By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
One of nine rallies planned by Nikki Haley in the days leading up to Super Tuesday, the Needham rally began at the Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel on Friday night, with the crowd filtering in, holding lawn signs aloft, proudly wearing campaign t-shirts, and dancing to a lively playlist.
Retired Brigadier General Don Bolduc opened the festivities with an impassioned speech about veterans’ sacrifices and needs and his support for Nikki Haley in the Republican primary. Bolduc was followed by New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who sprinkled some regional humor and sharp political commentary into his introduction of Nikki Haley. Sununu urged people to resist the Republican political establishment’s push to declare Donald Trump as their nominee and to “let the voters decide.” He emphasized that the primary is not “wrapped up” and that “anything can happen” if people get out and vote. With that, he introduced the woman of the hour, Nikki Haley, who walked onto the stage to the tune of “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” by Joan Jett.
Haley smiled and waved to her supporters. After thanking Bolduc and Sununu, Nikki proceeded to share her view of the primary election and what America needs. An engaging and energetic speaker, Haley used pointed gestures and humor to get her points across.
Haley started out by saying that 14 Republicans started out in the primary, she defeated 12 of them, and she “just had one more” to go. She then posited why she felt the country was a mess and needed saving. “We are $34 trillion in debt, paying more in interest than we are spending on defense,” the middle class is shrinking, and an ineffective Congress can’t manage to pass a budget on time. She said that America needs an accountant, such as her, in the White House, who will “call in unspent COVID dollars, stop unnecessary spending, eliminate earmarks,” and transfer federal programs, such as education, health, and welfare, to the states for local management.
Haley then reviewed each of her campaign’s main positions, such as the need for term limits, mental competency tests for elected officials, and strong action on illegal immigration. She addressed abortion, saying that she knew that people in Massachusetts wanted her to discuss it. She said that her view was to let the states decide how to handle it, but that she thought “we could all agree on some things, like banning late-term abortions and encouraging adoptions.” She stated that she believes that no woman should ever go to jail or get the death penalty for having an abortion, as some extremists have proposed. She emphasized her belief that “everyone has a story that we must respect,” and that “we have to support moms.” On the topic of fertility health, she noted that her two children were conceived via fertility procedures, and that this help “needs to be accessible to all.”
Haley went on to talk about help needed for veterans like her husband, who have a hard time adjusting to home life when their service is over. She decried long wait times and serial rescheduling of appointments at the VA.
Next, Haley characterized Donald Trump as being more concerned about himself, his need for revenge, and his misguided loyalty to Putin than talking about changes the country needs. She said that a president must find ways to prevent war and be faithful to our allies, and not give Putin permission to attack our allies, as Trump did.
Haley told the crowd that they could choose “more of the same”—either Biden or Trump—or go in a new direction in the primary election. She urged people to “go to the polls, take 10 people with you, put out a yard sign, and email friends and family” to encourage them to vote in the primary election.
As the crowd made its way out of the ballroom, Haley smiled and shook hands, signed yard signs, and took selfies with supporters.
