Nikki Haley shouldn’t be “underestimated” in the presidential nomination, say former South Carolina GOP officials

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is expected to officially announce next week that she will seek the Republican nomination for president in 2024, and some Republicans in the Palmetto State are fully supportive of her candidacy, as the Republican field is sure to grow in 2024.

Haley, who served as South Carolina’s governor from 2011 to 2017 and later served as ambassador to the United Nations during former President Donald Trump’s tenure, last week teased a “big announcement” scheduled for Feb. 15, when she expected to start in 2024 Charleston presidential run.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Katon Dawson, who was born and raised in the state and was the leader of the South Carolina Republican Party from 2002 to 2009, said he believes Haley shouldn’t be “underestimated” should she enter America’s race to become the next president.

“Voters probably know not to underestimate Nikki’s political ability to win votes and garner support,” Dawson said. “Nikki just works hard, and South Carolina voters twice voted for her for governor… She’s a well-known commodity. She handled things gracefully in South Carolina.”

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Nikki Haley, former Ambassador to the United Nations, during the annual Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, November 19, 2022. (Ronda Churchill/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Dawson called Haley a “reassuring force” during her time as governor and said he believes she has the experience to serve in the presidential role after she got a “feeling of on-the-job training about how bad.” China is”. during her tenure as UN Ambassador.

“She has a lot of cross references, plus she was CEO of a state of 5.2 million people [voters] I feel pretty good about her as far as I can tell now,” he added. “I’m with them and definitely look forward to Wednesday’s announcement.”

Highlighting the notion that “no one thought she could win” the gubernatorial race in South Carolina more than a decade ago, Dawson said he believes the success of Haley’s anticipated candidacy in the race will depend largely on her ability to “to bring some sense to it”. race.”

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Dawson, who said he pushed Haley years ago to enter South Carolina politics, believes Haley will do well in other states that vote early across the country.

“There’s a track and a good chance for Nikki to be very successful, and not just in South Carolina,” he said. “Nikki Haley’s campaign style is made for New Hampshire…Iowa is a caucus with a tightly-knit group of people, not many. I think she will do well there. I think she will be well received in this race.”

Former Republican Gov. of South Carolina Nikki Haley speaks at the annual Republican Jewish Coalition leadership meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada November 19, 2022. (WADE VANDERVORT/AFP via Getty Images)

Should she announce a run for the White House next week, Haley will become the second Republican to do so, after former President Donald Trump announced last year that he would be running for a third term.

While it’s unclear if Haley will receive endorsement from South Carolina GOP Senator Tim Scott, senior state senator Republican Lindsey Graham has announced he will endorse Trump in 2024. Haley was criticized by the former president after entering the race Trump pointed out that Haley had said in April that she would not enter the 2024 race if Trump ran.

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Alex Stroman, the former executive director of South Carolina’s Republican Party, also told Fox that he believes Haley’s candidacy in the race will be well received by voters in the state, based on her record as governor and her “connection” to Americans at all stripes.

“South Carolinians love Nikki Haley for what she has done for our state,” he said. “She has made South Carolina an economic powerhouse, created jobs, made our government more transparent, and demonstrated consistent and compassionate leadership in times of crisis.”

“One of Nikki Haley’s greatest strengths is how she connects with everyday people from all walks of life,” added Stroman. “A lot of people have underestimated their abilities before, and that has never worked out well for them.”

Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, recently teased her anticipated presidential announcement in a video first shared with Fox News Digital.

“Where will you stand?” the video asks, with the date 02/15/23 appearing on the screen.

Former Ambassador to the United Nations and Gov. of South Carolina Nikki Haley chairs a campaign event for Republican Rep. Nancy Mace June 12, 2022 in Summerville, South Carolina (Fox News)

Political pundits have long considered Haley a potential GOP presidential contender, having spent the past two years touring the country with her political group Stand for America and helping fellow Republicans in the 2022 election. Haley’s travels have taken her numerous times to Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada to host the first, second and fourth contests in the Republican presidential calendar. Haley’s home state of South Carolina picks third in the GOP primary roster.

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It remains to be seen who else will throw their hat in the ring. Other top Republicans who appear to be moving toward making bids include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former two-term governor Larry Hogan of Maryland and Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas.

Fox News Digital confirmed that Haley plans to revisit New Hampshire shortly after February 15, when she is expected to officially announce her candidacy.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and Adam Shaw contributed to this article.