Rep. Ralph Norman, speaking out for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley after Sen. Tim Scott endorsed former President Donald Trump, said Saturday on Newsmax that she is optimistic about the upcoming New Hampshire primary.
"We would like to have all the endorsements, but that's not how it works," the South Carolina Republican said on Newsmax's "Saturday Agenda." "But endorsements will only take you so far after the headlines. After the announcements, the ball is back to the candidate."
Haley is the only candidate who has steadily risen in the polls since she announced her race for the White House last February, and she "will be fine" without the endorsement from Scott, also a South Carolina Republican, said Norman.
"She's as optimistic now as she always is. And she's ready for the fight, and she's ready to campaign as she has been doing."
Meanwhile, Norman rejected claims from Trump that Democrats will be voting in New Hampshire's primary for Haley, pointing out that only independents can choose to vote in either the Democrat or Republican ballot.
President Joe Biden is not on New Hampshire's primary ballot, he added, "so this is where the excitement is and they are trending her way."
Haley has also been criticized for refusing to debate in New Hampshire without Trump being on stage, and Norman said that's because the country needs to see the two of them side by side debating the issues.
Haley has debated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis three times already, said Norman.
"She's spending her time meeting the people, and Nikki connects," he added. "It's pretty obvious that DeSantis just does not connect with the electorate, but Nikki does. She should spend their time doing that. She's the hardest-working candidate that I've ever seen, and she'll continue that as she goes through the primaries."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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