Republican presidential hopefuls Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley stepped up their efforts in Iowa as they exchanged verbal barbs about their respective campaigns’ performance — showing a renewed sense of urgency with a little more than two months to go before the nation’s first caucuses.
Both the Florida governor, 45, and the former ambassador to the United Nations, 51, polled well behind GOP front-runner Donald Trump, but both also see a path forward in the Hawkeye State, which begins the nominating calendar Jan. 15. .
Haley’s campaign announced a $10 million ad buy in Iowa and New Hampshire Monday, accusing DeSantis of running short of money in the process.
“Nikki Haley’s momentum and path to victory is clear,” Haley for President campaign manager Betsy Ankney said in a statement. “The same can’t be said for Ron DeSantis, who, despite a good showing in Iowa, couldn’t afford a cup of coffee at the Red Arrow Diner in [Manchester] New Hampshire and only tourists in South Carolina.”
The DeSantis campaign ended the third quarter with $5 million in cash on hand for the primary season, while the Haley camp had $9.1 million in primary cash on hand.
Haley and DeSantis both qualified for the third GOP debate in Miami. Getty Images
In response, DeSantis Communications Director Andrew Romeo argued Haley “doesn’t have a mathematical path to victory” in Iowa.
“There is not enough money for Nikki Haley to hide her pro-China, pro-Gaza aid, pro-gas tax and pro-Hillary record,” he said. “When the American people look behind the curtain, they will see that she does not have the broad record of conservative achievements that Ron DeSantis boasts. There is clearly no way Nikki Haley can defeat Donald Trump, and every dollar spent on her candidacy is equal to the Campaign Trump. Ron DeSantis has the best combination of endorsements, ground game, and message in early states, which is why the former president continues to attack only him. We’re confident Iowa voters will see who best represents them and their values.”
Florida’s governor is on track to visit all 99 counties in Iowa before caucus day, and his campaign is launching their own $2 million ad buy in Iowa that will take place over the next two months. The DeSantis campaign also moved a third of its Florida staff to Iowa last month before a last-ditch push for support.
Haley and DeSantis have attacked each other on China, Gaza, fracking and more as tensions heat up.Getty Images
Romeo also pointed to a Des Moines Register poll showing that 41% of Trump voters listed DeSantis as their second choice, while only 16% said the same about Haley. The same poll showed Haley up 6% in the polls to tie DeSantis at 16% as the likely first choice of the Iowa Republican caucuses.
Both candidates polled higher in Iowa than their national averages. DeSantis averaged 17% in the Hawkeye State, ahead of Haley’s 14%, according to data from RealClearPolitics. Trump still leads the field at 47.3% in Iowa, but is down from his national average of 58.5%.
The Trump campaign also commented on the escalating feud between DeSantis and Haley by praising the former South Carolina governor.
Both Haley and DeSantis think they are the best alternative to Donald Trump.ZUMAPRESS.com
“In a major blow to Ron DeSanctimonious, a new report states that Nikki ‘Birdbrain’ Haley will spend $10 million in advertising bashing DeSanctus in Iowa and New Hampshire,” a Trump campaign statement read, using two of the former President’s nicknames for DeSantis and one for Hayley. “Based on recent polling in Iowa, Haley has pulled even with DeSanctus for a distant second place, showing he’s gaining momentum while he’s falling like a rock. The New Hampshire polls were even worse for DeSanctus as one poll showed him falling to fourth place.”
DeSantis and Haley are likely to face off at the fourth GOP debate in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Dec. 6
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
