Haley Campaign Press Release - Nikki Haley's New Campaign Ad Recounts Fights With South Carolina 'Establishment' as Governor: 'Aren't Ready For Me'

New York Post by Diana Glebova

Whose establishment is this, anyway?

Nikki Haley's campaign launched a digital ad Thursday touting her record of taking on the "political elite" in South Carolina during her six years as governor, The Post has learned.

The spot features the 52-year-old's remarks at her primary night watch party in New Hampshire and argues the endorsement of Donald Trump by dozens of current and former elected officials in Haley's home state are an effect of her being an outsider.

"Every time I've run for office in South Carolina, I've beaten the political establishment. They're lined up against me again," Haley says in the ad.

"I don't want the political elite, that's not what I'm looking for. And they, honestly, aren't ready for me. Why? Because I keep saying we need to have term limits in Washington."

Trump has won the backing of more than 150 prominent South Carolina pols, including Gov. Henry McMaster, Lieutenant Gov. Pamela Evette, state Attorney General Alan Wilson and state House Speaker Murrell Smith, as well as Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham and Reps. Nancy Mace and Jeff Duncan.

Haley's camp has argued Trump's long list of endorsements is due to her insistence on holding elected officials accountable by doing away with voice votes and other governmental reforms.

"Nikki Haley is the anti-establishment candidate who will take on the political elites just like she did in South Carolina," said spokesperson AnnMarie Graham-Barnes. "From enacting term limits to calling for mental competency tests, Nikki is determined to clean house in Washington. This race is far from over and the American people have a real choice between a Trump-Biden rematch and Nikki's record of conservative results."

The "insider or outsider" argument will only intensify ahead of South Carolina's Feb. 24 primary after Haley fomented some animosity with other state elected officials during her governorship.