Nikki Haley noted in a printed statement Tuesday night that a “large bloc” of voters has “deep concerns” about Donald Trump after the former president won a string of victories and moved ever closer to the presidential nomination.
Haley released the statement as part of her campaign on an evening in which she kept quiet with staff as feedback came in, announcing that she had no plans to address supporters or campaign this week.
“We are honored to have received the support of millions of Americans across the country today, including in Vermont, where Nikki became the first Republican woman to win two presidential primaries,” said spokeswoman Olivia Perez-Cubas.
She then spoke of “unity,” something Trump has repeatedly called for in a party that is increasingly falling under his control.
“Unity is not achieved by simply saying, ‘We are united.’” Even today, in state after state, there are large groups of Republican primary voters expressing deep concern about Donald Trump. That is not the unity our party needs to be successful. “Addressing the concerns of these voters will improve the Republican Party and America,” Perez-Cubas added.
Nikki Haley released a statement about voters' “deep concerns” about her rival Donald Trump after the former president swept a dozen states, anticipating that he will likely march to the Republican nomination
The statement came after Trump addressed his supporters at Mar-a-Lago and made no mention of his main rival after winning a dozen states and more, including delegate-rich California.
Haley, on the other hand, only won in Vermont after she captured the District of Columbia, with the path to the nomination becoming increasingly narrow. Trump has so far had more than 90 percent of the delegates captured.
“They call it Super Tuesday for a reason – that's a big win. “And they tell me, the expert, there's never been anything so conclusive,” Trump said.
Haley sat in her home state of South Carolina while millions of Americans went to the polls.
Her campaign released no information about any plans to appeal to fans as the results emerged, even as Trump declared the race all but over and invited hundreds of fans to his private club at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Trump attracted large numbers of delegates from California and Texas and was on track to secure his party's nomination as early as next week.
With the loss in Virginia, Haley lost one of the 15 states up for grabs on Tuesday where she had something of a chance.
Donald Trump speaks to his supporters at Mar-a-Lago and speaks of a “big victory”
And poll results described an electorate that could be receptive to a candidate like Haley: 72 percent are suburban, mostly college-educated and less committed to MAGA than neighboring North Carolina.
The only information about her whereabouts came from a public comment made by Haley in a television interview that she would be in her home state on Super Tuesday.
In contrast, before her loss in her home state of South Carolina, the candidate telegraphed that she would campaign in Michigan and into Super Tuesday.
As of Tuesday evening, she had said only that she would stay in the race as long as she was “competitive.”
Her campaign did not announce any further campaign stops after Tuesday, although Trump was not expected to immediately commit to the required delegates.
Her campaign also did not organize a call to provide a path forward for members of the media covering the lopsided two-person race.
Her campaign's only public presence on Tuesday, as millions of Americans went to the polls, was a new web and television appearance by the candidate in which Haley dismissed calls that she should “drop out” of the race for the White House as she lobbied facing a flood of potential losses on Super Tuesday.
Haley faced pointed questions about her future if she dropped out of the race during a Super Tuesday appearance on Fox & Friends.
“As much as everyone wants to push me out, I'm not ready to come out yet,” she said as people began voting in 15 states across the country, with hundreds of delegates at stake.
“I’m still sitting there fighting for the people who want a voice, so they deserve it,” she added.
Haley bristled when asked whether she should back away from her debate-stage promise to support the eventual nominee, which she declined as her criticism of Trump became increasingly vocal.
“If you don't have a good night, will you get out, and when will you realize it's time to unite? Will you unite and support Donald Trump if he wins tonight?' asked Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt.
“If I got out of the race, it would still be the longest presidential election in history.” “I don't know why everyone is so insistent that they have to follow Trump's example to get me out of this race,” Haley replied . “All of these people deserve to vote…It’s as pro-American as it gets.”
She said of Trump, who she said was responsible for a series of Republican Party defeats: “I didn't hear him promise me that he would support me if I won.” So I don't know why I made that promise to him I have to support him if I win.
Haley's campaign released a new digital ad Monday in which the candidate claims Trump had his “fingerprints” on a series of losses. It begins with a clip of Trump telling his supporters that they would “get bored of winning” because they do it so often.
Haley has no public calendar of events to support her longer-term plans to continue the fight.
Trump has announced that he will campaign in Georgia next week.
“When are you going to realize it’s time to unite?” Fox host Ainsley Earhardt asked, sparking resistance from Haley
Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, has announced he will be campaigning in Georgia next week
A voter fills out his ballot at the Fairfax County Government Center polling station in Fairfax, Virginia, USA, March 5, 2024. Super Tuesday voters in 15 states and territories will cast their ballots for 2024 United States presidential candidates
Trump is not expected to mathematically win the nomination today.
Haley announced a leadership team from Louisiana on Monday, including several former members of Congress, but no trip to the Pelican State.
Asked on CNN Monday if she could name states she could win and how many she could point to to justify staying, Haley avoided a direct answer.
“Well, we said as long as we're competitive, we've been to 10 states in the last week alone.” “I just finished a rally here in Houston, Texas, well over 1,000 people showed up,” she said.