Presidential candidate Nikki Haley made one last push in Nashua during her rally at the Marriott Hotel on Jan. 20. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – After hobnobbing with supporters at Chick-fil-A and pouring beers at The Peddler’s Daughter, presidential candidate Nikki Haley made her case to Nashua voters one last time before the Jan. 23 primary election.

The evening got off to a rocky start as climate activists demanded answers from the former South Carolina governor during the Jan. 20 rally at the Marriott Hotel.

“Gov. Haley, why are you letting our homes be destroyed in climate disasters?” asked one of the activists. “You’re a disgrace.”

Another activist raised a banner that read: “Haley: Climate Criminal.”

The activists were subsequently removed from the premises.

Later in the evening, Haley addressed their concerns.

“Call out India and China for the big polluters that they are,” she said, adding that the U.S. needs to partner with energy producers rather than working against them. “No more extremes of flooding the economy and saying things like we all have to have electric cars. We will take care of the younger generation and the environment and we do care about them.”

Haley also said that in addition to President Joe Biden, Republicans should also be held responsible for allowing the National Debt to reach $34 trillion.

“We’re having to borrow money just to make our interest payments,” she said. “If eight percent of our budget is interest, quit borrowing, cut up the credit cards.”

In addition, Haley said the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Relief Package was passed “with no accountability” and as a result, 100 million Americans are now on Medicaid and another 42 million are on food stamps.

“That’s a third of our country,” she said, adding that there is still $100 million in pandemic relief funding that has yet to be recovered.

If elected, Haley said she would veto any bills that would further irresponsible spending.

“That will save us trillions,” she said.

Haley also said that during the past 40 years, there have only been four instances when Congress has delivered its budget on time.

“You know what I say to that? If you don’t give us a budget on time, you don’t get paid,” she said. “Congress has become the most privileged nursing home in the country.”

Speaking about education, Haley said 27 percent of America’s eighth grade students are proficient in math and 31 percent are proficient in reading.

“If we don’t do something quick, we’re going to be in a world of hurt,” she said. “We have got to get our kids reading again.”

If elected, Haley said she would require schools to post their curriculum online.

“No parent should ever wonder what is being said or taught to their child in the classroom,” she said.

She also called attention to the ongoing state of anarchy at the southern border.

“The lawlessness is out of control,” said Haley, adding that fentanyl is the leading cause of death for adults ages 18 to 45. “Regardless of what Donald Trump says, I do think we should secure the border. When I was governor of South Carolina we passed one of the toughest illegal immigration laws in the country.”

Under her administration, Haley would implement a national e-verify program requiring businesses to prove that their employees are legal U.S. citizens.

Going into the Jan. 23 primary, Haley trails Trump by 22 percent, according to the Trafalgar Group. On the national level, the Harvard-Harris poll showed Trump with 71 percent of the vote and Haley with nine percent.