The founder of a group seeking a third-party candidate for president said that he would be open to running former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) as its candidate. No Labels founder Joe Cunningham’s comments came as Haley lost her home state primary to former President Donald Trump Saturday.
Cunningham said that the group “definitely would be interested” in Haley. He described the group’s work as a “project to essentially give Americans another choice if they’re unhappy with the presumptive nominees.”
He cited Haley’s decision to stay in the race despite her recent losses.
“You can’t count her out completely. And hats off to her for staying in and for sticking with it. But we’re looking for great quality people, and folks that have broad appeal to independents, Democrats, Republicans,” he said.
Cunningham said that after many of the important nominating primaries are over the group would “look at who the presumptive nominees are, and if the vast majority of Americans are unhappy with those and we feel like we can put forward a ticket or offer a ballot line to candidates who can win, then we’re going to offer that ballot line.”
'No Labels' third party has Nikki Haley in its sights: 'We’d definitely be interested' https://t.co/1SyvcEh4LN via @americanwire_
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) February 25, 2024
Haley told supporters on Saturday that she would not be leaving the Republican presidential race despite Trump’s most recent win. Trump has carried every major contest so far in the GOP primary.
Trump also responded to speculation of a potential third-party run by his rival.
When asked about whether she could run as a No Labels candidate, Trump said that “we’ve had enough of her.”
Cunningham’s comments weren’t the first time that figures tied to the No Labels movement talked up the possibility of Haley appearing on the ticket. Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said that while he spoke for himself and not the organization, “Haley would deserve serious consideration.”
The speculation about Haley also followed the announcement by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) that he would not seek the presidency this year. Following his announcement that he would not run for another term in the Senate, he was also seen as a potential No Labels candidate.
