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An official with Mr. Trump’s marketing campaign in South Carolina, who spoke on the situation of anonymity, denied arm-twisting was concerned, saying legislators had been merely inspired to trip a political wave for Mr. Trump.
On Wednesday evening, as Ms. Haley spoke to a boisterous crowd in North Charleston, the Trump marketing campaign blasted out its latest checklist of endorsements in South Carolina, 158 names in all, together with each senators, 5 out of six Republican Home members, the governor, lieutenant governor, legal professional basic, treasurer and lots of state lawmakers.
For some, placing their title on the checklist was doubtless pure politics, not animus towards Ms. Haley. Josh Whitley, a county commissioner within the Charleston suburbs and an ally of Ms. Mace, mentioned the congresswoman’s endorsement of Mr. Trump was pragmatic. Mr. Trump goes to be the eventual nominee, he mentioned. The previous speaker of the Home, Kevin McCarthy, is scouring her district, searching for a conservative to problem her within the primaries as payback for her position in deposing him. She couldn’t afford to have Mr. Trump working in opposition to her as effectively.
Ms. Mace wouldn’t affirm that motive. She merely mentioned, “South Carolina likes Nikki Haley, however they love Donald Trump.”
Different missed or tardy endorsements from her former allies stand out.
Mark H. Smith, a Berkeley County state consultant and Charleston funeral residence govt, served on Ms. Haley’s “grass roots steering committee” for her re-election bid in 2014. He went to highschool and the junior promenade with Ms. Haley. He has spoken fondly of their youth collectively, driving bikes across the small city the place she grew up, Bamberg, S.C.
He is without doubt one of the 158 names on Mr. Trump’s endorsement checklist.
Jazmine Ulloa contributed reporting. Kitty Bennett and Susan C. Beachy contributed analysis.
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