Nikki Haley dismisses third-party run rumors ahead of Super Tuesday primaries

Leading up to Super Tuesday, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is the subject of increasing conjecture regarding a potential third-party presidential bid.

Despite a recent GOP primary triumph in Washington, D.C., however, Ms. Haley faces challenges in securing delegates. And she insists that she isn’t interested in running as an independent.

The bipartisan organization No Labels has publicly expressed interest in Ms. Haley as a possible candidate to lead its ticket. The group, which has been actively seeking a contender, mentioned that it would consider supporting an independent run by Ms. Haley. 

Ms. Haley, however, firmly aligned herself with the Republican Party, quashing the rumors about affiliating with No Labels. Following her Washington victory, she reiterated her commitment to the party, dismissing speculation that she might chart an independent course.

Veteran Republican strategist Tucker Martin commented on Ms. Haley’s predicament, “My heart wishes it was possible but my brain doesn’t think it can be done. Gov. Haley, she is the embodiment of the conundrum of the modern Republican Party, which is she is exactly who Republicans should be running.”

Polls have indicated that Ms. Haley could outperform President Biden in a theoretical head-to-head matchup in November. The polls also reflect a general dissatisfaction among voters regarding another election featuring former President Donald Trump and Mr. Biden, noting concerns over their age.

Last week, Ms. Haley addressed the third-party speculation by emphasizing her Republican identity and rejecting the unity ticket proposition from No Labels that would require a Democratic running mate.

“If I were to do No Labels, that would require a Democrat. I can’t do what I wanted to express with the Democrats,” she told reporters. 

Ms. Haley clarified her stance, “I’ve always believed if you do something, do it right or don’t do it at all. And so I don’t think I can do it right. If I ran for No Labels, that would mean it’s about me. It’s not about me. It’s about the direction I think the country should go.”