GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley slammed President Biden’s cognitive ability during a speech she gave Tuesday, saying he "sounds like his mind is closing up shop.”
Haley said Biden is hurting his own electoral viability more so than any attack Republicans could make, during an address in Greenville, S.C., ahead of the state's GOP primary Saturday. She also argued the GOP should have a competitive nominating process to pick the strongest candidate possible to face the president in a general election.
“Every time he opens his mouth, he sounds like his mind is closing up shop. The Democrats are getting weaker by holding a coronation for Biden. Republicans will get stronger through a vigorous competition,” she said.
Biden has received criticism and faced some concerns about his ability to win reelection following the release of special counsel Robert Hur’s report into his handling of classified documents. Hur declined to press charges against Biden but referred to him as a “well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.”
The report was also released as Biden mixed up the names of several world leaders, including former French President François Mitterrand with current French President Emmanuel Macron, and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Haley laid out her reasoning for remaining in the Republican presidential race Tuesday, even as polls show former President Trump with a significant lead. She cited polls showing an overwhelming majority of Americans do not want Trump or Biden to be their parties’ nominees.
Her note about Biden’s mental acuity came in response to criticism she has received from Trump allies, who have said that she is helping Biden by continuing to stay in the race.
She said Trump staying in the race is helping Biden by potentially giving him an easier general election candidate.
“At the end of the day, the only candidate who’s helping Joe Biden is Donald Trump, because Trump is the only Republican Biden can beat,” Haley said. “The Democrats know it. They don’t even try to conceal their glee at the prospect of running against Trump. They want to win — so they want the guy they’ve already beaten time and again. Trump knows it too, but he won’t admit it.”
