Haley referenced the debate last summer over removing the Confederate symbol from the South Carolina statehouse following a mass shooting at an historic African-American church in Charleston by a white gunman pictured in photos holding a Confederate flag.

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"The KKK came to South Carolina from out of state to protest on our statehouse grounds. We saw and looked at true hate in the eyes last year in Charleston," Haley said, speaking alongside Rubio at a rally in Atlanta.

Trump has faced much condemnation from Republican rivals and party figures, including Mitt Romney, stemming from a CNN interview Sunday where Trump claimed ignorance about former KKK grand wizard David Duke, who last week encouraged his radio listeners to vote for Trump. "I know nothing about David Duke, I know nothing about white supremacists," Trump told CNN. "I will not stop until we fight a man that chooses not to disavow the KKK," Haley continued. "That is not a part of our party, that is not who we want as president. We we allow not allow that in our country.""I know nothing about David Duke, I know nothing about white supremacists," Trump told CNN.