JerryBellune@yahoo.com

Former Lexington resident Nikki Haley has won a top Democrat’s support.

Andrew Stein, a Democrat and former New York City Council president, says Trump should ask Haley to be his running mate to attract more female voters.

Stein founded the Democrats for Trump movement in 2016. Because the President’s pro-growth policies have revived the stagnating economy, he deserves a second term, Stein said.

“But to have the best chance of re-election, he should replace Vice President Mike Pence on the ticket with Nikki Haley,” he told the Wall Street Journal.

“I mean no disrespect for Mr. Pence, who’s loyally served the president and the nation. He inspired his fellow evangelical Christians to take a chance in 2016. But in 2020 they’ll already be repelled by the Democrats’ embrace of infanticide.

“Mr. Trump’s greater obstacle to re-election comes from politically moderate suburban women, many of whom see him as divisive.”

Haley represented Lexington County in the Statehouse, as a 2-term SC governor and as US Ambassador to the United Nations.

“The political savvy and tough-mindedness she cultivated in South Carolina were on full display on the global stage,” Stein said.

“She was able to earn the respect and gain the confidence of diplomats from all over the globe while earning praise from Americans.

“Mr. Trump has promoted women to the highest echelons of the White House. But elevating energetic and effective leaders like Kellyanne Conway, Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders has earned him scant credit,” he said.

“Nikki Haley on the ticket could tamp down the antipathy for Mr. Trump that seems to afflict so many moderate and Republican-leaning women.”