'Quit Whining': Nikki Haley criticises Trump’s focus on Kamala Harris, urges campaign to address key voter concerns

Nikki Haley's advises Trump Campaign (File)

Nikki Haley, former GOP presidential candidate, delivered a sharp critique of Donald Trump and fellow Republicans for their complaints about Kamala Harris potentially succeeding Joe Biden. As Harris gained an edge in the polls, Haley urged Republicans to stop "whining" and focus on creating a campaign strategy that addresses the concerns of the American people.

Haley criticised Trump and Republicans for fixating on Harris, arguing that her stance on issues like allowing illegal immigrants to vote is clear. She emphasized that instead of complaining, the GOP should focus on winning over key voter demographics by addressing substantive issues, not trivial ones like crowd sizes or Harris’s race.

In a Fox News interview, Nikki Haley criticised Kamala Harris, stating there's no need for further interviews with her because her positions are already clear. “I take her at her word that she wants to raise taxes for households over $100,000, that she wants to add a pharmaceutical tax and a healthcare tax," Haley said. “I take her at her word that she thinks that illegal immigrants should be able to vote and be given driver’s licenses. I take her at her word that she wants to ban fracking and kill a bunch of US jobs. Take her at her word.” She added, “You don’t need an interview from Kamala Harris. I take her at her word.”

Nikki Haley expressed her desire for Trump’s campaign to succeed but warned that it won't happen if the focus remains on "whining" about Kamala Harris—her crowd size or her race. “I think the campaign needs to focus. That’s the main thing. Look, this is a winnable election, but you need to focus. Who is your target market? Your target market is suburban women, college-educated, independents and conservative Democrats. That’s your target market.”

Republicans shouldn’t be surprised we’re running against Kamala Harris. It’s time to stop complaining and start calling out her liberal agenda.

We don’t need an interview from her. We need to take her at her word.

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She’s said she wants to raise taxes. She’s said she thinks… pic.twitter.com/Gi1YuklSbe

— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) August 14, 2024

She continued, “But the campaign is not going to win talking about crowd sizes. It’s not going to win talking about what race Kamala Harris is. It’s not going to win talking about whether she is dumb. You can’t win on those things. The American people are smart. Treat them like they are smart.”

In recent days, Trump’s campaign has centred on issues like media coverage of Kamala Harris's rally crowds, her lack of interviews, and claims of her copying him. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy echoed Haley's sentiments, advising Trump to move away from discussing crowd sizes and instead question Harris’s record, particularly her actions as California's attorney general and her management of border issues.

“Stop questioning the size of her crowds and start questioning her position when it comes to... What did she do as [California] attorney general on crime?” McCarthy said. “What did she do when she was supposed to take care of the border as a czar?”