(The Center Square) – GOP presidential hopeful and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley made a couple of campaign stops in Virginia ahead of Tuesday’s primary and former President Donald Trump’s rally in Richmond.
If Haley hoped to net endorsements from the commonwealth’s GOP leaders, she was out of luck. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, along with rising conservative star Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, have yet to throw their support behind either Haley or Trump.
In a Roanoke College Poll released Friday, Trump leads Haley 51%-43%.
Despite the former South Carolina governor trailing, the poll shows Haley faring better than Trump in a hypothetical matchup against President Joe Biden. The survey shows in the commonwealth, Haley would beat Biden 49%-40% whereas Trump would lose to Biden 47%-43%.
Those poll numbers may be giving Haley a bit of momentum in the commonwealth, at least enough to stay in the race. The former ambassador believes the race is still competitive and vows to remain as long as she can compete.
“My approach has always been, as long as we’re competitive,” Haley told the Virginia crowd. “Super Tuesday we’re going to try to be competitive. I hope we go forward. But this is all about how competitive we can be.”
Haley has assembled a team of leaders, led by former Virginia First Lady Susan Allen, to run her campaign in the commonwealth.
Trump is scheduled to lead a campaign rally in Richmond on Saturday, coming off the heels of his visit to the southern U.S. border. Trump may use the opportunity to trounce on the latest migrants accused of crime. A Venezuelan was recently charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Virginia girl.
Renzo Mendoza Montes was arrested on two felony charges for the sexual assault. He was previously stopped and released at the southern border five months ago.