According to a source cited by The Washington Post, Nikki Haley plans to announce her candidacy for president in the weeks ahead. The former governor of South Carolina might publicly announce the announcement with a video in the days to come.
She might decide to make a different announcement because the specifics of the potential video are still being worked out, the source said. Charleston, South Carolina, is anticipated to host any event that kicks off a campaign.
Haley would be the first Republican to enter the 2024 presidential race this year, with only former President Donald Trump, who announced his campaign last year, as her immediate opponent.
Earlier this year, she provided her clearest hint yet that she intends to run for the Republican presidential nomination.
"When you're looking at a run for president, you look at two things: You first look at, does the current situation push for new leadership? The second question is, am I that person that could be that new leader?" she told Fox News.
"Yes, we need to go in a new direction," Haley said. "And can I be that leader? Yes, I think I can be that leader."
According to the source, Haley's decision to get into the race contrasts with the more cautious approach taken by the majority of other potential candidates, who have determined there is no need to rush their preparations.
There is caution about becoming an early target of former president Trump, according to advisers to these Republicans, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal private conversations.
The Post said some of the advisers expressed the wish that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has made preliminary movements toward a run, gets early scrutiny due to his high national polling, which might be to their benefit.
They also stated that there is a general consensus among their contacts that there is enough time to learn more about how the contest will unfold while still attracting funders, getting on ballots, and building campaign infrastructure.
Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Trump's presidency, also called Trump lately to tell him she was thinking about running, the former president told reporters over the weekend.
"She called me and said she'd like to consider it, and I said, 'You should do it,'" Trump said.
