What People are Saying About Nikki Haley’s First Week
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The reviews are in and Nikki Haley for President had a stellar week. Read what people are saying below.
KICKOFF
New York Post editorial board: “Welcome to the 2024 Republican presidential race, Nikki Haley. So far, you’re saying all the right things.” (“Nikki Haley’s right: Republicans need ‘new generation’ for ’24 race,” 02/14/23)
The Hill: “Haley had a near-flawless rollout to her campaign this week, announcing her candidacy with a slick video, holding her first event at a well-attended rally in her native South Carolina the next day and bathing in media attention.” (“Ranking the GOP’s top 10 presidential candidates, 02/18/23)
Karl Rove: “The video makes it clear—when she ran for state representative, when she ran for governor, she was the anti-establishment candidate. She was there to shake up the good ol’ boys network in South Carolina and did so as a governor, and I thought those were very interesting points to make in her initial video.” (Fox News, America’s Newsroom, 02/14/23)
Brian Kilmeade: “I think you are crazy to look past—to go to sleep on Nikki Haley.” (Fox News, America Reports, 02/17/23)
Former Congressman Jason Chaffetz: “She’s a quality person, she was a good governor, and she’s got a good, compelling story… I think she’ll be very viable. She’s got a good message, she’s been on the national and world stage, her foreign policy is strong, so, look out for anybody who’s running, she’s going to be a competitor.” (Fox News, Varney and Co., 02/14/23)
Breitbart’s Joel Pollak: “@NikkiHaley is a strong contender with a great track record. She may struggle to convince the Trump base to trust her. However, she probably has the best chance of all potential nominees of winning the general election. That could be a decisive factor for many Republican voters.” (Twitter, 02/14/23)
The Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody: BIG turnout for Nikki Haley today in Charleston SC. TONS of enthusiasm. Evangelical Alert: John Hagee gave the opening prayer. That’s significant: strong on God AND Israel. Message received. @nikkihaley @teamhaley (Twitter, 02/15/23)
Susan B. Anthony List: “@NikkiHaley’s strong pro-life, pro-woman leadership stands in contrast to the false ‘feminism’ of abortion advocates. We welcome Nikki Haley and all presidential contenders outlining their pro-life vision and policy platform in the new Dobbs era.” (Twitter, 02/14/23)
Former Congresswoman Nan Hayworth: “I think Nikki Haley should run for president. She’s a very impressive candidate, and she’s a governor. She has executive experience.” (Newsmax, 02/14/23)
Congressman Ralph Norman: “This is probably no surprise for many of you. I’m thrilled to be in Charleston this morning to throw my support behind Nikki Haley for President in 2024! We are at a pivotal point in our nation. While the Republican candidates, values, and messages have done very well here in South Carolina, that hasn’t been the case everywhere across our great nation. It’s time for a reset and a new chapter in national Republican politics, and there’s no better person to help write that new chapter than our former governor and my good friend, Nikki Haley!” 🇺🇸 (Twitter, 02/15/23)
Conservative commentator Katie Pavlich: “She’s also trying to frame herself as a DC outsider. She’s a two-term governor. She’s not been a politician in DC despite her time at the UN as the ambassador. And really she’s trying to frame herself as someone who can beat President Joe Biden.” (Fox News, America Reports, 02/15/23)
SC State Senator Tom Davis: “Impossible to overstate either the number of South Carolinians who support Ambassador/Governor @NikkiHaley or the intensity of that support. The rest of the country will find out what we in the Palmetto State already know: she is a no-holds-barred candidate who plays to win.” (Twitter, 02/15/23)
The Post and Courier: “Nikki Haley's crowd size numbered about 2,000 for her campaign kick-off event in downtown Charleston today...” (Twitter, 02/15/23)
Former SC GOP executive director Alex Stroman: “I think it’s safe to say, @NikkiHaley remains VERY popular in South Carolina! Hell of a turnout on a Wednesday morning!” (02/15/23)
Breitbart: “Thousands of people gathered in downtown Charleston on Wednesday morning as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley formally entered the fray of the 2024 GOP presidential primary with a call for a ‘new generation’ of GOP leaders in a speech here…The impressive crowd would suggest she maybe has a point when in her speech the former governor bashed those who underestimate her.” (“Thousands Gather in Charleston for Nikki Haley Presidential Launch,” 02/15/23)
Conservative commentator Margaret Hoover: “I don’t think anybody could’ve watched that and walked away thinking Nikki Haley is not a formidable candidate for the Republican nomination.” (CNN, 2/15/2023)
Jim Geraghty: “A good and serious Republican Party would give Haley real consideration as a potential nominee, noting that her depth and breadth of experience and combination of indisputable toughness and charisma on the stump represent a rare combination of strengths in a potential president who is only 51 years old.” (National Review, “Give Nikki Haley a Chance,” 02/15/23)
CNN political director David Chalian: “If you’re inside Haley’s team right now I don’t think you could be happier with how it went. It was designed well, the crowd was there with her, they were interacting with her in all the right ways. She delivered [the speech] well.” (CNN, 2/15/2023)
Conservative writer Bethany Mandel: “What’s behind all of the Jewish enthusiasm for a possible President Nikki Haley? In three key areas — foreign policy, school choice and religious liberty — Haley’s clear strengths endear her to Republican Jewish voters.” (The Forward, “The Jewish case for sending Nikki Haley to the White House in 2024,” 02/15/23)
Former Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon: “Today my good friend @NikkiHaley announced that she is running for President of the United States of America. Nikki is a true friend of Israel. I have no doubt that she will always stand by our side. Likewise, Israel will always be the closest ally of the US. Good luck Nikki!” (Twitter, 02/14/23)
NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN HALLS
General Don Bolduc: “We need change, and we need new leadership,” he stressed. “She knows the problems. She knows the solutions. She’s been an executive. She’s seen it at the national and international level as an ambassador. Her compassion and her empathy and her complete dedication to public service, putting herself last and everybody else first, I think is what we need in this country and that is why I am supporting her.” (Concord Monitor, 02/17/23)
New Hampshire radio host Jack Heath: “She’s taking New Hampshire by storm.” (Good Morning NH, 02/17/23)
NH Journal: “Before the event, some NHGOP insiders wondered if it was smart for the campaign to launch in a relatively large venue in a blue town like Exeter. But the building was packed, as curious Republicans from as far away as Maine turned out to hear Haley speak.” (“‘Badass Woman’ Haley Draws Big Crowd in Exeter for NH Kick-Off,” 02/16/23)
SeaCoastOnline: “Not a single seat was empty inside the iconic old Town Hall as Haley took the stage, a large American flag hung high behind sign-bearing supporters seated onstage.” (“Nikki Haley packs Exeter Town Hall,” 02/16/23)
Politico’s Lisa Kashinsky: “@NikkiHaley gets mobbed following her Exeter, NH, town hall and asked to sign photographs, signs and books” (Twitter, 02/16/23)
Washington Post’s Dan Balz: “Her opening week has run smoothly, earning praise from veterans of New Hampshire politics…The turnout in New Hampshire reflects what seems to be a hunger among citizens to start a process that has been slower to get going than in past cycles…At this stage, Haley’s trajectory is unpredictable, but it was clear from the audiences’ reactions that among Haley’s attributes is an ability to connect with people. In Exeter and Manchester, she was thronged by selfie-seekers.” (Washington Post, 02/18/23)
Washington Post’s Dylan Wells: “@NikkiHaley is swarmed for photos and autographs after her first event as a presidential candidate here in New Hampshire:” (Twitter, 02/16/23)
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser: “2024 Watch: @NikkiHaley is definitely working it this morning... by my count she's already done three local radio interviews here in New Hampshire.” (Twitter, 02/17/23)
Executive Director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics Neil Levesque: “There is a full room for @NikkiHaley but this is the overflow room!” (Twitter, 02/17/23)
NH Journal: “‘I have not had this much interest in an event in a very, very long time.’ -- @NHIOP exec director Neil Levesque on @NikkiHaley town hall tonight. #FITN @NHGOP” (Twitter, 02/17/23)
SCETV’s Gavin Jackson: “I’m gonna let Twitter count this @nhiop crowd for me that’s turned out to hear Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speak at 6p. Chairs were added and it’s another standing room event for Haley. This is the second and final town hall of her NH trip. (Twitter, 02/17/23)
Executive Director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics Neil Levesque: “@NikkiHaley meets individually with NH voters. Another sharp contrast with President Biden.” (Twitter, 02/17/23)
Tom Rath: “One trip does not a campaign make, but the Haley NH first visit was extremely well done + sent a message that there is a substantial portion of the R vote that wants new choices” (Twitter, 02/18/23)
