The Never Trumpers have made their decision. They want Nikki Haley, and they’re willing to spend big bucks to make sure she beats Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis.
Wall Street has begun to open up its checkbook to the former UN Ambassador, labeling her the great Trump Stopper who would mop the floor with Joe Biden (or Kamala Harris) in 2024.
The New York Times writes:
Late last month, Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, got an unexpected call from Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase. Mr. Dimon said he was impressed by Ms. Haley’s knowledge of policy details and her open-minded approach to complex issues raised in the Republican presidential race, according to a person familiar with what they discussed. Keep it up, he told her.
He wasn’t the only business heavyweight to say so.
In recent weeks, a group of chief executives, hedge fund investors and corporate deal makers from both parties have begun gravitating toward Ms. Haley and, in some cases, digging deeper into their pockets to help her.
“I’m a long way from making my mind up — something could change — but I’m very impressed with her,” said Kenneth G. Langone, the billionaire Home Depot co-founder, who has donated to Ms. Haley’s campaign and is considering giving more. “I think she’s a viable candidate. I would certainly like her over Trump.”
Political operatives have begun to notice the calls she’s getting too. “Nikki Haley is certainly locking up a lot of the Never Trumpers,” Matthew Bartlett, a Republican operator who has worked on several presidential campaigns and is unaffiliated this cycle told Politico. “She also has real room to grow.”
The outlet also spoke to other Republicans in Iowa who see Haley as the best path forward. Doug Gross, a former Iowa GOP nominee for governor in 2002 and Republican operative, has decided to caucus for Haley. He reportedly searched for an alternative to Trump for several months before making his decision.
“Never Trumpers and ‘Anybody but Trumpers’ are really consolidating around her from a financial standpoint.”
“I was kind of vacillating between three or four different people,” said Carmine Boal, a former state lawmaker from Iowa who said she’s supporting Haley because she thinks she is the most likely candidate to topple Trump. “The only thing I knew was I would not support him in the caucuses. … I think [Haley] will do well with the independents, particularly suburban women. And everyone knows elections are won or lost by the independent vote.”
Although she has picked up momentum as of late, polling shows Haley to be trailing Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump in Iowa and many see Haley as playing more of a spoiler against DeSantis as a way to become Donald Trump’s vice president.
[Read More: Americans Growing Tired Of Ukraine Funding]
