The super PAC supporting Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign has launched a television ad targeting Nikki Haley, a move her campaign called a signal that Trump’s allies are worried about her. The ad, debuting Tuesday, marks the first such effort by either Trump, who has dominated the Republican primary, or the groups supporting him to take Haley on directly. The spot from Make America Great Again, Inc. argues that, as South Carolina governor, Haley flip-flopped over her support for a gas tax, showing clips of State of the State addresses in which she opposed, then called for, such a measure.
Quick Read
- Trump Super PAC’s Ad Against Haley: Make America Great Again, Inc., the super PAC supporting Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, has launched a TV ad targeting Nikki Haley. The ad criticizes Haley’s stance on a gas tax during her tenure as South Carolina governor.
- Haley’s Response: Haley disputed the premise of the ad on social media, indicating that Trump’s campaign might be feeling threatened by her. Her super PAC countered with an ad in New Hampshire, asserting that Trump is spreading misleading claims about her record.
- Focus on New Hampshire: Both Haley and Chris Christie have been concentrating their campaigns in New Hampshire. Christie released an ad in the state challenging Trump and positioning himself as a direct opponent.
- Trump’s Comments on Rivals: During a visit to New Hampshire, Trump referred to DeSantis and Haley as “RINOs” (Republicans in Name Only) and accused them of betrayal.
- Context of Haley’s Gas Tax Proposal: The MAGA Inc. ad omits details about Haley’s gas tax proposal, which included a 2% cut in state income tax. Haley’s campaign emphasized that this plan was not passed by the state Legislature.
- Haley’s Campaign’s Reaction: Haley’s spokesperson suggested that the ad reflects Trump’s concern about Haley’s growing momentum in the 2024 race.
- Trump’s Past Stance on Federal Gas Tax: Articles from 2018 were circulated by Haley’s campaign showing Trump’s openness to raising the federal gas tax, contrasting with Haley’s current proposal to end it.
- Polling in New Hampshire: A CNN/University of New Hampshire poll from November placed Haley in second place in New Hampshire, trailing behind Trump but ahead of other candidates like Christie and DeSantis.
The Associated Press has the story:
A pro-Trump super PAC airs an anti-Haley ad in NH. She says that’s a sign of her strength
Newslooks- COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)
The super PAC supporting Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign has launched a television ad targeting Nikki Haley, a move her campaign called a signal that Trump’s allies are worried about her.
The ad, debuting Tuesday, marks the first such effort by either Trump, who has dominated the Republican primary, or the groups supporting him to take Haley on directly. The spot from Make America Great Again, Inc. argues that, as South Carolina governor, Haley flip-flopped over her support for a gas tax, showing clips of State of the State addresses in which she opposed, then called for, such a measure.
“New Hampshire can’t afford Nikki ‘High Tax’ Haley, a narrator says in the ad.
Ahead of the ad’s release, Haley was already disputing its premise on social media, saying Tuesday night in a post on X that the ad signified that “someone’s getting nervous.”
Haley’s super PAC responded with a New Hampshire ad of its own, arguing that the front-runner is spreading misleading claims about her record “because Trump knows Haley’s the only one who can beat him.”
The ads draw heightened focus to New Hampshire, where Haley and another 2024 Republican, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, have been focusing their campaigns. Late last week, Christie launched his own ad in the state, accusing Haley and Ron DeSantis of largely going after each other and avoiding Trump, and saying Christie is the “only one” positioning himself to take on the front-runner directly.
Over the weekend, Trump told New Hampshire voters that they would “weed out the insincere RINOs … Republicans in name only,” referring to rivals DeSantis — the Florida governor who was endorsed by Trump in 2018 — and Haley, who served as his United Nations ambassador. Trump alleged that his allies-turned-opponents “will betray you just like they betrayed me.”
The MAGA Inc. spot leaves out a significant part of the gas tax proposal Haley floated as governor, in 2015. In the speech cited, Haley went on to say that, “in order to get my signature on any gas tax increase,” South Carolina would also “need to cut our state income tax by 2%.”
That plan, her campaign reiterated this week, died in the state Legislature. South Carolina lawmakers ultimately raised the gas tax under her successor, overriding a veto by Gov. Henry McMaster, Trump’s top backer in the state.
“Donald Trump’s false attack ad sends a loud and clear message: Nikki Haley is surging and Trump is scared,” said Haley spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas.
On Tuesday, Haley’s campaign also disseminated a slew of links to articles from 2018, when Trump signaled openness to raising the federal gas tax. In her 2024 presidential campaign, Haley has proposed ending the federal gas tax.
A New Hampshire poll conducted in November by CNN and the University of New Hampshire found that Haley was in second place — well behind Trump, but slightly ahead of fellow candidates including Christie and DeSantis.
