Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley rallied supporters in Portland Sunday, hitting familiar themes of fiscal responsibility, military strength and her belief that the county needs a younger leader.
More than 300 people came to the Elks Lodge to hear the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador speak just two days before Mainers head to the polls.
She implored them to show up and vote — and bring along as many others as possible.
“We need to make sure we go out in force on Tuesday,” she said. “You can’t go by yourself, you need to bring 10 people with you.”
Maine is one of 15 states voting in presidential primaries on Super Tuesday, when thousands of delegates will be awarded. Haley thanked Maine Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins for her support, praising her for having courage to step away from the pack.
“When all the fellas are following the herd she showed why she has a steel spine,” Haley said. “Thank you for using the power of your voice.”
The crowd included a mix of Haley supporters, Democrats, unenrolled voters and some Trump backers. One man briefly interrupted Haley during her speech, saying that Trump is the one that can fix the county and calling Haley a “neocon.”
After being booed, he walked out, followed by two other men who also yelled support for Trump.
The crowd chanted “Nikki” while the men left, Haley joked “anybody else,” and she quickly got back to her 30-minute stump speech.
Haley talked about a growing national debt, repeated her call for a cognitive test for older candidates and said veterans need better support when they return home from active duty.
She called for stricter border regulations, saying deadly fentanyl is coming across the border unchecked.
“We can’t wait one more day to pass a strong border bill,” she said.
Before the speech, Jane Stevens of Springvale said she had seen Haley on television and wanted to see her in person.
“I would like to hear her say she can beat Trump,” Stevens said, saying she will cast her ballot for Haley on Tuesday. “Wild horses can’t keep me away.”
In addition to party members, Maine is allowing unenrolled voters to cast ballots in the primaries this year without having to enroll in either party.
On the Democratic ballot in Maine, President Joe Biden faces U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips.
Poll numbers in Maine show an uphill battle for Haley, who has yet to win any of the early primary states.
A Pan Atlantic poll of likely Maine voters released Feb. 26 shows Trump with 66% of the vote in Maine versus 24% for Haley.
A separate poll by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center released Feb. 22 shows 77% of likely Republican voters choosing Trump, with Haley at 19%.
Trump voter Jessica Johnson of South Portland said he wanted to see what Haley had to say, but that she is firmly in the Trump camp.
“I’m really excited for the views he has and what he wants to do at the border,” Johnson said.
As she wrapped up her speech, Haley said she voted for Trump twice and proudly served as U.N. Ambassador during the Trump administration. But she called for change.
“Rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him,” she said. “And we can’t be a country in disarray in a world on fire and go through four more years of chaos. We won’t survive it.”