Hundreds of people packed into a hotel ballroom in Bloomington on Monday to cheer for Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador.
The Republican presidential candidate is holding rallies across the country this week, ahead of Michigan's primary election this week and Super Tuesday on March 5. She has been trying to make the case that Donald Trump could not win a general election — and trying to get her supporters excited enough to vote for her, even though she has yet to win a primary contest.
"Go out and vote, and take five people with you," Haley implored her supporters, promising a hopeful future without political arguments. "I need you to tell all your friends and family to get out and vote."
Haley won nearly 40% of the vote during Saturday's primary in South Carolina and spent Sunday and part of Monday campaigning in Michigan before that state's primary Tuesday. But rather than staying in Michigan, Haley is embarking on a tour of Super Tuesday states, starting with Minnesota.
Haley's Minnesota campaign chair, Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, introduced the candidate. Robbins reminded the crowd that Minnesota Republicans went against the grain in 2012 and 2016, with Rick Santorum and Marco Rubio winning the caucuses over the eventual nominees, Mitt Romney and Trump.
Many of Haley's supporters said they felt politically homeless. Among them, Republicans who can't stand Trump, Democrats who aren't too hot on Biden and people who feel like they don't have a great option.
"I am a registered Democrat and I'd never vote for Trump, but I'd have a hard time voting for Biden too," said Cappy Moore of Edina.
"I'm the flip of her," said Julie Schnell of Bloomington. "I'm a registered Republican, but I couldn't vote for Trump and I'd have a hard time voting for Biden." Both Moore and Schnell wanted other choices and didn't like that the nomination seems to have been sewn up so quickly.
Seth De Penning of Eden Prairie said Haley was his choice among the remaining options. "If Nikki Haley isn't nominated — which, I know the odds are against her — I'd vote for a third party or write-in," he said. De Penning said he respected Rep. Dean Phillips but did not think he agreed with Phillips enough to vote for him even if he seeks a third-party nomination.
"I think she's well-spoken. I think she's very smart. I think she can take the country in the correct direction," Susan Peller of St. Peter said of Haley.
"And she's conservative," added her husband, Rich Peller.
In her stump speech, Haley whipped through talking points about unauthorized immigrants, the national debt and cutting taxes.
As Haley spoke about the southern border, a protester started chanting. As security guards dragged the protester out by the arms, the crowd chanted "USA! USA!" and "Nikki, Nikki," to drown out the protester's voice.
Haley continued her speech but paused to say she was not bothered by the protester, adding that her husband, an officer in the Army National Guard, is serving to protect the right to protest.
Robbins, Haley's state campaign chair, said that if Haley is the Republican nominee, she will have the coattails to flip control of the U.S. Senate and keep the House — and help Minnesota Republicans take control of the state House, putting an end to the DFL trifecta in St. Paul.
Haley does not have paid staff working in Minnesota or other Super Tuesday states and is instead relying on volunteer "leadership teams" of local elected officials and Republican activists.
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