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((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US Campaign - Nikki Haley
HEADLINE: Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley Running for US President
TEASER: First prominent Republican challenger to Trump
PUBLISHED AT: 2/15/2023 at 735p
BYLINE: Steve Herman
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Phillip Datcher; Anne-Marie Fendrick
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns, sv
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X__ RADIO X__
TRT: 3:21
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is running for U.S. president. As VOA’s chief national correspondent Steve Herman reports from Washington, Haley is the first prominent Republican to formally oppose former president Donald Trump, who she served as U.N. Ambassador.
((NARRATOR))
In her home state of South Carolina, Nikki Haley told her first presidential campaign rally that the time has come for fresher faces to lead the country.
((Nikki Haley, Republican presidential candidate))
“We’re ready – ready to move past the stale ideas and faded names of the past. And we are more than ready for a new generation to lead us into the future.” [[:14]]
((NARRATOR))
That was the closest she came to mentioning Donald Trump running for president again. And she made no mention of the promise she made in December of 2021.
((Nikki Haley, Former UN Ambassador))
“I would not run if President Trump does.” [[:03]]
((NARRATOR))
In a statement to VOA through a campaign spokesperson, Trump noted Haley’s previous pledge and says he told her: “She should follow her heart and do what she wants to do,” adding “I wish her luck!”
((courtesy nikkihaley.com))
((NARRATOR))
Launching her presidential campaign with an online video, Haley portrays herself as someone for the party’s future.
((Nikki Haley, Republican presidential candidate)) ((courtesy nikkihaley.com))
Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections. That has to change.
((NARRATOR))
American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow John Fortier says Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, will not be Trump’s most formidable opponent.
((John Fortier, American Enterprise Institute))
“As U.N. ambassador, she was loyal to President Trump and didn't break with him as some of the Republican Party did. So those things, I think, would be on the positive side for a Republican voter looking at a new candidate. On the negative side, it's not clear that she has as strong a lane or as strong an attraction to America, to Republican voters as some others.”
((Steve Herman, VOA News (standup version))
Haley’s declaration is likely just the first among Republicans seeking to thwart Trump’s return to the White House. Among those considering entering the race are three men who served in Trump’s administration -- his vice president, Mike Pence; the former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo; and former national security advisor John Bolton.
((John Fortier, American Enterprise Institute))
The big person we're talking in this field as a potential alternative to Donald Trump is the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis. And I think the reasons for that is that he did portray, as a large state governor in a Republican-leaning state, many of the characteristics of Donald Trump.”
((Music up: “…You can take it to the bank. He don’t care what Brandon thinks at the White House…”))
((NARRATOR))
The Florida governor focuses on culture war issues as does Trump and is expected to dominate other Republican hopefuls in raising funds. That may make him attractive to party loyalists desiring a strong candidate to face the expected Democratic Party’s nominee, incumbent President Joe Biden.
((NARRATOR))
If Haley continues to poll in the single digits, she may be seen more as a potential vice presidential candidate to the eventual party nominee.
A crowd of candidates competing against the former president and each other could pave the way for Trump to repeat what he did as a political newcomer in 2016 – having enough support to clear the field and capture the Republican Party’s nomination.
((Steve Herman, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 16, 2023 15:22 EST
BylineSteve Herman
Brand / Language ServiceUS Agency for Global Media, Voice of America - English
