Trump and Haley Intensify Campaign Attacks in South Carolina

By Tim Reid

The campaigns of Donald Trump and Nikki Haley escalated their attacks on Thursday in South Carolina, which is set to host the next significant Republican presidential nominating contest on February 24.

Haley, the former president’s last challenger, has antagonized Trump by refusing to withdraw from the race following his consecutive victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, which have bolstered his hold on the nomination and set the stage for a potential general election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in November.

Haley’s team launched a new ad and sent out email blasts, branding Trump a liar, a weak candidate, and a coward for avoiding debates against her.

Trump, who is leading Haley by considerable margins in South Carolina polls—her home state where she previously served as governor—enlisted local politicians to rail against her during an event in Columbia, the state capital.

Bill Taylor, a Republican state representative and former Haley supporter now backing Trump, labeled her a political opportunist, stating, "Nikki is always about Nikki."

Another representative in support of Trump, Stewart Jones, criticized Haley’s stance on immigration, echoing a message from the Trump campaign earlier that day.

Trump has emphasized immigration in his campaign, focusing on a key concern for Republican voters as the Biden administration faces challenges in managing a rise in asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pointed out Haley’s past opposition to his proposed border wall.

In response, Haley’s new ad highlighted her record as governor, including her signing of a stringent immigration bill, and accused Trump of misrepresenting her achievements.

In an email to her supporters, Haley’s campaign referred to Trump as a "gift" to Democrats. Polls indicate that Haley performs better than Trump in hypothetical matchups against Biden, while a Trump-Biden contest is shown to be much closer.

Haley’s campaign stated, "Democrats couldn’t dream up a weaker candidate if they tried" when referencing Trump.

Despite these claims, many Republican voters seem to disagree. A recent poll indicated that Trump holds a substantial lead over Haley, with 58% of potential Republican primary voters in South Carolina favoring him compared to her 32%.