Haley Claims Big Fundraising Haul After Trump Criticism

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) said last week that a statement by former President Donald Trump warning against donating to her campaign instead helped her. She made the comment ahead of the crucial South Carolina Republican presidential primary, where she currently trails in the polls.

Haley said that Trump had been “unhinged” following his victory in New Hampshire. She claimed that he “threw a total temper tantrum and was talking about revenge.”

“So, after he talked about revenge and had a little something to say about me,” she said. “That’s fine. We raised $1,000,000 online right after he did that.”

The former president said that anyone who donated to the former governor’s campaign would no longer be welcome in the MAGA movement. Haley’s campaign received about $4 million in donations following the New Hampshire primary.

Haley said that Trump’s attack allowed her to sell t-shirts that read “Barred Permanently.”

Haley stepped up her criticism of the former president while on the campaign trail. In recent weeks, the former governor questioned if Trump was mentally fit for the job after he seemed to confuse her with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

The South Carolina primary could prove the decisive one in the nominating process. Haley finished in a distant third place in the Iowa Caucus, coming behind both Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). She had a closer finish in the New Hampshire primary, but Trump still won a significant victory there.

Trump currently has a wide lead in all polls in the state.

Donald Trump leads Nikki Haley by 27% in first South Carolina poll since New Hampshire primary https://t.co/CQQEoOPVS6 pic.twitter.com/KDQvP86YrP

— New York Post (@nypost) January 26, 2024

The contest in South Carolina could also be especially important to Haley personally, as she served as the state’s governor from 2011 to 2019, elected on a Tea Party platform. However, Trump has significant support in the state, including both of its senators.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) endorsed the former president’s campaign early, while Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) endorsed Trump this month after running a brief campaign for president. Scott campaigned for the former president in New Hampshire prior to its primary.