Prominent Iowans endorse Nikki Haley, say this 'Iron Lady' is best choice for president

Happy New Year, Iowa!

In a nation rife with division, 75 percent of Americans agree we want choices for president other than Joe Biden and Donald Trump. We are among them.

Two weeks ago, Kevin Williamson wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "Nobody makes boots tall enough to wade through the avalanche of bulls--t headed our way in the next 11 months." He nailed it.

The Biden and Trump families likely will be in courtrooms dealing with criminal, ethics and tax charges for years. America doesn’t have to be. America can do better.

Our shared 2024 New Year’s resolution is to urge Iowans and Americans to elect a new, different, younger and stronger president to take office in January 2025. We can also make Iowa and American history in an entirely new way.

We fully and confidently support former United Nations Ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley as the Republican nominee for president of the United States in 2024.

This past summer and fall, Haley has campaigned across Iowa with courage, conviction and charisma. Haley does not talk down to or demean people. With optimism and hope, she lifts people up. Haley doesn’t dredge up the past and recycle it. Instead, she learns from history and offers fresh ideas. Why is this so rare these days?

Haley is clear-eyed about the challenges America faces in both hemispheres. As ambassador, she dealt with them at the United Nations after serving as a successful governor of her state. Many Iowans respectfully remember former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray. Few recall he, too, served at the United Nations as a member of the U.S. delegation after leaving office in 1983.

Ray, who served as governor from 1969 to 1983, talked then about how important it was for America to constantly explain and defend western values of freedom, democracy and human rights at the U.N. As ambassador, Haley did that every day, earning bipartisan and global respect.

Haley was the first woman governor of South Carolina and the fifth woman to serve as America’s ambassador to the U.N.

Some of us remember Golda Meir, the first woman prime minister of Israel, and Margaret Thatcher, the first woman prime minister of the U.K. Both were known in their respective countries as "The Iron Lady."

In a turbulent world, this is not the time to elect a former president who carries chaos with him every day. Or to reelect a president who ducks, dithers and delays. It is time for the United States, the world’s oldest democracy, to elect an "Iron Lady" president. Haley is our nation’s best strategic choice next year.

The electoral process starts in Iowa; its best outcome can begin here, too.

Starting well behind others but working hard, Haley has become known, liked, respected and admired here. Her logic, ideas and toughness with a winsome persona win hearts and minds across Iowa every day.

A core team with many women — Sen. Chris Cournoyer, Emily Sukup Schmitt, Dawn Roberts, Mary Ann Hanusa and others — has been joined by men and women of all ages and parts of Iowa’s GOP "big tent" and independents, too.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Iowa polling numbers have dropped over the past year, while Haley’s numbers have tripled and continue to rise.

Iowans should also pay attention to the recent New York Times-Siena College Poll comparing top Republican contenders vs. President Biden in the general election. The numbers are stunning:

DeSantis 45, Biden 45 — a discouraging tie and possible loss in the offing…

Trump 47, Biden 43 — a modest lead on which no one would bet the farm…

Haley 51, Biden 34 — a blowout 17-point lead helped by women and independents.

A big win at the presidential level would be of great help to Iowa’s four Republican House members and GOP legislative candidates on the ballot next November.

A big win is also a "means to an end" bringing overdue policy changes — strengthening national security, closing the open border, limiting out of control federal spending, growing our economy and creating millions of good jobs.

Some still deny, obfuscate or minimize Trump-era election results in 2018, 2020 and 2022. The hard truth is Republicans lost elections all over the country. The national "red wave" never showed up. Indeed, we have lost the popular vote for president in seven of the last eight elections after 1988.

Do Republicans want to keep losing? Or do we want to stride with strength into the future? How about winning big enough so no one doubts the outcome? Republicans haven’t seen anything close to a 17 percentage-point win since Reagan beat Mondale by 18 points in 1984!

Iowa has been fortunate to start the presidential election process for 48 years. Unfortunately, national Democrats have kicked the Iowa Caucus to the curb.

In our Republican Caucus, Iowans can propel a well-qualified woman forward in the presidential selection process. The opportunity is right in front of us: The challenge is hard; the stakes are high. If we get this right, Iowa can lead in nominating and electing a new, transformational president. We can make great history for our caucuses, our party, our state and our nation.

If you agree with our New Year’s resolution, we invite you to join us. Please vote for Nikki Haley Monday evening, Jan. 15.

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!

Christine Hensley of Des Moines is a former Des Moines city councilwoman, and David Oman of Des Moines is a former chief of staff for Govs. Robert Ray and Terry Branstad and a former Iowa GOP co-chair. Also contributing to this column were former state Rep. Carmine Boal of Ankeny; Ray Gaesser of Corning, former president of the Iowa and American Soybean associations; Mary Kramer of Urbandale, former Iowa Senate president and former ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean; and state Rep. Brian Lohse of Bondurant.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Prominent Iowans endorse Nikki Haley as 'transformational president'