What is Americans for Prosperity Action? Nikki Haley gets important Koch brothers boost as countdown to Iowa begins
WASHINGTON, DC: In an eyebrow-raising development for the 2024 presidential race, Americans for Prosperity Action, the conservative US political network led by billionaire Charles Koch, announced its endorsement of Nikki Haley as the preferred candidate.
The Koch network, known for advocating traditional conservative positions such as tax cuts and reduced government regulation, asserted that Haley is the best contender to challenge President Joe Biden in the upcoming election.
Nikki Haley is perceived as a strong candidate
Emily Seidel, a senior adviser to the Koch group's Americans for Prosperity Action, highlighted Haley's surging popularity and strong debate performances as key factors in the endorsement.
In a memo, Seidel noted, "Between her surging to second place in the polls since August and being well-positioned amongst supporters of the other candidates, she is in a strong position to gather more support," as per NBC News.
The Koch group also emphasized the strategic importance of defeating Donald Trump in the primaries, indicating a shift away from the former POTUS' influence within the Republican Party.
"In addition, our internal polling consistently shows that Nikki Haley is by far the strongest candidate Republicans could put up against Joe Biden in a general election – winning every key battleground state and up nationally by nearly 10 points," added Seidel, insisting voters were ready to move on from Trump.
Acknowledging the endorsement, Haley expressed gratitude, saying, "I'm honored to have the support of Americans for Prosperity Action, including its millions of grassroots members all across the country. A.F.P. Action’s members know that there is too much at stake in this election to sit on the sidelines."
Koch's backing may elevate Nikki Haley's chances of connecting with more voters in the competitive primary landscape
The endorsement positions Haley as a formidable contender in the Republican primary, where she is currently in tight competition with Florida Gov Ron DeSantis for second place.
With only 48 days remaining until the Iowa Republican nomination gathering, the backing from the Koch network's super PAC, established by industrialist brothers Charles and David Koch, could significantly impact the dynamics of the race.
The Koch's support will provide Haley's campaign with essential resources, including field workers, call centers, and direct mail operations that were previously lacking. This infusion of support may elevate her chances in the primary race and enhance her ability to connect with voters.
Unsurprisingly, the DeSantis campaign appeared disgruntled with the endorsement.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), spokesperson Andrew Romeo wrote, "Congratulations to Donald Trump on securing the Koch endorsement. Like clockwork, the pro-open borders, pro-jailbreak bill establishment is lining up behind a moderate who has no mathematical pathway of defeating the former president."
He further stated, "Every dollar spent on Nikki Haley's candidacy should be reported as an in-kind to the Trump campaign. No one has a stronger record of beating the establishment than Ron DeSantis, and this time will be no different."
Congratulations to Donald Trump on securing the Koch endorsement. Like clockwork, the pro-open borders, pro-jail break bill establishment is lining up behind a moderate who has no mathematical pathway of defeating the former president. Every dollar spent on Nikki Haley's…
— Andrew Romeo (@andrewromeo33) November 28, 2023
Tensions with Donald Trump's camp
The Koch brothers, Charles and David, known for their vast wealth and influence, have been active in promoting conservative and libertarian agendas.
Despite some alignment with Trump on tax cuts and conservative Supreme Court justices, they have also faced criticism from the ex-POTUS, who referred to them as "a total joke" in real Republican circles.
"The globalist Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in real Republican circles, are against Strong Borders and Powerful Trade," the then-president said in 2018, adding, "I have never sought their support because I don't need their money or bad ideas."
The globalist Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in real Republican circles, are against Strong Borders and Powerful Trade. I never sought their support because I don’t need their money or bad ideas. They love my Tax & Regulation Cuts, Judicial picks & more. I made.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018
In response to the Haley endorsement, a spokesperson for Trump's 2024 campaign, Steven Cheung, criticized Americans for Prosperity for endorsing a candidate he labeled as "pro-China, open borders, and globalist."
Cheung asserted, "No amount of shady money from George Soros, Democrats, and Never Trump RINOs will stop the MAGA movement or President Trump from being the Republican nominee and defeating Crooked Joe Biden."