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By Jennie L. Ilustre
Nikki Haley’s star got even brighter with a knock-out speech on the first night of the Republican National Convention, which formally named President Trump as its standard bearer in the November 3 elections.
One speech and Haley, former US ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina governor, further elevated her profile as a presidential candidate in 2024, as the media buzz grows louder.
Vellie Sandalo Dietrich-Hall, one of only 23 Asian Americans nationwide appointed as National Advisory Board member of 2020 Asian Pacific Americans for Trump, praised Haley’s speech, as well as her polished, confident delivery.
“She will be a formidable 2024 presidential contender,” she commented on August 25, the day after Haley’s speech. “Her performance on Night One was worth an endorsement for the presidency–almost like an early audition.”
In a related development, US Senator Kamala Harris, recently chosen as the Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate in the coming November 3 elections, has potentially skyrocketed to frontrunner status in 2024. Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Joe Biden, 77, has hinted that if elected, he would consider serving only for one term.
“It would be thrilling to see Haley and Harris battle it out for the presidency when that time comes,” Jon Melegrito, a Democrat from Maryland, remarked.
He relishes the thought of Americans of Asian ancestry and women battling it out for the nation’s highest office – because such a historic opportunity speaks volumes about what makes America unique.
Picture this scenario. It’s the year 2024, and two Americans of South Asian heritage are competing for the presidency: Only in America. It’s still four years down the roas, but clearly, the battle has begun.
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The usually critical top CNN analyst Chris Cilliza, writing about the Hits and Misses of RNC’s opening night, named Haley’s performance as No. 1 in his Hits list.
Cilliza, a former star political analyst of The Washington Post, said Haley is viewed as a “near-certain” candidate for president in 2024, adding her speech would do nothing to quiet that buzz. “In fact,” he stressed, “it will likely increase after an address that was, without question, the highlight of the first night.”
Cilliza even quoted a Tweet from CNN contributor David Axelrod, former chief strategist of former President Obama. Axelrod had tweeted on RNC’s opening night: “Whether you agree with her argument or version of events, @NikkiHaley is delivering by far the most effective speech for @realDonaldTrump,”
APA for Haley
Asian Pacific American Republican from Virginia Dietrich-Hall noted: “For me, one of the highlights of Nikki Haley’s speech was when she ripped the Democrats and pushed back against the left’s smearing of America. She said, ‘In much of the Democratic Party, it’s now fashionable to say that America is racist. That is a lie. America is not a racist country. This is personal for me. I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants.’”
Dietrich-Hall said Haley has “a unique authority” to talk about race. “She provided examples of her rise to governorship, and how she got her state to come together under her leadership after the horrible Charleston church shooting, rather than descending into riots and looting.”
Political observer Cilliza said Haley champions a muscular foreign policy like that of President Trump’s. Haley, however, used “much less over-the-top rhetoric,” making her much more effective: “She was terrific.”
Remarked Dietrich-Hall: “Overall, I think that her speech was extraordinary, especially when she defended the Trump foreign policy on North Korea, Iran, China, and Israel that elided the distinctions between Trumpian nationalism and a more assertive Reaganesque role. As a UN Ambassador, Haley’s agreement and sincere endorsement of Trump’s agenda came across well for immigrants like me.”
“Her speech was a hit because her delivery was smooth, polished and she projected the image of a serene and confident veteran who saw through the storms of South Carolina politics and the political intrigues,” she added.
Haley vs. Kamala?
In an interview for an article when Haley stepped down as UN envoy, Melegrito said she was an asset to the Republican Party and was a potential presidential candidate.
Asked to comment on Haley’s speech, Melegrito said on August 26, “Haley’s speech was effective in the sense that she has a more positive vision of America’s leadership in the world. She also spoke of her own personal success story as a woman of color.”
Melegrito, a true-blue Democrat, is elated at Senator Harris’ historic candidacy for vice president this November. He remarked: “Whoever emerges will make history as the first woman, and the first woman of color to become president. I am putting my bets on Kamala, of course, because the Democrats have a bigger tent than the Republicans, with an emerging diverse electorate more likely to support the Democrats.”
