Scott endorsement of Trump no worry for Haley voters

CONCORD, New Hampshire – South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott will not endorse Nikki Haley, who first appointed him to the U.S. Senate.

Scott is supporting instead Haley’s GOP rival, former President Donald Trump.

“We need a president who unites their country,” said Scott, who endorsed Trump Friday during a rally in New Hampshire’s state capital. “We need a president who will stop crime and recklessness in the streets.”

At her events Friday, Haley ignored Scott’s endorsement of Trump. During an interview with Fox News on Friday, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who has endorsed Haley, said “nobody cares about Tim Scott” when asked whether it would affect the Haley campaign.

“There is momentum out there,” Sununu said during the rally Friday night. “We are tired of losing. We are going to galvanize this party and bring the country together.”

The rally brought out one of the largest crowds of Haley’s New Hampshire stops. Three to four times throughout the night, members of the crowd were on their feet applauding her speech, including when she talked about expanding health care for veterans, and her plans for strengthening the military and expanding mental health services for veterans when they return from deployment.

For several voters attending the rally, this was their first event. Some of the new Haley supporters are still weighing their options and want to see other candidates.

“I was following Tim Scott myself before he dropped out,” said Rick Walter, a 54-year-old registered Republican from Chichester. “I don’t think [the endorsement is] a concern. He might just feel Trump is more bold. I haven’t heard a lot of negative stuff and I follow Gov. Sununu a lot, so he’s endorsing [her] for a reason.”

Other voters were aware of the Scott endorsement but don’t see any concerns.

“I’m disappointed [with the endorsement],” said David Kovatch, a volunteer from the Haley campaign who lives in Kentucky. “I’ve followed the governor for over a decade. I tend not to worry about what the other guys are doing. I’m here because of what I think Nikki brings to the table. Let her show what she can do. If things move forward, we will be in fantastic shape.”

Some voters are still waiting to see who former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will endorse, if anyone. Christie was overheard before his speech dropping out of the GOP primary saying that Haley would get “smoked” against Trump.

Asked during a NewsNation interview on Friday whether she wants Christie’s endorsement, Haley said no.