CHARLESTON, N.C. –– The last-standing challenger to Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, suspended her campaign. She did not, however, kiss up to Trump. This is how the former North Carolina governor worded a brief statement:
“The time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voice. I have done that. I have no regrets. And although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe.”
Haley had waged a vigorous campaign but never came out ahead of Tump. Her withdrawal came after 15 state primaries on Super Tuesday, including the Minnesota GOP primary. About Trump in a separate interview, she said:
“I have always been a conservative Republican and always supported the Republican nominee.” But on Trump specifically, she quoted former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher: “’Never just follow the crap. Always make up your own mind. It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it, who did not support it. I hope he does that.”