A group of anti-Donald Trump voters, who previously backed Nikki Haley in the Republican primary, has now switched its support to the Democratic party’s presumptive US presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Following President Joe Biden’s exit from the presidential race, the political action committee (PAC), known as PIVOTPAC, changed its name from ‘Haley Voters for Biden’ to ‘Haley Voters for Harris’.
The PAC has encouraged Haley supporters to back Kamala Harris in the race for the White House.
We emphasize that we are proudly supported by @nikkihaley On Trump. We have no regrets. We wish him well.
It was always based on what was best for our country.
Although we respect his personal decision to support the Republican candidate, we still believe that @KamalaHarris It is better for the country.
— Haley Voters for Harris (@HaleyVte4Harris) July 24, 2024
This came after Nikki Haley sent a letter demanding the group stop using her name to support Harris. “Kamala Harris and I are completely opposite on every issue. Any attempt to use my name to support her or her agenda is misleading and false,” Haley firmly stated.
Haley, who is the Republican Party’s primary opponent, served as the US ambassador to the United Nations in Donald Trump’s first term as US president. She has now endorsed Trump for president and her lawyers argue that the use of her name by the group indicates that she supports Harris, which is false.
“I support Donald Trump because he understands that we have to make America strong, secure and prosperous,” Haley said, according to KTSM.
The group ‘Haley Voters for Harris’, which has about 7,000 followers, responded, saying “We will not be suppressed”. The PAC has raised about $400,000 from anti-Trump groups and claims they do not speak on behalf of Haley and will continue to support Harris, calling her “clearly the better choice” for the country.
We enthusiastically supported @nikkihaley He defeated former President Trump in the primaries.
It is our mandate to connect with like-minded voters and encourage them to vote @KamalaHarris – the clearly better option for the country – will not be suppressed.
The statement given below: pic.twitter.com/EhW8FAipiv
— Haley Voters for Harris (@HaleyVte4Harris) July 23, 2024
The Harris campaign welcomed the group’s endorsement, and a spokesperson said, “We are pleased to have the support of voters who share our vision for a better America.”
Craig Snyder, director of Harris Voters for Harris, defended the group’s name in an NPR interview, saying it was a “factual statement” about how many people plan to vote in November.
Meanwhile, Austin Weatherford, the Harris campaign’s national Republican engagement director, welcomed the “millions of Republicans” who rejected Trump’s extremism, and said they “have a home in the Harris campaign’s coalition”.
Mr. Weatherford said the campaign was focused on winning support from voters who prioritize democracy and national security.
