Haley talks SC primary race, support during campaign event at Palmetto Brewing Co.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Presidential candidate and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley held a campaign event at Palmetto Brewing Company on Monday as she works to rally voters ahead of this month’s primary.

Haley answered questions on a wide range of topics including what she feels needs to happen to stay in the presidential race after South Carolina.

“We need to close that gap. We need to make sure we close that gap in a way that shows that we continue to be competitive. We did that in New Hampshire. We were 25 points behind, and we closed, we came in about 25 points in the last three weeks of the election. Our goal is to close that gap, to make sure we do that here,” said Haley.

Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlet Wilson announced her endorsement of Haley during a campaign event held Sunday evening on Daniel Island. Still, Haley said she is not surprised that a lot of South Carolina’s statewide elected officials are not endorsing her presidential run.

“The political elites have never been with me. If you remember, when I served as longest-serving legislator, when I ran as governor, the political elite were not with me. But I don’t expect them to be with me. I mean, think about it. These are the same people whom I made their votes on the record when they didn’t want to and hiding behind voice votes. These are the same people whom I made disclose their income so that taxpayers could see who paid them,” she said.

Haley talked about how she is ready to lead on the world stage. She told me President Trump knows she saved him in some things while she was the US Ambassador at the United Nations.

“First of all, going and doing the work on the Iran deal was important. Getting us out of Anera, the Palestinian organization and getting us to stop giving US tax dollars to an organization that later helped Hamas do what they did. Getting us out of the Paris climate agreement. Getting us out of the human rights council,” she named.

Haley talked about her appearance this weekend on Saturday Night Live. She said while it was fun, she also did it to make a serious point.

“There was a reason for that though, I mean I still am saying to Donald Trump, why aren’t you debating me? It’s time for you to debate,” she said during the event.

After leaving the Lowcountry, Haley headed to Aiken for a Monday afternoon rally. She is preparing for another rally, this time in Spartanburg, which will take place at 6 o’clock this evening.

All of this, of course in preparation for the important February 24th Republican primary election here in South Carolina.