CNN
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Officers within the political community affiliated with billionaire Charles Koch on Saturday defended their heavy funding in Nikki Haley’s long-shot campaign to derail former President Donald Trump’s bid for the GOP presidential nomination.
In a presentation to the community’s high donors, Emily Seidel and Michael Palmer – senior advisers to People for Prosperity Motion – mentioned the narrowing of the GOP race to only Trump and Haley demonstrates she was the suitable candidate to again as a Trump different, based on a abstract of the presentation offered to CNN by an AFP Motion official.
AFP Motion endorsed the previous South Carolina governor in November and can proceed to help her – whilst she faces what Koch officers acknowledge is an “uphill battle” for the nomination.
Seidel and Palmer, nevertheless, additionally emphasised that the group stands able to shift its sources and say that flipping the Senate from Democratic management is a high precedence that grows all of the extra essential if Trump wins the nomination.
The presentation from AFP Motion officers got here Saturday afternoon to high donors within the libertarian-leaning community related to Koch – a Kansas industrialist who has labored to unfold his free-market concepts by means of investments in politics, suppose tanks, philanthropic teams and academic establishments.
In all, some 400 contributors affiliated with the community are assembly in Indian Wells, California, for an annual winter summit.
Haley is rebuffing calls by Trump and his allies to exit the race, regardless of ending 11 factors behind the previous president in New Hampshire. She plans an bold spherical of fundraising with occasions within the coming days in New York; Palm Seaside, Florida; and Miami.
Haley additionally had a brief video name with high Koch donors to explain how she sees the race general and in South Carolina, the following probably aggressive contest on the GOP major calendar.
Marketing campaign managers for Haley and Trump additionally each plan to attend an upcoming gathering in Florida of one other influential GOP donor group, the American Alternative Alliance, two sources advised CNN.
Alliance members embody outstanding buyers Ken Griffin and Paul Singer, real-estate investor Harlan Crow and members of the Ricketts household, homeowners of the Chicago Cubs.
The Florida assembly was first reported by Puck.
As CNN reported Friday, some donors who’ve backed Haley say they’re now redoubling their efforts to safe GOP victories in congressional races, following Trump’s large wins in Iowa and New Hampshire.
The abstract offered of Saturday’s presentation to Koch donors echoes latest public statements from AFP Motion’s leaders.
The group has invested tens of millions to again Haley’s candidacy and already has spent greater than $3 million on promoting in South Carolina, based on AdImpact knowledge. AFP officers say they’ve reached out to greater than 420,000 South Carolina voters and had been knocking on extra doorways within the Palmetto State this weekend.
Nonetheless, Trump stays the clear favourite in Haley’s residence state, which holds its major February 24.
CNN’s Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.