Haley Campaign Press Release - Pro-Haley Super PAC Highlights Tough China Stance: 'Strength in a World of Chaos'

Washington Examiner by Julia Johnson

The super PAC backing former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley for president in 2024 released an ad touting her leadership on the world stage as several global crises play out.

The Stand for America Fund will run the ad "Strength" on television in a bid to show Republican primary voters that Haley is a strong leader, which is necessary during times of global turmoil.

In the ad, SFA Fund called Haley "the conservative China fears most."

"Nikki Haley, strength in a world of chaos," it continued.

The video also included footage from a Fox Business interview with Stuart Varney, during which he notes Haley is "the only Republican candidate who claims a China plan."

Haley announced her aggressive policy proposal to address China in June, when some candidates had just announced their bids. During the rollout, Haley said she planned to stop normal trade relations with the country until it stops its role in the flow of fentanyl over the U.S. southern border.

Her tough stance on China even earned her criticism from the country. "Pushing American companies to leave China runs counter to economic laws and will ultimately harm everyone's interests," Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu told Reuters.

"Only those who draw attention by smearing and blame-shifting in the election campaign will end up on the ash heap of history," he said.

SFA Fund spokeswoman Brittany Yanick said in a statement Wednesday, "We know that the United States will be safer, stronger, and more secure when Ambassador Nikki Haley is elected president next November. She's the only one who will stand up to Communist China and ensure our engagement abroad makes us stronger at home."

The ad's release comes as Haley stands out from her Republican primary competitors as the only one to show a promising upward polling trend. The former South Carolina governor has risen in national measures and surpassed long-reigning second-place candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire. She also tied DeSantis in a new Iowa caucus poll and showed continued growth as second place candidate in her home state of South Carolina.

Despite Haley's demonstrated momentum, former President Donald Trump remains the Republican favorite, with a double-digit lead over her and the support of more than half of respondents in several surveys.