Former Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley says she will vote for Trump

 

[1/2] U.S. President Donald Trump reaches out to outgoing U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House after the president accepted Haley's resignation in Washington, U.S., October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Former Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley announced on Wednesday her intention to vote for Donald Trump in the upcoming November election, despite having previously criticized him extensively during her campaign. This decision has sparked significant speculation about the voting preferences of Haley's supporters in the November 5 rematch between Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden.

Haley ended her bid for the Republican presidential nomination in March. Yet, her name remains on the ballot, and she continues to garner over 10% of the vote in state-run primary contests, even without active campaigning.

Many of those votes come from Republicans and independents dissatisfied with Trump, and some Democrats have started courting their support. Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations for two years during Trump's presidency, never seriously challenged him for the nomination. She won only one state and the District of Columbia before ending her campaign. However, her sharp criticisms of Trump's character and competence in the final months of her campaign have made Haley a leading figure for the dwindling anti-Trump wing of the Republican Party.

"Trump has not been perfect on these policies, and I've made that clear many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump," Haley stated during a question-and-answer session on Wednesday at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank. These remarks came after a speech on foreign policy, marking Haley's first public appearance since dropping out of the race.

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When Haley ended her campaign, she did not endorse Trump, and she still has not formally done so. She has previously urged Trump to reach out to her supporters and earn their votes—a sentiment she reiterated on Wednesday. 

"Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, rather than assuming they will automatically back him," Haley said.

Trump's campaign has generally dismissed these calls, arguing that Haley's supporters tend to vote for Democrats, despite many being registered Republicans.