A former Obama campaign manager suggested Democratic voters should support GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley in the upcoming primary election to prevent former President Donald Trump from being re-elected this November.
David Plouffe, who served as former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign manager, acknowledged the move may be "distasteful for a lot of people," though insisted intentionally supporting Haley would be a strategic move for "those who would be up for it" during a Wednesday appearance on MSNBC.
"I don’t know if it will stop Trump," Plouffe said, "but it could help extend the primary."
The former Obama campaign manager argued Haley could take advantage of a sect of Republican voters who are "open to an alternative" candidate other than Trump, who holds a commanding lead over fellow GOP candidates Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
"I think, for liberals, or Democrats, or independents who might not ever support Nikki Haley to be the president, to cast a strategic or tactical vote to me makes a lot of sense," Plouffe continued. "If the cards fall the right way, if somehow [Haley] can finish ahead of DeSantis in Iowa, I think that makes it more likely."
Plouffe argued the former President could "very well be defeated" in the New Hampshire primary if candidates are narrowed down to Trump and Haley.
The Republican primary kicks off in Iowa on Jan. 15.
Trump has stacked up over 100 endorsements from lawmakers, including Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, among others. Trump has also received endorsements from seven governors, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as Trump's White House Press Secretary from 2017 until 2019.
Other notable figures who have endorsed Trump for re-election include entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki of the Rich Dad Company, rapper Waka Flocka Flame, country artist and lead vocalist of rock band Staind, Aaron Lewis, and professional golfer John Daly.
Haley and DeSantis are scheduled to appear at the final Republican debate on Jan. 10 in Des Moines, Iowa. Although Trump has qualified to appear on stage with fellow GOP candidates, the former President will once again opt out of the upcoming debate. In lieu of participating in the debate with Haley and DeSantis, Trump will appear for an Iowa town hall with Fox News held at the same time as the Jan. 10 debate.
Trump currently holds a 51.7-point advantage over runner up Haley, according to RealClearPolitics. The former South Carolina governor holds a narrow lead over runner-up GOP candidate DeSantis followed by entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
