Nikki Haley bags endorsement from billionaire Charles Koch
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The news: 2024 Republican presidential nominee Nikki Haley has been endorsed by a US super political action committee backed by Republican donor billionaire Charles Koch.
The numbers: The Super PAC, Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP), currently has just under USD75m cash on hand, an amount that could prove to be pivotal for Haley’s campaign which has been questioned over its lack of financial firepower.
An Iowa Poll in October month showed Haley and her key competitor, Florida governor Ron DeSantis neck-and-neck in the race with 16%. The former UN ambassador’s campaign has been gaining momentum in the polls following her strong debate performances as the Republican primary race gathers steam. Trump remains leagues ahead at 43%.
The context: AFP did not support Trump’s 2016 campaign, citing conflicts on issues relating to government spending, free trade and immigration.
Haley has recently been courting Wall Street donors for financial endorsement, with Citadel’s Ken Griffin stating he is considering backing her bid. Home Depot founder Ken Langone shared similar views to Griffin, while former Trump adviser Gary Cohn and UBS banker Mike Santini hosted a fundraiser for Haley at Cohn’s Manhattan apartment.
What they said: The WSJ reports that while the AFP did not divulge how much it plans to spend on advertising for the Haley campaign, it will deploy its many grassroots volunteers for door knocking efforts. "We are confident that we are going to have the resources we need,” said an AFP spokesperson.
The sources: Reuters, Wall Street Journal
