(NewsNation) — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee didn’t mince words Sunday when he was asked on NewsNation’s “Morning in America” about Nikki Haley’s chances in the South Carolina GOP primary.
“If the polls are even close to being right, Donald Trump is going to annihilate Nikki Haley in her home state. That’s that’s a tough thing to have,” Huckabee said.
Huckabee said Haley is “battling hard,” but believes losing her home state would make it difficult to get donors on board. “It’s tough to make the voters, and frankly the media, believe that you’re still in the race.”
Trump is up 26 points on Haley in some South Carolina polls. Huckabee said that while some in the Republican Party would prefer the former president lay off on attacking Haley, they know that’s not his style.
“I think all of us who like Donald Trump would love for him just to ignore Nikki Haley and stick straight to the message for the general election,” said Huckabee. “But you know, he’s going to always go after those who are opposing him.”
Trump has already coasted to victories in the GOP’s Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire primary and Nevada caucuses. In Nevada, Haley opted to run in the state-run presidential primary, where she finished behind the “none of these candidates” option.
Haley has pushed Trump to debate her as she seeks to change the trajectory of the race. She again challenged him at a campaign stop Saturday night.
“Donald, if you have something to say, don’t say it behind my back. Get on a debate stage and say it to my face,” she told a crowd.