The race is (almost) on: Republican Nikki Haley on Wednesday promised a "special announcement" to her supporters, foreshadowing a candidacy for the US presidential election on February 15.
"My family and I have a special announcement to make to you," said the 50-year-old in a tweet, inviting her activists to meet on this date in the state of South Carolina, of which she was governor.
If these ambitions are confirmed, the former UN ambassador will become the first notable candidate to challenge Donald Trump, who is currently not enjoying the campaign momentum he was hoping for.
Donald Trump posted a video on his social network as a reaction, in which Nikki Haley says she will not run if the Republican billionaire is a candidate. "Nikki must follow what her heart tells her, not her honor," he said on Truth Social, not without a certain irony.
In 2017, the former president named this policy to be his spokesperson at the United Nations.
After going it alone for two and a half months, Donald Trump is gradually seeing the ranks of his Republican rivals grow.
Donald Trump's former vice-president, Mike Pence, his ex-head of diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, the governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin... many Republicans are considering a possible candidacy.
Timing coincidence? Hours after Nikki Haley's announcement, Sen. Tim Scott - also from South Carolina - announced several trips to key states for the 2024 campaign.
The battle for the Republican nomination promises to be bitter.
The spotlight is also on Ron DeSantis -- Governor of Florida and rising star of the party, but he's not officially in the running either.
Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, or another... The candidate chosen by the Republican camp after the primaries will face in November 2024 the one nominated by the Democratic Party.
President Joe Biden says so far he "intends to run again", and has promised to make his decision public early this year.
Gradually, the architecture of his possible candidacy is also beginning to take shape.
After a reception on Tuesday in New York, the octogenarian leader will be in Philadelphia on Friday, meeting wealthy supporters to fill his party's coffers.
Political experts are predicting a possible announcement after his State of the Union address, a traditional policy speech by presidents given to parliamentarians -- and scheduled for February 7.
No Democrat has yet come forward to challenge him.
01/02/2023 23:15:45 - Washington (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
