The news is going from bad to worse for GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley.
Following her big loss to former President Donald Trump in her home state of South Carolina on Saturday, a major GOP donor organization funded by the Koch brothers has pulled its financial support.
In an email initially disclosed by Politico, Emily Seidel of AFP Action elucidated to the organization’s staff the rationale behind discontinuing financial backing for the former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor. Seidel stated that the group didn’t believe “any outside group can make a material difference to widen her path to victory.”
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to mock Charles and David Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity Action:
“AMERICAN’S FOR NO PROSPERITY JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER SUPPORTING NIKKI “BRAINDEAD” (BIRDBRAIN?) HALEY. CHARLES KOCH AND HIS GROUP GOT PLAYED FOR SUCKERS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING!”
Haley vowed Saturday evening that she would remain in the race nonetheless.
“I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run… I’m a woman of my word. I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” she said.
“40% is not some tiny group,” Haley continued. “There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primary [who said] they want an alternative…I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I will continue to run for president. I’m a woman of my word.”
She also addressed both Trump and President Joe Biden.
“One of them calls his fellow Americans fascists. The other calls his fellow Americans vermin,” she said. “They aren’t fighting for our country’s future. They’re demanding we fight each other.”
For his part, after his big victory, Trump said he is no longer focused on Haley. Trump told Fox News that he’s not sure Haley is “even really in the race” at this point, adding that he is concentrating on beating President Joe Biden.
“I was honored that I received the largest vote in the history of the state — I’m with Senator Lindsey Graham right now, and he just told me we received the largest vote by double — we beat the last record,” Trump told the network. “So that’s a great compliment to all of the people and to making America great again.”
Asked if he thought Haley should now drop out of the race, Trump said he’s “really not thinking about that… I’m not thinking about it.”
“I’m thinking about we have to beat Joe Biden,” told the outlet. “I don’t know if she’s in the race at all because, you know, I have set records in every single state. I’m not sure that she’s really in the race.”
