Judge Judy endorses Nikki Haley

Reality TV heavyweight “Judge Judy” Sheindlin endorsed Nikki Haley for president on Tuesday.

“I’m proud to endorse Nikki Haley because she is whip smart, has executive credentials and was a superb governor,” Sheindlin said. “She has international gravitas as ambassador to the United Nations. She is principled, measured and has that elusive quality of real common sense. I truly think she can restore America and believe she is the future of this great nation.”

Haley is undoubtedly excited to have the support of her own reality-TV star to leverage against Donald Trump’s Apprentice fame. “Judge Judy is a no-nonsense lady who has earned the respect of millions of Americans from her courtroom by being thoughtful, fair and honest,” Haley said in a press release. “I’m honored to have her support.” 

But Haley’s latest endorsement may not be enough to tip her over the edge in the New Hampshire primary. According to a recent poll from the Boston Globe, the former United Nation’s ambassador is losing steam in the early-voting state. Haley was polling at 29 percent last month, but has since dropped to 20 percent in January, twenty points behind Donald Trump. According to CNN’s latest poll, however, Haley is lagging just seven points behind Trump. 

Despite her recent gaffes about the cause of the Civil War and growing up with “black friends,” Cockburn doesn’t suspect New Hampshire will sour on Haley anytime soon: she has a newfound affinity for the Granite State and recently told New Hampshire Republicans that they “correct” the results from the Iowa primaries. Haley later clarified that she didn’t intend to shade Iowa and only meant that every state has its own personality.

Haley has gained enough traction to draw Trump’s attacks. Last week, the former president began running ads against Haley for the first time in New Hampshire. Along with the MAGA super PAC, he has spent $4.5 million on anti-Haley commercials.

“President Trump has long said he’d train his sights on whomever is number two in the race,” Jason Miller, a Trump advisor, said. “Rob DeSanctimonious is approaching single digits everywhere and his campaign is on life support, which means it’s Nikki Haley’s turn in the barrel.”