Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has quashed speculation about a potential third-party bid by endorsing Nikki Haley for the 2024 presidential race.
Hogan declared that 'it's time' for Republicans to unite behind Haley, the former United Nations ambassador. This announcement follows Hogan's recent departure from the board of No Labels, a third-party group aiming to launch a bipartisan ticket in 2024. His exit had sparked rumors about a possible independent run, but his endorsement of Haley indicates a different strategy for the upcoming election cycle.
Haley's popularity has been on the rise in recent polls, particularly in the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses on Monday and New Hampshire's primary election on January 23. Previously in a solid third place, Haley is now vying with DeSantis for second place, trailing behind former President Donald Trump.
Hogan's primary objective has been to bolster the Republican Party's chances of fielding a candidate capable of defeating Trump. His association with No Labels last year had fueled speculation about a potential unity ticket with a Democrat. However, Hogan clarified his stance on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, stating, 'I have been saying since last spring when I made the decision not to run that I really did not want to see a multi-car pile-up that would just enable Donald Trump.'
Hogan believes Haley stands the best chance of winning in 2024. 'I think we want to have the strongest possible nominee in November,' Hogan told Jake Tapper in an interview. 'Polls show that is Nikki Haley that she's 17 points ahead of Joe Biden, and it's a toss-up with Trump and Biden and DeSantis is losing.'
Hogan further emphasized his support for Haley, stating, 'So, yes, I think it's time for the party to get behind Nikki Haley. My friend Chris Christie dropped out of the race in New Hampshire. I appreciate his effort. But I believe that Nikki Haley is the strongest chance for us to put forth our best possible candidate for November.'
However, the latest polling for Iowa's caucus does not bode well for either DeSantis or Haley. The final pre-caucus poll from NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom, released on Saturday night, shows Trump firmly in the lead with 48 percent support. Haley, despite her rise to second place with 20 percent, does not appear poised for a victory on Monday. DeSantis, on the other hand, has slipped to third place with 16 percent, a gap with Haley that is just outside the 3.7 percent margin of error.
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