Haley Said to Be Announcing Presidential Bid Feb. 15

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Former South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Haley will formally announce the start of her 2024 campaign for president in Charleston on Feb. 15.

Schuyler Kropf, political editor of Charleston’s Post & Courier newspaper broke the story this morning.

Haley has been prepping a possible run for the White House almost since the day her former boss, President Donald Trump, left office in January 2021.

Haley, who had served as Trump’s U.N. ambassador, previously said she would not run if Trump himself launched a campaign for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, but since he announced his intention to do so last fall, she’s actually ratcheted up her national profile, doing a series of television interviews.

She’s also been on Twitter, commenting on foreign affairs and other matters.

Earlier this week, between tweets on Israel and China, she tweeted, “It’s time for a new generation to lead.”

And that was an echo of an earlier tweet, from Jan. 20 and now pinned to the top of her feed, that said, “It’s time for a new generation. It’s time for new leadership. And it’s time to take our country back. America is worth the fight — and we’re just getting started.”

According to Kropf, who has covered South Carolina politics for 35 years, Haley is about to send out an invitation to backers, inviting them to a “special announcement” on Feb. 15.

The announcement will be made at The Shed at the Charleston Visitor Center, a large brick gathering spot on Meeting Street, very near the heart of the city’s historic tourism district.

Kropf said he confirmed the nature of Haley’s announcement with a member of her inner circle.

The 51-year-old presumptive candidate moved back to South Carolina following her stint at the United Nations and now lives with her family on Kiawah Island.

The first Indian-American to hold public office in South Carolina, Haley has never lost a campaign that she’s entered. She won three terms in the South Carolina Legislature before winning election and reelection as the state’s governor.

Among the other Republicans said to be considering a run for the White House in 2024 are former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.

Dan can be reached at dan@thewellnews.com and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue