South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Endorses Rubio Days before Primary

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Feb 18, 2016

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Endorses Rubio Days before Primary

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has endorsed Republican presidential candidate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, just days before the South Carolina primary.

Charisma News reports that Haley, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants and gave this year’s Republican response to Obama’s State of the Union address, also rose to prominence for the role she played in spearheading the movement to have the Confederate flag taken down from the Capitol building after nine African-Americans were killed in a church shooting in Charleston.

"I want a president who understands they have to go back to Washington, D.C., and bring a conscience back to our Republicans," Haley said during a Rubio campaign rally in South Carolina.

“I can’t tell you how honored I am to have the support of your governor,” Rubio told the gathered crowd.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush had hoped to gain the endorsement of Haley, and said he was “disappointed” when he heard that she endorsed Rubio.

Former President George W. Bush had been campaigning in South Carolina on behalf of his brother and had met privately with Haley, so her endorsement of Rubio came as a hard blow to Bush’s campaign.

"She's a very good governor and should I win the nomination, there'll be a role for her in the campaign," Bush told reporters after a campaign event in Summerville, South Carolina. "Trust me, she's a great person."

Rubio’s campaign hopes that Haley’s endorsement will give him the boost he needs in the South Carolina primary. Bloomberg Politics reports that Trump is currently leading South Carolina polls, with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in second place, and Rubio coming in third.

Publication date: February 18, 2016



South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Endorses Rubio Days before Primary