In an unexpected development, a number of affluent backers who previously supported former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign, now on hold, are redirecting their financial and political support towards President Joe Biden’s bid for re-election. Leading this shift is Harry Sloan, a notable businessman and media figure, who once vigorously championed Haley.
In a conversation with CNBC, Sloan revealed his intention to mobilize his network of wealthy Republican associates in favor of Biden, signaling a significant realignment in political loyalties. Sloan’s campaign to consolidate support for Biden among former Haley enthusiasts appears to be gathering momentum, with reports suggesting that a notable contingent of Haley’s erstwhile donors are now aligning with the current President’s campaign efforts.
This pivot is seemingly orchestrated with strategic input from Biden campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg and finance chair Rufus Gifford, both of whom are keen on attracting Republicans disenchanted with the prospect of Donald Trump’s potential third nomination.
She told Fox News, that Katzenberg’s outreach to Sloan, rooted in their previous collaborative fundraising endeavors for Haley, which generated over half a million dollars, underscores the concerted effort to woo Republicans seeking an alternative to Trump. Additionally, Gifford’s participation in a WhatsApp group named “Haley Supporters for Biden” indicates an active campaign to enlist more of Haley’s financial backers.
In response to these shifting allegiances, Trump’s campaign, through spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, emphasized the broad and diverse support base rallying around Trump, underscoring a united front aimed at reclaiming the presidency and rectifying the perceived disarray under Biden’s administration.
Yet, the Republican Party appears to be grappling with internal discord, as moderate factions express reservations about endorsing Trump for another presidential run. The evident rift within the GOP, amplified by internal conflicts within the Republican National Committee, highlights the party’s ongoing struggle for unity, according to Newsweek.
Trump, for his part, has adopted a firm stance against defectors, explicitly barring any former supporters who shift their allegiance to other candidates from rejoining the MAGA movement, as stated in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Conversely, Biden has extended a warm welcome to Haley’s former supporters, contrasting Trump’s exclusionary approach with an inclusive invitation to join his campaign, underscoring a broader tent strategy.
The news of Haley’s donors transitioning their support to Biden has ignited a flurry of reactions across social media, with opinions ranging from those who saw the shift as inevitable to critics who decried the defectors’ perceived disloyalty to Trump, labeling them as “Democrats in RINO clothing.” This realignment of political support among high-profile donors reflects the fluid and dynamic nature of American political affiliations, particularly in the lead-up to the presidential election.
