A group of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley supporters announced their endorsement for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign shortly after President Joe Biden declared he would not seek re-election.
In a letter on Sunday, Biden stated he would not run for a second term and endorsed Harris, bowing out of the race following pressure from his party members and major Democratic donors after a poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump last month.
The political action committee (PAC), previously called Haley Voters for Biden, rebranded to show support for Harris in an effort to highlight the voices of former Haley supporters who now back Harris.
“As a former tough prosecutor who aligns with the center of the Democratic Party and not the extreme left…Harris resonates with Haley voters who oppose [former] President Trump,” a PAC representative stated.
Haley, the ex-governor of South Carolina and former U.N. ambassador running for the GOP, dropped out of the race in March after losses on Super Tuesday, where she competed against Trump. Despite this, Haley, who served in Trump’s administration, garnered over 2 million votes nationally and had strong support from moderates and college-educated voters who don’t subscribe to Trump’s MAGA agenda.
In a recent speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC), Haley criticized the Biden administration and singled out Harris for her handling of border issues, questioning her capability to lead the country as a whole.
Although Haley has endorsed Trump, she has yet to comment on Biden’s decision to step back and endorse Harris.
The PAC promptly shared Biden’s endorsement of Harris on social media, announcing their transformation into Haley Voters for Harris and swiftly updating their names on social accounts, while their website still features Biden’s name.
Democrats have until August 7 to nominate a new candidate or risk exclusion from the Ohio ballot. The chosen nominee will accept the party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19 to 22.
In a social media post, the PAC advised Harris to select a moderate VP and suggested three governors: Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Roy Cooper of North Carolina, as potential choices. The governors praised Biden’s legacy and expressed appreciation for his decision.
In support of Harris, the PAC stated, “We welcome @KamalaHarris taking the torch that @JoeBiden passed to her.”