Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said she will not drop out of the race regardless of the results of Saturday’s South Carolina primary, even as polls show her trailing former President Trump by a large margin in her home state.
Haley told The Associated Press in an interview that she will remain in the race for the GOP nomination at least until Super Tuesday, March 5, when more than a dozen states will hold their primaries and caucuses.
She noted that most states have not yet held their contests and many will vote shortly after South Carolina.
“Ten days after South Carolina, another 20 states vote. I mean, this isn’t Russia. We don’t want someone to go in and just get 99 percent of the vote,” Haley said. “What is the rush? Why is everybody so panicked about me having to get out of this race?”
Polls both nationally and in South Carolina, where Haley was twice elected as governor, have shown Trump with a significant lead just a few days out from the primary. The polling average from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ shows Trump leading Haley in the Palmetto State by about 30 points.
But Haley rejected calls to drop out of the race on the grounds that her continuing to run is hurting Trump’s chances of defeating President Biden in November, calling that “the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
“If I get out of the race today, it will be the longest general election in history,” she said.
The AP reported that a travel schedule for Haley obtained by the outlet shows the candidate plans to make 11 stops in more than half a dozen states in the seven days following South Carolina’s primary.
The interview came ahead of a speech Haley is set to deliver about the state of the race ahead of the primary.
Haley also told CBS News in an interview that the campaign is working to compete in all states and noted that only three have voted so far. She said she would reach the nomination by working “one state at a time.”
“The political elite are saying you should get out. Why? Why should I get out? Do we not want states to vote? Let’s let ‘em vote,” she said.
Haley has continued to rake in a significant amount of money as the last remaining major challenger to Trump, raising $16.5 million in January, the best fundraising month of her campaign.