Ken Langone, the billionaire co-founder of Home Depot who announced that he would support Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary last month, has decided to hold off on making a “major gift” to her campaign until after the New Hampshire primary next week.

“If she doesn’t get traction in New Hampshire, you don’t throw money down a rat hole,” Langone told the Financial Times before admitting that he believes that “the two candidates” to make it to the general election in November are “Biden and Trump” and that he would likely support Trump in that hypothetical.

Nevertheless, Langone explained that he is pulling for Haley because “Trump showed that from election day 2020 to January 6, his whole focus, in my opinion, was himself — not what was good for the country.”

“We’re going to need a very competent manager, as well as a president-statesman,” submitted Langone during his interview with the Times. “I am supporting Nikki Haley because I think she comes [as] close to what you could hope for as anybody out there.”

Langone had previously been even more effusive in his praise of Haley when he first announced that he would support her campaign.

“I think she’s just what we need right now. I think her approach is smart. I think she’s clarified herself on some issues which is very important. And more importantly, I think the American people need this kind of leadership, statesman-like, elegant,” Langone told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto in December.

Haley finished in third place in the Iowa Caucuses on Monday, well behind Trump but just 2% behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. She is presently in second place in the polls in both New Hampshire and her home state of South Carolina, which will hold the third contest of the cycle a month after next Tuesday’s primary in the Granite State.

The post Billionaire Donor Will Hold Off on ‘Major Gift’ to Nikki Haley Until After New Hampshire: ‘You Don’t Throw Money Down a Rat Hole’ first appeared on Mediaite.

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