Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is likening President Biden and former President Donald Trump to the crotchety characters from the movie “Grumpy Old Men,” warning a sequel/rematch starring the two in November would amount to political box-office poison.
With the clock ticking on her chances of slowing Mr. Trump’s momentum, Ms. Haley has been sharpening her attacks against the GOP’s de facto leader.
She is warning he is “unhinged,” a narcissist, a liar, “just toxic” and spiraling mentally in a Bidenesque way. Not only that, she says Mr. Trump lacks moral clarity, cannot win a general election and will be a drag on down-ticket Republicans.
“The rematch no one wants,” Ms. Haley said Wednesday in a post that included headshots of Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump superimposed on a “Grumpy Old Men” movie poster.
“Both Trump and Biden will be octogenarians in the White House and are plagued by obvious signs of mental confusion and fatigue,” the campaign said in a separate news release. “Both Trump and Biden spent like drunken sailors, causing the record-breaking inflation that is crippling so many American families.
“Both Trump and Biden are consumed by investigations, chaos, and incompetence when America needs to move forward and get results,” the campaign said.
SEE ALSO: Haley: Voters should reject a ‘Grumpy Old Men’ sequel of Trump-Biden rematch
Ms. Haley has been a staple on the television talk show circuit this week and has been busy wooing voters and donors she needs to stay engaged ahead of the Feb. 24 primary in South Carolina where she aspires to trip up Mr. Trump.
The more aggressive message has popped up in interviews in which she has said it is a “fact” that Mr. Trump has declined mentally since 2016 and the nation and the world should be concerned. It is also part of her social media feed, where she has highlighted reports that Mr. Trump has spent $50 million on legal fees, and said Mr. Trump’s verbal miscues sound a whole lot like Mr. Biden.
“Here’s the truth: we’re going to have a woman president,” she said on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show. “It will either be me, or it will be Kamala Harris. Because Donald Trump can’t beat Joe Biden, and Joe Biden won’t finish his term.”
The Trump campaign counters that Ms. Haley is in a state of denial.
“The more Nikki Haley lobs ridiculous attacks against President Trump, the more voters despise her and see right through her desperation,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said. “The fact is that Haley knows she doesn’t have a cogent argument or even a coherent reason for why she should be president.”
Mr. Trump has the chance to put the proverbial nail in Ms. Haley’s coffin in South Carolina where he holds a massive lead in the polls and the support of most state’s Republican elected leaders.
SEE ALSO: Texas has the right to secede from U.S., Nikki Haley says: ‘That’s their decision to make’
Mr. Trump is coming off three straight victories in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, where he is poised to easily win the Feb. 8 caucuses that Ms. Haley has skipped.
Knowing time is running out to make a move, Ms. Haley and her allies have been more willing to criticize Mr. Trump.
SFA Fund, a pro-Haley Super PAC, is warning if Mr. Trump or Mr. Biden becomes president, the nation should prepare for news headlines that read: “LIFE ALERT: The President Has Fallen and Can’t Get Up!”
“A Joe Biden and Donald Trump presidency would be filled with chaos, drama and confusion as the world continues to burn around us,” SFA Fund spokesperson Preya Samsundar said. “Luckily, voters have a strong option in Nikki Haley, who can lead our country and bring us back from the brink of chaos.”
The group highlighted a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey that found close to 70% of respondents said they were “tired of seeing the same candidates in presidential elections and want someone new.”
They also touted a survey Monmouth University released last fall that found 76% of voters think Biden is too old to effectively serve another term. Mr. Trump fared better, with 48% saying he is too old.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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