Ted Cruz-Nikki Haley ticket for the GOP in 2016?
AB Wire
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley may continue to be big in the news in 2016, like she was in 2015, especially if a prediction made by Politico proves to be correct: that she will be given the vice presidential ticket by the GOP nominee Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, if indeed he is picked to lead the party’s charge for the White House.
For a special New Year’s edition of The Politico Caucus – a collection of the top activists, strategists and operatives in the first four states that will cast ballots – insiders were asked both for a bold 2016 prediction — and also what surprised them most in 2015.
One of the predictions: “A Ted Cruz-Nikki Haley GOP ticket will defeat a Hillary Clinton-Tim Kaine Democratic ticket to claim the White House.”
The vast majority of the Caucus chose Trump as the biggest surprise.
Haley enjoyed tremendous press coverage in 2015. aley Haley The Washington Post named her as the top governor to make the most news in 2015, citing her response to the Charleston Church shooting, the subsequent debate and lowering of the Confederate Battle Flag from State House grounds, and her actions during October’s unprecedented statewide flood.
CNN also listed Haley among the 9 politicians to watch in 2016.
Haley’s name has floated around since her historic 2010 run for governor in the state as a possible national political name, and all year she’s fielded questions about the Republican ticket in 2016, noted WISTV.
“If you have someone like a moderate, a Rubio, even a Cruz, Haley is certainly a conservative. A lot of these folks will look at her as bringing a different voice to the table,” CNN reporter Gregory Krieg said.
Haley has said over and over again, though, that she’s committed to the state of South Carolina and hasn’t put much thought into the idea of the Vice Presidency or another national title.
FITSNews reported that Haley, who will hold office as governor till 2018, if she doesn’t aspire for higher office, has already chosen her successor: Orangeburg, S.C. businessman Mikee Johnson.
Johnson is the CEO and president of Cox Industries, a company which produces pressure-treated wood products for use in the construction industry. He’s also currently serving as the chairman of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce.