(IntegrityTimes.com) – Failed 2024 Republican presidential primary candidate Nikki Haley has a decision to make, and it could determine her future in politics. Following Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s departure from the race, he immediately threw his support behind former President Trump. Haley, who called for a united Republican Party during her campaign, refused to do the same when she dropped out after massive losses on Super Tuesday. Instead, she advised Trump to try and win over her supporters. Some are curious whether Haley will make amends with Trump and campaign for him and Republican candidates across the country or choose to sit out the entire cycle.
According to The Hill, several Republicans believe that Haley has an important role to play regarding the unification around Trump, who is now the presumptive nominee. One GOP strategist said that voters who backed Haley are “the ones who are going to tip the needle one way or another,” adding that Haley’s percentage of votes in various races was “huge for a primary.” Haley served as the Ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, but the back-and-forth criticisms during the primary could prevent a reconciliation.
DeSantis was recently asked if he would be stumping for Trump in Florida but said that he believes the state will go for Trump without much effort. However, he said that he would like to help campaign for local races in the state, as well as nationally. Trump’s campaign appeared perturbed by DeSantis’s remarks. Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told NewsNation that DeSantis should not make assumptions about the campaign’s interest in putting him on the trail, as the goal is to win the election. Several former Republican primary candidates have already hit the campaign trail for Trump, including South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy.
Trump is certainly capable of mending fences and moving forward with other Republicans who have challenged him in the past. Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is reportedly on the list of potential vice-presidential picks although he and Trump threw several low-blows at one another during the 2016 Republican presidential primary. GOP strategist Ford O’Connell said that Haley and DeSantis need to realize that if Trump secures another term in the White House, 2028 GOP candidates will need to launch their campaigns in just two years. He added that not supporting Trump could backfire if he loses to Biden.
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