Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina has officially endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 primary race.
This endorsement comes from her fellow South Carolinian, Nikki Haley, the state’s former governor.
“Today I’m endorsing Donald J. Trump for President,” Ms. Mace announced in a Monday morning statement.
She added, “I don’t see eye to eye perfectly with any candidate. And until now I’ve stayed out of it. But the time has come to unite behind our nominee.”
Timing of Mace’s Endorsement
The announcement of Mace’s endorsement occurred less than a day after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew from the Republican primary, leaving the contest primarily between Trump and Haley.
Notably, Haley had supported Mace in 2022 against a Trump-endorsed primary challenger.
Mace had previously refrained from engaging in the 2024 Republican primary, especially with the participation of Haley and Senator Tim Scott, another South Carolinian.
Her decision to endorse now comes just a day before the New Hampshire primary and about a month before the South Carolina primary on February 24.
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Rationale Behind Mace’s Choice
In explaining her endorsement, Mace cited her preference for Trump’s track record during his tenure in the White House.
She expressed her view that the country has deteriorated since Trump left office and needs to reverse the damages inflicted by President Joe Biden’s administration.
“To be honest, it’s been a complete [expletive] show since he left the White House. Our country needs to reverse all the damage Joe Biden has done,” she stated.
Mace’s Past Conflicts with Trump
Although Mace is now supporting Trump’s 2024 bid, their relationship has seen conflicts in the past.
Following the January 6 Capitol breach, Mace criticized Trump, stating that the achievements of the Republican party under his leadership were undermined by the events of that day.
After this criticism, Trump’s support for Mace ceased, and he even encouraged challenges against her in a statement in November 2021.
Also Read: Nikki Haley’s Bold Stance Against Trump’s Approach to Dictatorships
Trump’s Response and Mace’s 2022 Victory
Despite their past conflicts, President Trump congratulated Mace on her primary victory in June 2022 against Katie Arrington, whom he had endorsed.
Last spring, there were reports that Trump was considering Mace among potential running mates for 2024, to which Mace responded positively in a Politico interview.
Haley’s Campaign and Trump’s Lead in SC
NTD News reached out to Haley’s campaign for a comment on Mace’s endorsement of Trump but received no response by press time.
In South Carolina, Trump has garnered more congressional endorsements than Haley and leads in primary polls.
According to the latest RealClearPolitics polling average, Trump has a significant lead over Haley in the state’s primary.
Nancy Mace’s endorsement of Donald Trump over Nikki Haley in the 2024 presidential race signifies an important political maneuver within the Republican party.
It reflects the ongoing dynamics and strategic calculations of party members as they navigate the upcoming primary elections.
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