needs more people.”

Addressing the possibility of eventually supporting Mr Trump, Ms Haley invoked former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, saying: “On this question, as she did on so many others, Margaret Thatcher provided some good advice when she said, “Never just follow the crowd. Always make up your own mind.’”

Ms Haley, who was Mr Trump’s last challenger for the Republican presidential nomination, withdrew from the race only hours after she lost 14 out of 15 states to Mr Trump in a heavy loss on Super Tuesday which guaranteed that Mr Trump would soon win enough delegates to secure the nomination at the Republican convention in July.

Just as Ms Haley took the stage to announce her withdrawal, Trump took a parting shot at her on Truth Social, posting that “Nikki Haley got TROUNCED last night, in record setting fashion, despite the fact that Democrats, for reasons unknown, are allowed to vote in Vermont, and various other Republican Primaries,” Trump said, referring to the only state which Haley won. “I’d like to thank my family, friends, and the Great Republican Party for helping me to produce, by far, the most successful Super Tuesday in HISTORY, and would further like to invite all of the Haley supporters to join the greatest movement in the history of our Nation,” Trump said.

Joe Biden also joined the race to win over Haley supporters, releasing a statement only minutes after she announced her withdrawal.

“Nikki Haley was willing to speak the truth about Trump: about the chaos that always follows him, about his inability to see right from wrong, about his cowering before Vladimir Putin,” Biden said.

“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. I know there is a lot we won’t agree on. But on the fundamental issues of preserving American democracy, on standing up for the rule of law, on treating each other with decency and dignity and respect, on preserving NATO and standing up to America’s adversaries, I hope and believe we can find common ground.”

Ms Haley said in her withdrawal speech: “I am filled with gratitude for the outpouring of support we’ve received from all across our great country but the time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets. And although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in.”

In a message aimed at Trump, she warned against sowing division among Americans and wanted against the isolationist tendencies of MAGA Republicans on the world stage.

“As important, while we stand strong for the cause of freedom, we must bind together as Americans, we must turn away from the darkness of hatred and division,” she said.

“Our world is on fire because of America’s retreat. Standing by our allies in Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan is a moral imperative. But it’s also more than that. If we retreat further, there will be more war not less.”

Ms Haley used her short speech to remind voters that she had always been a ‘conservative Republican.’

“Our national debt will eventually crush our economy. A smaller federal government is not only necessary for our freedom, it is necessary for our survival,’ she said. “The road to socialism is the road to ruin for America.”

“Our Congress is dysfunctional, and only getting worse. It is filled with followers, not leaders. Term limits for Washington politicians are needed now more than ever.”

Trump had been angered by Ms Haley’s refusal to withdraw earlier from the race when all his other opponents did, accusing her of hurting and dividing the Republican party for no reason. He did not mention Ms Haley in his Super Tuesday victory speech.

Whether or not Ms Haley eventually endorses Trump may depend on how Trump treats her and her supporters now that he has effectively secured the nomination. He needs to win back Haley supporters and prevent them switching their support to Joe Biden, or else choosing not to vote at all.

The battle between them had become increasingly personal and bruising, with both lashing out at each other and Mr Trump repeatedly dismissing her as a ‘birdbrain’ and her portraying him as a tantrum-prone toddler. Ms Haley has previously ruled out being drafted as Mr Trump’s vice presidential choice, but in the unpredictable world of US politics, anything is possible and a ‘Trump-Haley’ ticket would be a dream team for many Republicans.