Nikki Haley Represents How Far GOP Has Fallen: Rubio Endorsement

Haley is the South Carolina-born daughter of Indian immigrants and, at 44, the nation’s youngest governor. Bush told NBC’s Peter Alexander earlier this week that her endorsement “would be the most powerful, meaningful one in the state”.

But the Rubio of some weeks ago who adopted a grim tone and creased face as he tried to keep up with the gloom and doom of Republican front-runners Donald Trump and, especially, Ted Cruz, is now smiling for selfies with voters who queue for him like a receiving line at a Miami quinceañera.

In the interview on the Hot Talk Morning Show on SC radio, Bush, who was considered in the running for Haley’s endorsement prior to the state’s primary on Saturday, reiterated that he was surprised and disappointed in the governor’s choice, describing the race as a “dead heat for 2nd place”. The survey found him at third place in the Republican field, beating establishment-lane foes Bush and Ohio Governor John Kasich. Scott said Haley is articulate and a strong leader, who went “through the fire” during a tragic 2015 in the Palmetto State.

Indeed, the endorsement might be less of a catalyst for Rubio’s SC campaign than a signal of where it was already headed. After a shooting at a historic African-American church in Charleston left nine people dead, Haley supported removing the Confederate flag from state Capitol grounds.

Rubio said he was honored to have Haley’s support as she “embodies for me everything that I want the Republican Party and the conservative movement to be about”. The GOP’s primary in SC is scheduled for Saturday. Gault, who served as Union County Clerk of Court from 2009-2015 and now works as District Liaison for US Fifth District Rep. Mick Mulvaney, has been appointed to the “Marco Rubio for President” campaign’s “South Carolina Grassroots Leadership Team” for Union County. Haley, Rubio and Sen.

A third, David Villinger of Summerville, said Bush should focus less on his record as Florida’s governor and more on his presidential vision. After an uneven debate performance sent Rubio’s support plummeting in New Hampshire, he has appeared to bounce back in SC. He made frequent references to their similar immigrant backgrounds – Haley’s parents immigrated from India – and complemented her on South Carolina’s economic successes. Democrats will vote in the SC primary on February 27.

“I’m just so proud of her endorsement because as much as anything else, it is indeed, what she has done here a signal and a very clear message of what Republicanism and conservatism needs to be about in the 21st century”, Rubio said. “I wish I could just go with who I really want”. Donald Trump is holding onto a double digit lead over Texas Sen.

As for Haley, a one-time Tea Party acolyte who has blossomed into a prominent Republican establishment figure, she has taken a principled stand – even as she has been unceremoniously dropped by Trump and his supporters from any conceivable short list of vice presidential running mates for Trump – assuming he continues to roll towards the GOP nomination. Haley is a coveted endorsement for GOP candidates in the state scheduled to hold its primary Saturday.

But for The New York Observer, a Rubio-Haley ticket would be a worst nightmare for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential front runner.