DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC/AP) - GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is scheduled to speak on Daniel Island Wednesday morning and is expected to halt her race for the White House.
The former United Nations ambassador and governor of South Carolina is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m.
Three people with direct knowledge who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly confirmed Haley’s decision, the Associated Press reported.
Haley is not planning to endorse Trump in her announcement, according to the people with knowledge of her plans. Instead, she is expected to encourage him to earn the support of the coalition of moderate Republicans and independent voters who supported her.
Click pic for live coverage of Haley's announcementPhoto: Emil Lippe / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Her departure clears Trump to focus solely on his likely rematch in November with Biden. The former president is on track to reach the necessary 1,215 delegates to clinch the Republican nomination later this month.
Prior to Super Tuesday, she spent weeks on her “Beast of the Southeast” bus tour, she vowed she would stay in the race even when victory over frontrunner and former President Donald Trump appeared to be a long shot at best.
On Super Tuesday alone, Trump won 14 of the 15 state primaries for the GOP nomination. Haley’s sole victory Tuesday was in the state of Vermont. Her only other primary victory came Sunday in the District of Columbia.
In Haley’s home state of South Carolina, she earned just under 40% of the vote, performing better than some estimates had predicted but well below Trump’s nearly 60% of the vote.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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