CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — There are two weeks left until South Carolina's Republican primary. nikki haley She's trying to challenge Donald Trump in her home state while the former president tries to shatter his last major rival's narrow path to the nomination.
Trump shifted his campaign focus to southern states a few days later. Easy win in NevadaAt a Saturday afternoon rally in Conway, near Myrtle Beach, he drew a crowd of supporters, touting his tenure and repeating false claims that the 2020 election he lost was fraudulent. He denigrated the news media, which he viewed as biased. and Robb attacks on Haley and President Joe Biden.
In a speech at a rally, President Trump lavished praise on the South Carolina governor, insulting her with the derisive nickname “Birdbrain.” henry mcmaster, he supported him early on. President Trump selected Haley as ambassador to the United Nations in 2017 to represent the United States on the world stage, motivated by his desire to install her second-in-command, McMaster, as governor of South Carolina. He claimed that it was just that.
“She did her job. She was fine. She was fine. But I didn't put her here because I wanted her to come to the United Nations,” he said. “I thought I would take the lieutenant governor here and make him governor.”
President Trump added, “I wanted him because I felt he deserved it.”
Trump, who had long been the front-runner in the Republican presidential election, won three states in a row. South Carolina's February 24 primary The aim is to destroy Haley's chances and turn the focus entirely on her anticipated rematch with Biden in the general election.
Haley skipped the Nevada caucuses, accusing the campaign of being rigged on Trump's behalf, and instead focused on the South Carolina caucuses. 2 week bus tour She served as governor from 2011 to 2017.
Speaking to an audience of about 200 people outside the historic Opera House in Newberry on Saturday, Haley called President Trump an insane, narcissistic man who has no regard for the American people. Described.
She pointed to how he successfully used his influence over the Republican Party last week to pressure Republican lawmakers in Washington. reject bipartisan border security agreement and publicly pressured Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. consider quitting her job.
“What's going on?” Haley said. “His fingerprints were all over it that day when we lost so much,” she added.
Haley repeated questions about President Trump's mental health. attack Her behavior has sharpened since he repeatedly confused her with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) during a Jan. 19 speech. Throughout her campaign, Haley, 52, has called for mental competency tests for politicians, in contrast to Trump, 77, and Biden, 81.
“Why should someone in his 80s run for office?” she asked. “Why can't they give up their power?”
Someone in the crowd yelled, “They're grumpy old men!”
“They're grumpy old men,” Haley said.
Haley then continued her discussion with reporters, citing a report released Thursday by the special counsel investigating Biden's possession of classified documents. The report said Biden's memory was “poor.”
“Americans can do better as president than two 80-year-olds,” Haley said.
Former firefighter Bob Pollard said he can't support President Trump because “he's a lunatic,” and that Trump's campaign, which frequently talks about “vengeance” and personal grievances, is “a personal one.” It has turned into revenge,” he added.
Haley O'Connell, a longtime South Carolina resident and Haley supporter, said she would support whoever ends up being the Republican nominee, but would prefer someone younger.
“It's time for some fresh blood,” O'Connell said.
Haley's husband, Mike O'Connell, contrasted the candidates' approaches to foreign policy, saying he wanted the United States to continue supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, as Haley had pledged. Ta.
Regarding international relations, he said, “We need to promote friendship, not inhibit it.”
In remarks and social media posts Saturday, President Trump criticized foreign aid in general and Congress' plan to provide nearly $100 billion in aid to Ukraine and Israel. He also reiterated his admiration for foreign strongmen, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin “very smart and very sharp” and Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán “one of the toughest people.” '', and said that the reason Chinese President Xi Jinping is smart is “because he governs.'' 1.4 billion people with an iron fist. ”
In Conway, people began lining up to see Trump hours before the doors opened to the arena where he was scheduled to take the stage.
Organizers expected a capacity crowd and set up screens outside so the overflow crowd could see Trump's appearance.
The city is located along the vast Grand Strand of South Carolina's north coast, which includes Myrtle Beach and Horry counties, and is one of the state's most reliably conservative regions, with Trump leading the presidential race in the state. It is also the core area of his support base. past campaigns.
Tim Carter, who lives near Murrells Bay, said he has supported Trump since 2016 and will support him again this year.
“We support Trump, we're here to fix the economy, close the borders and create more jobs for our people,” said Carter, a pastor, military veteran and addict recovery ministry. .
Conway resident Cheryl Savage, who was waiting in the bleachers to hear from Trump, said the former president was “here to help us.” Savage supported Haley during her first run for governor in 2010, but now he feels she is doing herself a disservice by staying in the race, he said.
“He deserves a second term,” Savage said of Trump. “He's done a great job for four years.”
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Price reported from New York and Pollard from Newberry, South Carolina.
