Berlin, New Hampshire — Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley declined to say slavery as the reason for the Civil Battle throughout a marketing campaign occasion Wednesday night in Berlin, New Hampshire.
”What was the reason for the US Civil Battle?” a male attendee requested Haley throughout a city corridor.
The previous U.S. ambassador to the United Nations gave the impression to be shocked by the query and paused earlier than answering.
”Effectively, do not include a straightforward query,” Haley joked. ”I feel the reason for the Civil Battle was principally how authorities was going to run, the freedoms, and what individuals might and could not do. What do you assume the reason for the Civil Battle was?”
The questioner — who later recognized himself to reporters off digicam as ”Patrick” — instantly shot again at Haley, saying he isn’t the one working for president.
Haley tried to additional elaborate her response, however nonetheless with no point out of slavery.
”I feel it all the time comes right down to the position of presidency, and what the rights of the persons are,” Haley stated. ”And I’ll all the time stand by the truth that I feel authorities was supposed to safe the rights and freedoms of the individuals. It was by no means meant to be all issues to all individuals. Authorities would not have to let you know reside your life.”
When the voter adopted up with Haley on why she wasn’t mentioning slavery in her response, she requested, ”What would you like me to say about slavery?”
Haley’s alternate was met with some applause from the city corridor’s viewers. Nevertheless, the criticism was virtually quick, with many taking to social media to react, together with President Biden, who tweeted late Wednesday evening: ”It was about slavery.”
”This is not exhausting, condemning slavery is the baseline for anybody who needs to be President of the US, however Nikki Haley and the remainder of the MAGA GOP are choking on their phrases attempting to rewrite historical past,” stated Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic Nationwide Committee, in an announcement to CBS Information after the city corridor.
The confrontation comes amid Haley’s rising momentum in New Hampshire, with the newest polls displaying she has been gaining on former President Donald Trump, one thing no different Republican presidential candidate has been in a position to do within the Granite State. Earlier this month, she was endorsed by Republican New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.
All through her marketing campaign, Haley has championed South Carolina’s 2015 removing of the Accomplice flag on the State Home grounds underneath her tenure as governor. The removing got here within the wake of the 2015 mass capturing at Mom Emanuel AME church in Charleston by which a white supremacist killed 9 Black individuals.
As a part of her stump speech, Haley usually tells the story of the moments main as much as the flag’s removing.
”50% of South Carolinians noticed the Accomplice flag as heritage and custom, the opposite 50% of South Carolinians noticed it as slavery and hate,” Haley instructed voters throughout a city corridor in Spirit Lake, Iowa, earlier this month.
”My job wasn’t to evaluate both facet,” Haley stated. ”My job was to get them to see one of the best of themselves and go ahead.”
Haley usually pitches to voters that ”the tone on the high issues” in bringing the nation collectively throughout completely different and delicate points.
”We have been in a position to convey that Accomplice flag down,” she stated in Spirit Lake. ”We did not have riots, we had vigils. We did not have protests, we had hugs. And South Carolinians confirmed the world what power and style appear like. That is the way you do it.”