[ad_1]
Squelching hypothesis of a third-party presidential run, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Sunday endorsed Nikki Haley for the GOP nomination, saying he feels she “is the strongest chance” for Republicans to win in November.
Hogan informed CNN’s “State of the Union” he thinks “it’s pretty clear” that former President Donald Trump will win Monday’s Iowa caucuses,” but that Haley “has the entire momentum” to make her a strong nominee.
Hogan, one of his party’s fiercest Trump critics, had fueled speculation that he was preparing for his own third-party bid when he stepped down from the leadership of No Labels. A resignation letter dated Dec. 15 offered no criticism of the group, and Hogan declined to comment after the letter was obtained earlier this month by The Associated Press.
On Sunday, Hogan said he hadn’t meant to stoke rumors that he was planning his own run when he left the group, saying that he was focused on GOP efforts “to appoint the strongest attainable Republican we are able to.”
“It form of created a complete lot of hypothesis,” Hogan said. “I didn’t imply to try this. My place on No Labels has not modified.”
No Labels is seeking ballot access across the country as it lays the groundwork for a possible presidential ticket. The plans have spooked many Democrats and other Trump critics who fear it would siphon votes that would otherwise go to Democratic President Joe Biden and facilitate Trump’s return to the White House.
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, seen here speaking at an annual meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition on Nov. 18, 2022, has endorsed Nikki Haley for the 2024 GOP nomination. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have been locked in a tight battle for second place in Iowa, which holds its leadoff GOP caucus vote on Monday night. The final pre-caucus Des Moines Register/NBC News poll found Trump maintaining a formidable lead in the state, supported by nearly half of likely caucus-goers compared with 20% for Haley and 16% for DeSantis.
Hogan suggested a strong second-place finish for Haley would give her momentum heading into next week’s primary in New Hampshire, where he said “it is attainable she may win, which might put her in a lot better place when she strikes into her dwelling state of South Carolina.’’
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Some had beforehand hoped that Hogan would search the GOP nomination this 12 months himself. But in March, Hogan wrote in an op-ed that he would not run as a result of he cares “more about ensuring a future for the Republican Party than securing my own future in the Republican Party.”
Some Republicans had hoped that Hogan, rising as the brand new greatest hope of a small group of “Never Trump Republicans,” would additionally problem Trump in 2020. But a 12 months after Hogan’s reelection in 2018, he mentioned that whereas he appreciated “all of the encouragement” he had obtained to run for president, he wouldn’t. Hogan informed AP he had no real interest in a “kamikaze mission.”
In the previous two presidential elections, Hogan mentioned he didn’t vote for Trump, the social gathering nominee. Hogan mentioned he wrote within the identify of his father, former U.S. Rep. Larry Hogan Sr., in 2016 and the late President Ronald Reagan in 2020.
[ad_2]
Source hyperlink