A super PAC founded by the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch has endorsed Nikki Haley in the GOP presidential primary.
The Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP) network announced their intentions in a memo sent out to activists and leaders on Tuesday.
AFP describes the former United Nations ambassador as the only candidate who “can turn the page” and win the 2024 presidential election.
“AFP Action is proud to throw our full support behind Nikki Haley, who offers America the opportunity to turn the page on the current political era, to win the Republican primary and defeat Joe Biden next November,” they write.
“She has what it takes to lead a policy agenda to take on our nation’s biggest challenges and help ensure our country’s best days are ahead,” they add.
RELATED: Nikki Haley Getting A Second Look From Major GOP Donors As DeSantis Flounders
Koch Brothers Network Is Backing Haley
Not only does the Koch-backed AFP endorse Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary, but they also take a jab at former President Donald Trump, insinuating that he is the reason for some GOP candidates being defeated in previous elections.
“In sharp contrast to recent elections that were dominated by the negative baggage of Donald Trump … Nikki Haley … would boost candidates up and down the ballot, winning the key independent and moderate voters that Trump has no chance to win,” the memo reads.
The group accuses Trump and Joe Biden of perpetuating a “toxic culture” that will only spread if they engage in a rematch in 2024.
That being said, the benefit could be in launching Haley into the number two slot in the race for the GOP presidential nomination, and giving her a leg up on the Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
“I’m not going to say that Haley has a real chance of beating Trump for the GOP nom, but if she emerges as the strongest #2 out of the primary–over DeSantis or Vivek–that would be a positive development amid a lot of GOP gloom,” writes Amanda Carpenter, editor of Protect Democracy.
RELATED: Nikki Haley Takes on Trump in 2024, Claims She’s ‘Not Going to Lose’
Major Anti-Trump GOP Donors Flock To Haley
News of the Koch-backed network getting behind Haley comes just two months after The Political Insider reported that major GOP donors were souring on DeSantis and putting their money behind the former South Carolina governor.
Five significant Republican donors were looking at Haley as a viable hope to displace Trump as the nominee, and they were spurred on by DeSantis’ less than inspiring campaign thus far.
The question becomes why are GOP donors so determined to go against Republican voters? Trump is overwhelmingly backed by the people, why do their donations not reflect that?
If you think Trump is not capable of beating Biden, that’s one thing. However, Trump leads President Biden in a significant number of swing states, and he’s clearly the man voters believe is the best option, likely coasting to victory in the primaries.
AFP’s memo states that their “internal polling consistently shows that Nikki Haley is by far the strongest candidate Republicans could put up against Joe Biden in a general election.”
There is some truth to that. Fox News polling shows Haley with a significant lead of 11 points in a one-on-one matchup with Biden. Trump holds a 4-point lead in that poll.
“Nikki Haley is by far the strongest candidate Republicans could put up against Joe Biden in a general election,” AFP told their organizers.
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