Gov. Gavin Newsom says Nikki Haley is 'one of our better surrogates' and questions why she is staying in the race after stunning defeat in her home state

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he wants Nikki Haley to stay in the 2024 presidential primary race because she is essentially a 'surrogate' for Democrats.

After an embarrassing defeat to Donald Trump in her home state primary in South Carolina on Saturday, former U.N. Amb. Haley said she is sticking to her word and staying in the race through Super Tuesday.

Newsom said there's no shot Haley can win the Republican nomination against Trump after the former president swept all four early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

He said it's 'beyond me' why Haley wants to stay in the race, but is OK with it because it helps Democrats for a fellow Republican to point out Trump's downfalls.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he wants Nikki Haley to stay in the Republican primary because she is the 'best surrogate' for Democrats making similar points about ex-President Donald Trump 

Former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley said in her speech after Saturday's primary that she plans to keep her word and stay in the race even after crushing defeat in her home state of South Carolina

'She's making points I'm applauding every single day about his temperament, his capacity, his unraveling in real time,' Newsom told NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker on Sunday.

He added: 'And so I think she's been incredibly effective, so I hope she stays in, personally.'

Republicans theorize that Democrats are planning to run Newsom on the 2024 primary ticket instead of President Joe Biden.

Newsom insists that he has no plans to make a bid for the White House this cycle – but Republicans aren't convinced that he won't step in at the Democrat's nominating convention over the summer.

He told NBC during his Sunday interview that any calls for him to jump in the race are just 'idle chatter' and a 'sideshow.'

'It's not even an interesting conversation,' he added, saying that he '100%' rules out the possibility.

A Republican candidate must amass 1,215 delegates in primary elections to earn the GOP nomination. After Saturday's election, Trump has 107 delegates and Haley has only 17. She lost by 20 percent to Trump in a state where she was once governor.

'I don't know why Democrats would want her out of the race,' Gov. Newsom said, insisting: 'She's one of our better surrogates.'

'I mean, she's defining the opposition of Trump incredibly effectively.'

Haley has repeatedly said she plans to stay in the race until Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states and American Samoa will hold their Republican primaries. There are 874 Republican delegates up for grabs on that single day of voting.

'I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president,' Haley said in her speech Saturday from Charleston.

'I'm a woman of my word. I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.'

Donald Trump delivered a victory speech just minutes after the polls in South Carolina closed at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday – and did not once mention Haley's name, instead shifting focus to the general election in November

The South Carolina primary race was called for Trump just seconds after polls closed at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.

Trump's victory speech from Columbia, South Carolina started at 7:02 p.m. and did not include a single mention of his remaining competitor as the former president shifts strategies from the primary to November's general election.

Trump said November 5, 2024 will be the 'most important date in history.'

'Nine months is a long time,' he noted of the remaining time before the presidential election later this year. 'I just wish we could do it quicker.'

'You know, in certain countries, you're allowed to call your election date,' he added. 'If I had the right to do it, I'd do it tomorrow. I'd say we're having an election tomorrow.'

Haley's loss on Saturday marks the first time a Republican candidate has lost their home state primary election in more than 50 years. The previous was Richard Nixon, who lost California's primary to Ronald Reagan – who was also from California.