Nikki Haley blew an easy layup Saturday with Iowa voters.
The 2024 Republican presidential candidate and former United Nations ambassador flubbed the name of Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark during a campaign event in Coralville.
Haley, who attended Saturday’s game in Iowa City — sitting courtside with her son, Nalin, who sported an Iowa Hawkeyes shirt — seemingly mixed up Clark’s name with that of CNN news anchor Kaitlan Collins as she addressed a crowd of about 100 supporters and undecided Iowa caucusgoers before the tipoff.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley appears Saturday at an Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball game at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. She also held a campaign event in Coralville. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)
Both are household names. One is a record-breaking college women’s basketball icon with a top-five ranking, 12-1 record and nation-leading 30.5 points per game average. The other grills presidential hopefuls on live TV.
Calling herself a “basketball mom,” Haley told a small crowd at the Iowa Athletic Club sports bar and restaurant that she was “super excited to see the Lady Hawkeyes.”
“What a team they are,” Haley said. “What a great coach they have. Caitlin Collins is phenomenal.”
Haley also greeted and chatted with Republican former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who attended Saturday’s game and served with Haley in the Trump administration as U.S. ambassador to China. During half-time, Haley walked through the stands — shaking hands, hugging, high-fiving and posing for selfies with Hawkeye fans.
The 2024 Republican presidential candidate and former United Nations ambassador flubbed the name of Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark during a campaign event in Coralville.
Haley, who attended Saturday’s game in Iowa City — sitting courtside with her son, Nalin, who sported an Iowa Hawkeyes shirt — seemingly mixed up Clark’s name with that of CNN news anchor Kaitlan Collins as she addressed a crowd of about 100 supporters and undecided Iowa caucusgoers before the tipoff.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley appears Saturday at an Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball game at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. She also held a campaign event in Coralville. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)
Both are household names. One is a record-breaking college women’s basketball icon with a top-five ranking, 12-1 record and nation-leading 30.5 points per game average. The other grills presidential hopefuls on live TV.
Calling herself a “basketball mom,” Haley told a small crowd at the Iowa Athletic Club sports bar and restaurant that she was “super excited to see the Lady Hawkeyes.”
“What a team they are,” Haley said. “What a great coach they have. Caitlin Collins is phenomenal.”
Haley also greeted and chatted with Republican former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who attended Saturday’s game and served with Haley in the Trump administration as U.S. ambassador to China. During half-time, Haley walked through the stands — shaking hands, hugging, high-fiving and posing for selfies with Hawkeye fans.
Haley flubs name of Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark
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