Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan endorsed Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Sunday ahead of the Iowa caucuses.
Hogan made the announcement during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, arguing that the former South Carolina governor “has all of the momentum” to deliver “a distant second” place finish in Iowa. The former Maryland governor said Haley has a path to winning New Hampshire if she performs well in Iowa, which would give her momentum going into her home state of South Carolina.
“What this race is all about is to try to nominate the strongest possible nominee for November. I’m convinced the momentum is with Nikki Haley,” Hogan said, later adding, “It is time for the party to get behind Nikki Haley.”
Polls indicate that former President Donald Trump is set to win Monday’s caucuses by double digits, though that hasn’t stopped Haley or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis from campaigning across the state, facing below-zero temperatures and blizzard conditions in the final weekend of the contest.
Much is at stake for both undercard presidential hopefuls on Monday. DeSantis or Trump outperforming expectations could slow Haley’s momentum, something she’ll require to beat the latter in New Hampshire. Without a strong showing there, Haley’s ability to win in her home state will become that much harder.
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Hogan, who has been a frequent critic of the former president, told the network that he “really did not want to see a multi-car pile-up that would just enable Donald Trump.”
“I think we want to have the strongest possible nominee in November,” Hogan said. “Polls show that that is Nikki Haley.”