October 2
Nikki Haley received support from the New York Post’s editorial board today. This comes after the Donald Trump campaign, or somebody associated with them, left a birdcage and feed outside of Haley’s hotel room, referencing Trump calling her a “birdbrain.” The editorial lent its support to Haley, which you can read about here.
Haley criticised Biden’s policies on energy, the border and China once again.
October 3
Haley reminded voters of her support for Israel once again.
Her plan to repeal the federal gas tax was endorsed by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
October 4
Haley reminded voters of her Freedom Plan. Policies include tort reform in healthcare. She also received praise from the Wall Street Journal editorial board regarding her healthcare plan, which you can read about here.
October 5
In Charleston, South Carolina, Haley had this to say:
“Democrat leadership has brought us chaos, but we can’t beat Democrat chaos with Republican chaos. Americans are hungry for a new direction, without more of the same mess and distraction. Republicans should focus on issues that help the American people, like cutting debt, beating inflation, fixing our border, and protecting us from China’s increasing aggression. The drama of the past won’t cut it.”
She continued to remind voters of her Freedom Plan.
Haley signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, a manifesto set by the Americans for Tax Reform. In this pledge, Haley promises to oppose and veto any tax hikes.
Polling had Haley at 7.4%.
October 6
Haley reminded voters of her plan to get rid of the federal gas and diesel tax.
October 7
Haley came out swinging in defence of Israel following the terrorist attacks on the country. She released the following statement:
“Hamas has declared war on Israel on the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret and the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. Make no mistake: Hamas is a bloodthirsty terrorist organization backed by Iran and determined to kill as many innocent lives as possible. The reports out of Israel are horrific with a stunning number of dead and wounded and should be universally condemned. Israel has every right to defend its citizens from terror. We must always stand with Israel and against this Iranian regime.”
She advocated for Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, to “finish them,” meaning Hamas. Haley has been a strong ally to Israel for many years, having visited the nation frequently. She criticised Vivek Ramaswamy at the previous debate for his lack of interest in aiding them. Considering that Americans are among the dead and hostages, it’s prime time for candidates to pitch their foreign policy credentials.
October 8
With the carnage in Israel and Palestine continuing, Haley was out on the airwaves once again. She called for retaliation against Hamas and Hezbollah, along with others supporting the attacks. Haley criticised Representative Rashida Tlaib for what she called “making excuses” for those behind what is going on.
In Sioux City, Iowa, Haley made this statement:
“I won’t sugar coat that I’ve got a heavy heart today. You can’t look at the news and not feel just incredibly sad and concerned. And know that sometimes God sends us messages and we need to start getting focused on what we need to be doing and how we need to be doing it and move forward…Just imagine what’s going on in Israel today. They woke up yesterday and communities were bombarded, families were murdered, kids were taken out of their homes, taken hostage, elderly were taken hostage, women were dragged down the streets. And as all this was happening, the terrorists that were doing this were saying, ‘Death to Israel, death to America.’ That’s what I want you to keep with you: ‘Death to Israel, death to America…Israel’s about to take on a really tough time. What I hope that you will remember… with all of these issues, whether it’s Israel and the Iranian regime, because Iran is the one that’s behind this regardless of what Antony Blinken says. Whether it’s Ukraine and Russia. Whether it’s the issues with China. Whether it’s North Korea. We always have to remember the importance of moral clarity. Knowing the difference between right and wrong and knowing the difference between good and evil. That’s what we’re faced with right now. We have to stand with Israel against this evil, we have to… I will just say prayers for strength, prayers for determination, and prayers for healing for our brothers and sisters in Israel, because I think that they’re going to need it. I have always said, and I strongly believe, you can’t destroy what God has blessed—and God has blessed Israel.”
Haley talked about how as UN Ambassador, she introduced a resolution that condemned Hamas and how America was the only member of the Security Council to vote for it. She also criticised Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for saying that there was no link between the $6 billion in unfrozen assets released to Iran and the attacks in Israel. It has been made clear that Iran had something to do with the attacks, whether through funding, planning or both.
The turmoil in the Middle East took centre stage at the end of the week and dominated the headlines. Haley’s long-standing support for Israel was made clear by her strong comments in the last few days. With Americans involved, it’s up to the presidential candidates to pitch how they would solve problems like this. Haley is contrasting herself to people like Vivek Ramaswamy, who are less inclined to get involved.