Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks at a marketing campaign rally for U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace forward of South Carolina’s GOP major elections, June 12, 2022, in Summerville, S.C. Haley on Thursday endorsed Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, in his reelection bid in opposition to impartial challenger Evan McMullin. Meg Kinnard, Related Press
One other potential Republican presidential candidate has endorsed Utah Sen. Mike Lee in his bid for reelection.
Nikki Haley, the previous U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, got here out in assist of the two-term incumbent Thursday.
“Sen. Lee’s a fighter who’s delivered outcomes for the individuals of Utah. He’s defended our liberties, lowered taxes, and pushed insurance policies that strengthen American households. There’s a transparent selection in Utah and Mike’s the one one with a confirmed conservative document,” Haley stated in a press release.
Lee stated in a press release that Haley’s service has made the nation and the world freer and safer, including that she is also a fighter for conservative ideas.
The founding father of the Stand For America PAC, Haley has endorsed greater than 50 conservative Republicans and helped increase $5 million for candidates throughout the nation.
Haley’s title typically comes up as a possible 2024 presidential candidate. The previous Republican governor of South Carolina stated in June that she's going to run for president in 2024 “if there’s a spot for me.” In July, she additionally alluded to a doable White Home bid.
Lee is locked into a troublesome marketing campaign in opposition to impartial challenger Evan McMullin.
The Prepare dinner Political Report final week moved the senate race in Utah from “strong Republican” to “doubtless Republican,” although it stays skeptical that Lee is in actual hassle.
“It is a distinctive race that we consider now deserves watching not due to a Democratic challenger to GOP Sen. Mike Lee, however an impartial rebel in Evan McMullin, a former CIA operative who ran as an anti-Trump various Republican within the 2016 presidential race,” in response to the Prepare dinner Report.
“Lee stays the heavy favourite nonetheless on this contest, however McMullin makes this contest price watching.”
The Prepare dinner Report additionally famous Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney “has stored his powder dry on this race,” declining to endorse both candidate. “However staying impartial and denying Lee an endorsement is a victory in itself for McMullin.”
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball final month downgraded the race from “protected Republican” to “doubtless Republican” primarily based on numerous elements, together with Deseret Information/Hinckley Institute ballot outcomes.
McMullin has picked up endorsements from nationwide figures on either side of the political aisle, together with former Republican Nationwide Committee Chairman Michael Steele and former Democratic Nationwide Committee Chairman Howard Dean.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has additionally come out in assist of McMullin, calling him “the real article” after the Utah Democratic Social gathering voted to again McMullin as a substitute of nominating its personal candidate. Yang not too long ago launched his personal political occasion referred to as the Ahead Social gathering.
In April, Trump endorsed Lee, whereas referring to McMullin as “McMuffin,” one thing he has accomplished on different events, together with in a speech final month on the conservative political convention, which Lee attended.
McMullin took it in stride, tweeting, “When Trump offers you a nickname, you realize you’re doing one thing proper.”
The conservative Membership for Progress not too long ago launched a $2.5 million tv advert marketing campaign focusing on McMullin.
“What does Evan McMullin consider, and who’s paying him?” the advert says whereas accusing him of utilizing contributions to political teams he controls to “push a left wing agenda.”
Responding to the adverts in a number of tweets, McMullin stated the Membership for Progress is “spreading lies” and that Lee’s “buddies are getting nervous.”
“A far-right particular curiosity group simply dumped $2.5M into our Senate race to attempt to paint ME as beholden to particular curiosity teams,” McMullin tweeted. “However their candidate is the one who’s taken thousands and thousands from these teams ... they should be confused.”
On Thursday, McMullin accused Lee of dragging his toes committing to a debate placed on by the impartial Utah Debate Fee forward of the November election. He stated Lee missed a deadline the fee set for agreeing to the occasion,
Lee marketing campaign spokesman Matt Lusty stated the senator “completely” needs to debate and it’s only a matter of finalizing a date that works for each candidates.
Lee declined to take part in a Utah Debate Fee debate throughout the major election as did all however Republican incumbent this previous spring.