Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley finds herself on the defensive after leaving out slavery as a root cause of the Civil War during a Town Hall in New Hampshire. The omission drew backlash and criticism from opponents and prompted Haley to clarify her statement. This incident comes at a crucial time for her campaign, as she tries to gain ground on the clear front-runner, former President Donald Trump.
In the Town Hall, when asked about the causes of the Civil War, Haley failed to mention slavery. She faced immediate pushback from the audience and was subsequently questioned about her response. Haley spent Thursday attempting to explain herself, acknowledging that the Civil War, of course, was about slavery. She emphasized that it was also about the freedoms of every individual, but this explanation did little to quell the criticism.
Haley's opponents didn't waste any time capitalizing on her remarks. President Joe Biden, in response to her comments, made it clear that the Civil War was primarily about slavery. GOP rival Ron DeSantis accused Haley of caving under scrutiny, suggesting that she is not ready for the big stage.
It's worth noting that as governor of South Carolina, Haley pushed for the removal of the Confederate flag from the capital grounds. This decision was made in the aftermath of a mass shooting at a black church in Charleston, carried out by a white supremacist. The move was prompted by intense pressure from African-American leaders, highlighting Haley's acknowledgment of racial sensitivity.
The incident with Haley's remarks comes as she is gaining ground in the race against Trump. Despite Trump's routine use of divisive rhetoric and recent racist comments about migrants and minority groups, his controversial words have yet to significantly impact his lead in the polls.
Source: Youtube
