‘I’m not going anywhere’: Nikki Haley promises to stay in presidential race

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is digging her heels in and insisting she’s not dropping out of the race, even as Donald Trump dominates in the polls.

On Saturday, Haley’s home state of South Carolina will hold its Republican primary election. The latest Emerson College/TheHill.com poll shows Trump leads Haley by 23 points.

In a speech on Tuesday, she directed a defiant message to those telling her to leave the race.

“South Carolina will vote on Saturday. But on Sunday I’ll still be running for president,” Haley said. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m campaigning every day until the last person votes.”

George Washington University political science professor Todd Belt says the future isn’t looking good for Haley.

“She hasn’t been able to win a state. It doesn’t look like she will, even in her home state,” Belt said.

But Haley insists that even if she loses on Saturday, she’ll keep campaigning.

“Dropping out would be the easy route. I’ve never taken the easy route. I’ve been the underdog in every race I’ve ever run,” Haley said.

Professor Belt says she seems to have enough money to keep her campaign going.

“She has convinced her contributors, and there are many people who are interested in having someone other than Donald Trump as the standard bearer for the Republican party,” Haley said.

He thinks Haley is focused on the long term, saying her strategy is to outlast Trump and his many ongoing legal issues.

“She’s counting on something to happen to Donald Trump, and she wants to be the best positioned and the best known by staying out there and campaigning,” Belt said.

Trump and his campaign are pressuring Haley to leave the race now. She argues she is Republicans’ best chance at winning back the White House.

“Trump is the only Republican Biden can beat,” Haley said.

President Biden was asked by reporters on Tuesday which candidate he’d rather run against.

“Oh, I don’t care,” Biden said.

President Biden is spending his day campaigning in California.

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