Nikki Haley adds unique touch when signing required pledge ahead of GOP presidential primary debate

The Republican National Committee has stipulated that in order to be eligible to participate in the first presidential primary debate, each candidate must pledge to support the party's eventual nominee. But when Nikki Haley signed the document headlined by the text "BEAT BIDEN," she slashed through the president's name and wrote in "PRESIDENT HARRIS" instead, a clear reference to Vice President Kamala Harris.

"I affirm that if I do not win the 2024 Republican nomination for President of the United States, I will honor the will of the primary voters and support the nominee in order to save our country and beat Joe Biden," the text of the pledge reads in part. "I further pledge that I will not seek to run as an independent or write-in candidate nor will I seek or accept the nomination for president of any other party."

The pledge also requires the candidates to agree that they will only participate in RNC-sanctioned debates.

President Joe Biden, who is the oldest president in U.S. history, appears likely to easily secure his party's presidential nomination again. He would be 86 by the end of a second term.

"America can't afford a President Kamala Harris," Haley tweeted last month.

The first GOP presidential primary debate is scheduled for August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Former President Donald Trump, who holds an enormous lead over the rest of the GOP primary field, has been indicating that he may skip the debate. He told Newsmax's Eric Bolling that he "wouldn't sign the pledge," noting that there are some people he would not endorse for president. He has also questioned how he would benefit by participating when he already holds such a large lead.

TRUMP: Would love to do GOP debates, won't sign RNC pledgewww.youtube.com

Haley, who served as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. during a portion of Trump's White House tenure, had previously served as governor of South Carolina.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served alongside Trump, is another one of the figures currently challenging the former president for the GOP presidential nomination.

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