Cheney says Haley should stay in the GOP Primary until Super Tuesday

Former Rep. Liz Cheney urged Nikki Haley to stay in the Republican primary through Super Tuesday on an episode of “Pod Save America', which will be released on Friday. Ms. Cheney, an outspoken critic of former President Donald J. Trump, called his candidacy an “existential threat” to the nation and praised Ms. Haley for running against him despite her long odds.

“We have to make sure we challenge him and work to beat him every step of the way. And right now, Nikki Haley is in this fight, and I think she should stay in it,” Ms. Cheney said, according to a transcript of the interview shared with The New York Times.

Ms. Cheney has not endorsed a presidential candidate and has herself teased the possibility of a third party. She didn't rule that out on the podcast, telling Jon Favreau, the podcast's host and a former speechwriter in the Obama administration, that she “definitely” thinks a third-party candidate, she or someone else, will be on the ballot. come. race before November.

“I guess we'll see what happens,” she said. “You know, my first priority is to beat him and I think that will be the guideline for what I ultimately decide to do.”

She dismissed the idea that Trump had all but clinched his party's nomination and criticized Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, for Urging Republicans to consolidate support behind Trump after his victory in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday.

“For the RNC chairman to claim the primaries are over when they are not over is inappropriate, to say the least,” Ms. Cheney said.

Ms. Cheney has long been critical of fellow Republicans who defer to Mr. Trump, and in the interview she singled out Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who endorsed Mr. Trump at a rally in New Hampshire last week, months after his own party had suspended. primary bid. The endorsement led to more speculation that Trump might consider Mr. Scott as his running mate. On Tuesday, Ms. Cheney called another potential vice presidential candidate, Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, a “crazy.”

“You have members who used to be responsible, thoughtful and honorable. And now for some reason they feel like they can throw all of that out the window in the name of loyalty to Trump,” she said.

Another subject of Ms. Cheney's ire on the podcast was Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate minority leader. She called him “disgusting” for signaling he would withdraw from a deal with Democrats on immigration legislation after Trump called on lawmakers to oppose it.

“History, in my opinion, will judge them as harshly as Trump, because he can't do what he does without them,” Ms. Cheney said.