When Trump mentioned Haley’s name, his supporters booed their home-state governor just hours after she threw her support behind Marco Rubio’s campaign.
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“If we elect Marco Rubio, every day will be a great day in America”, Gov. Nikki Haley said.
Bush on Wednesday said her decision left him “disappointed”.
In the latest CNN/ORC poll, Trump leads the Republican pack at 38% support from those likely to vote in the primary.
She also delivered the Republican response to this year’s State of the Union address, earning accolades for speaking out against the sharp anti-immigrant rhetoric that has taken hold of the GOP primary.
Mr Trump has repeatedly backed enhanced interrogation techniques for foreign prisoners and said again on Wednesday he would “absolutely” allow waterboarding, which simulates the feeling of drowning.
But the Florida senator is within striking distance of Mr Cruz, with whom he has sparred on immigration reform and national security. On Monday, former President George W. Bush campaigned for his brother in the Palmetto State; and Barbara Bush is expected to hit the trail with Jeb Bush this week.
Later Wednesday, Dan Scavino, a senior adviser to Trump, tweeted an article from conservative news website WND.com entitled “Refugee-lovin’ governor sued for importing Muslims” about a lawsuit filed by an activist that seeks to prevent efforts to resettle refugees from Syria and Iraq in SC.
“Donald, I would encourage you if you want to file a lawsuit challenging this ad, claiming it is defamation, file the lawsuit”.
The New York real estate mogul also repeated his threat to bring a lawsuit over Cruz’s eligibility to be on the ballot, given that he was born in Canada.
“For that particular venture, I may not use outside counsel, I may take the deposition myself”, Cruz bragged in a press conference in SC, three days ahead of the GOP primary there.
“They are right now are in the closing period of a campaign”, Cruz said, adding his campaign is “focused on any accomplishments that Rubio has”.
Mr Trump’s comments could further alarm some Republican leaders, who fear the billionaire or Texas Senator Ted Cruz will collect the delegates needed to secure the party’s nomination before a more mainstream candidate can consolidate voters’ support.
Appearing in his own town hall on MSNBC, Trump slammed Cruz as “a nasty guy”.
Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson, whose poll numbers have dwindled since he was a strong second behind Trump last fall, said President Obama should nominate a replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen.
Nikki Haley is one politician expected to enter the race as a vice presidential candidate, so her choice of which nominee to gift with her endorsement may be as much a personal choice as a political one.
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“So the people of SC should know, if Donald Trump ever became president, we would see justices consistent with his life-long” beliefs, Cruz said.
