Republican Haley hosts rally in Henrico ahead of Super Tuesday

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley campaigned in Henrico County Thursday, trying to close the gap to beat former President Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.

Haley urged supporters at the Westin Richmond to vote as soon as possible with Super Tuesday coming up next week, which may determine if she stays in the race. Virginia is one of 16 states that will cast ballots for party nominees, and analysts say Haley will need a strong showing to remain competitive.

Her appearance came in advance of Trump’s scheduled rally Saturday in Richmond. In 2020, President Joe Biden won Virginia with 54 percent of the vote, compared with 44 percent for Trump, according to state election results.

Before Haley took the stage, Kristi Way, vice chair of the Virginia GOP, and former Virginia first lady Susan Allen, chair of Haley’s Virginia leadership team, spoke on Haley’s behalf.

“We are the good men and good women in this scenario,” Way said. “We’re not going to do nothing, right?”

Allen addressed the crowd directly, pointing out the different groups present as she paced the stage with Haley’s book “With All Due Respect” clutched underneath her arm.

“Those of us in this room, Reaganites, Conservatives, those of us who believe in a better America are gathered today because we are happy to have a choice in Virginia on Tuesday and that choice is none other than Nikki Haley,” she said.

After months of trailing behind Trump and losing in every primary to date, Haley emphasized the importance of community engagement.

“If you will join us in this movement, you will get out and make 10 people go with you [to the polls],” Haley said. “If you keep going in this fight, I promise you our best days are yet to come.”

Haley said that there should be term limits enforced in government and mental competency tests for anyone over the age of 75 should be required to prevent institutions like Congress from becoming “the most privileged nursing home in the country.”

“These are people making decisions on the future of our economy,” she said. “These are people making decisions on our national security. We need to know that we’re at the top of their game.”

Having served as a United Nations ambassador under Trump, Haley also highlighted the importance of strong national security and relations with other countries saying that keeping Americans safe is a top priority.

“America can never be so arrogant to think that we don’t need friends,” she said.

Supporters packed the conference room in the hotel, many decked out in their own custom gear or Haley’s popular ‘barred permanently’ shirts, referencing Trump’s promise to ban Haley supporters from MAGA.

Ralph and Jacob Long, a father-son duo originally hailing from South Carolina, stood front and center against the railing separating the audience from Haley. They were among the first to arrive, waiting in the parking lot as early as 10 a.m.

“There needs to be a change,” Ralph Long said. “We are going in a direction that I think most of the people are not wanting to go and just need to have the courage to make the change.”

As a first-time voter in a Presidential election, Jacob Long has kept a close eye on Haley’s policies, finding her to be a more appealing option than Trump or Biden.

“She’s not in her 80s, and I think that’s a big plus, specifically as a young person,” Jacob said.

More than anything, though, the duo agrees that they are both looking for good “character and competence.” If Haley winds up bowing out after Super Tuesday, they both said that they would consider voting Third Party, but until then are “Nikki all the way” – a popular sentiment voiced by many other supporters at the rally.

Haley left time at the end of her speech to connect with the crowd, taking photos and signing posters. During this, a Republican Palestinian-American who refused to give his full name was removed by security after reportedly asking Haley about any plans to support Palestinians in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

“She says she’s pro-human, and she said that today,” he said. “If you’re a pro-human, how about the Palestinians in Gaza? Why don’t you want to save their lives? She’s not pro-human.”

Haley did not respond to his question and was the one to call over security, he said.

He was planning on voting for Haley until the rally, he said. Now, he’s uncertain of where he will cast his vote, but is considering pivoting to Trump.

In her political journey, Haley has determined that, if anything, she would like to help shape a country where people could exist on different ends of the aisle relatively peacefully.

“We do have a country to save, but if we want to save her, now is the time we get to work,” she said.