MOUNT PLEASANT, SC — GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley on Friday appeared at her final event before her home state’s primary, lobbing criticisms against 2024 rival Donald Trump and urging residents to vote for her because polls show she’s the only one who can defeat President Biden.
“The best America can do is two candidates in their 80s?” Haley said to a crowd in Mount Pleasant, alluding to Trump, 77, and Biden, 81.
“We need someone who can do eight years of hard work day and night, getting the job done for the American people. No drama, no vendettas,” the former South Carolina governor added.
Trump is leading Haley by 28 points in the Palmetto State, but her team has said she will continue on through Super Tuesday no matter what the results look like on Saturday.
“As we look to the path ahead, we know that this is an uphill battle. We know that the road is difficult. We know that the math is challenging, but this has never just been about who can win a Republican primary — this battle is about who can win in November, defeat the Democrats and finally get our country back on track,” Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney told reporters in a Friday morning call.
Ankney refused to tell The Post if Haley would seriously consider dropping out if there’s a specific polling number they are eyeing for South Carolina.
“We have never gotten [into] those benchmarks. We won’t start now. Once again, she made very clear in her speech on Tuesday that we are marching on and that’s what we intend to do,” the campaign rep said.
In the week leading up to the primary, South Carolina Haley supporters told The Post they hope Haley continues on in the race in case Trump gets “locked up” or suffers a health condition, but that they largely don’t have high hopes for her win.
Biden challenger Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) said Friday he would be open to being on an independent ticket with Haley as his VP if “that’s what it takes.”
“I think it’s a conversation that Ambassador Haley and I should have if that’s what this comes down to,” said Phillips, who came in with over 20% in New Hampshire, where Biden wasn’t on the ballot.
Haley’s campaign dismissed the option.
“Nikki Haley is a strong and proud Republican and that’s what we’re focused on winning the Republican nomination,” Ankney said.
Haley stressed Tuesday that she has no plans of dropping out and is looking forward to her multi-state events before the March 5 contest.