NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (CN) — Nikki Haley told supporters Wednesday in her home state of South Carolina her campaign had raised $1 million since losing the Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire.
Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., remained defiant at her first campaign rally since the defeat. She accused rival Donald Trump of throwing a “temper tantrum” after winning Tuesday’s primary, a reference to the former president’s scathing victory speech.
“I know that is what he does when he’s insecure — when he feels threatened,” Haley said. “And he should feel threatened.”
Haley projected confidence despite bruising losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, where Trump cemented his frontrunner status with dominant wins.
Haley secured 43% of the vote in Tuesday’s primary in New Hampshire, trailing the former president by 11 points in a contest seen as her best chance for an upset in the race. With the South Carolina primary only a month away, polls predicted Trump beating his remaining opponent by more than 35 points.
Republican leaders lined up to support Trump Wednesday as he called for Haley to quit the race. Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said on Fox News the party needed to “unite around our eventual nominee, which is going to be Donald Trump.”
Two of Trump’s former rivals, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, joined him on stage during his victory speech. Trump told Scott, who endorsed the former president even though Haley appointed him to the Senate, that he must hate Haley, which was “a shame.”
“I just love you,” Scott responded.
Haley responded to calls for her to quit by pointing out 48 states still have not chosen their nominee.
“We are not gonna sit there and give up. We’re gonna fight, because Americans deserve better than what they have in their two options,” she said, referring to Trump and President Joe Biden.
Haley’s campaign unveiled new television spots in the Palmetto State on Tuesday as part of a multimillion-dollar ad blitz planned for the next two weeks.
“Her story started right here,” one ad states. “America’s youngest governor — a conservative Republican.”
U.S. Representative Ralph Norman introduced Haley at Wednesday’s event. He pointed to Haley’s long-shot campaign in 2004, when the political novice upset a long-time incumbent to secure a House seat, as evidence of her resiliency.
“One thing about Nikki Haley — she doesn’t quit,” Norman said.
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