Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley drew cheers in San Antonio Friday for promising better health care for veterans and a generational shift for the GOP if she’s elected in November.
So far Haley hasn’t broken through with Republicans in states with early nominating contests. In Nevada’s recent primary, about twice as many ballots were cast for “none of these candidates” as were cast for the former South Carolina governor — an embarrassment former President Donald Trump’s supporters advertised on a sign outside Friday’s event at Historic Market Square.
Inside, however, the crowd seemed to appreciate Haley’s roughly 30-minute speech, which catered largely to San Antonio’s military community.
The audience laughed when she said the “closest [Trump’s] ever come to being in harm’s way is by a golf ball if he’s sitting on a golf cart” and booed when she brought up the former president’s recent comments suggesting Russia should invade countries that aren’t giving enough money to NATO. Trump’s own advisors have since sought to walk that suggestion back.
“He has no business saying anything negative about our men and women in uniform,” said Haley, whose husband is on a year-long military deployment and has been the subject of barbs from Trump in recent weeks.
Friday’s event was part of a campaign swing through Texas before early voting begins Tuesday for the March 5 primary. Haley has made the state a priority in part because of its open primary structure, which allows voters to cast a ballot in either the Republican or Democratic primary, in hopes of drawing support from independent voters or Democrats.
Campaigning in blue territory
The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations put on an event that skipped over many of the culture war issues dominating state and local races.
“My husband trained at one of the military bases here in San Antonio,” she said. “You’ve got a great River Walk, we had a great time there as well.”
She was introduced by former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, a popular GOP moderate who represented Bexar County’s House District 121 before giving up his seat. He talked up her toughness for taking on Trump.
“Over these past few months, Nikki has seen more bull than at the Stock Show, but she’s still standing strong,” Straus said.
Haley, who is 52, drew cheers for suggesting Republicans to shift their attention to a younger audience and saying she was inspired to run by the challenges facing young and middle-aged Americans.
“The average homebuyer in America now is 49 years old,” Haley said. “The American dream is leaving them.”
And faced with a choice between Trump, who is 77, and President Joe Biden, who is 81, Haley said: “The polls are clear — Americans want a new perspective.”
Biden carried Bexar County with 58% of the vote in 2020, while Trump won Texas with 52% of the vote.
Haley said Friday that Republicans should be worried about having lost the last seven out of eight popular votes for president.
“The only way we win the majority of Americans is if we have a new generational conservative leader that leaves the negativity behind and focuses on the solutions of the future,” Haley said.
That approach appealed to attendee Rhonda Ruiz, who said in an interview after the event, “We need change, and it’s about time we got a woman in the White House.”
As Ruiz spoke, Haley was posing for photos while Sheryl Crow’s “Woman in the White House” played from the speakers.
Haley isn’t expected to fare better in Texas than she has in other states, but vowed to stay in the race in hopes Trump is hobbled by his legal troubles.
“He’s going to be in court in March and April, and he’s going to be in court in May and June,” she said. Meanwhile, “we’re going to be on the campaign trail.”
Border issues
Haley said she agreed with Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to bus migrants to other cities, but steered clear of his more controversial immigration and border security policies, like using razor wire to deter people from crossing the Rio Grande and making crossing the border illegally a state crime.
“I totally agree with Governor Abbott sending these illegal immigrants to the sanctuary cities. Everybody needs to know what Eagle Pass is going through. Everybody needs to feel what Texans are feeling,” Haley said.
She said her own priorities include reinstating Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, which makes asylum seekers await their case on the other side of the U.S. border with Mexico.
“That’s how you take care of what’s happening on the border,” she said.
Haley also said she wants to “defund sanctuary cities once and for all” but did not offer details.
Last year San Antonio had to pay $300,000 to settle a pair of state lawsuits alleging the city violated the “sanctuary city” ban, which compelled local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
