Stand for America, the super PAC backing former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for the Republican presidential nomination, has spent more than $3.5 million targeting her 2024 rival, Ron DeSantis, over the past two months — while avoiding possible attacks on front-runner Donald Trump, receipts federation shows.
The strategic spending is intended to set the record straight on “DeSantis’ lies” and increase awareness of Haley’s record, SFA spokeswoman Brittany Yanick told The Post, without citing any strategy to counter Trump.
SFA has also spent $25,000 on advertising against President Biden and more than $28 million on pro-Haley initiatives.
“Ron DeSantis’ lies and desperate actions didn’t work; it hurts and affects his support,” said Yanick. “We will not allow DeSantis to spread lies about Nikki’s record when it comes to China or terrorism in the Middle East. We’re focused on making sure voters understand Nikki Haley’s record and DeSantis’ latest attempt to rewrite history amid his sinking campaign ship.”
The SFA’s millions went toward ads and other spending targeting Iowa and New Hampshire, according to data reviewed by The Post, and comes as Haley and DeSantis compete for second place in both primary states behind frontrunner Trump, 77. .
Republican presidential nominee former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis participate in the NBC News Republican Presidential Primary Debate on November 8, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Getty Images A super PAC supporting Nikki Haley is focusing its funds on defeating Ron DeSantis, not Donald Trump. Getty Images
Trump came in at an average of 61.6% support nationally compared to DeSantis’ 13.7% and Haley’s 9.8%, according to RealClearPolitics.
In Iowa and New Hampshire, the 45th president leads DeSantis, 45, and Haley, 51, by more than 30 points, according to the same sources.
Both campaigns initially targeted early states in an effort to show voters they were the best candidates to unseat Trump, but their focus has recently shifted to attacks on each other.
Never Back Down, the main super PAC supporting DeSantis, also focused on Haley — dropping a relatively small $375,000 to target Trump and spending more than $4.5 million against the former ambassador to the United Nations, the organization confirmed to The Post.
Haley’s campaign said the effort was made to combat DeSantis’ “lies.” Getty Images
The focus on Haley has reportedly led to infighting, with Never Back Down CEO Chris Jankowski resigning last week due to reported frustration with the trajectory of the PAC’s strategy.
As a counter to the DeSantis camp, the SFA increased its negative ad spending against the Florida governor, allocating $3.2 million so far this month compared to just under $300,000 in October, records show.
“Gov. Ron DeSantis has had more negative publicity against him than any other candidate, and is still the only one who can beat Donald Trump,” said Never Back Down spokesperson Jess Szymanski. “Never Back Down has reinforced DeSantis’ successful, conservative track record, which stands in stark contrast to Nikki Haley’s flip-flopping establishment, and her commitment to putting country before self, unlike Donald Trump. Governor DeSantis is the leader and fighter our country needs.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, listens to Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speak during the Family Leaders Thanksgiving Forum. AP
The DeSantis campaign argued Haley’s actions only helped the GOP front-runner
“Nikki Haley and her donors greedily wasted millions of dollars targeting Ron DeSantis in Iowa,” DeSantis deputy campaign manager David Polyansky said in a statement to The Post. “Since a DeSantis voter would choose Trump as their second choice, every negative ad he runs against DeSantis only helps advance Donald Trump’s candidacy rather than advancing his own position.
“Actually every dollar Nikki Haley raises and spends to bash Ron DeSantis should be reported as an in-kind contribution to the Trump campaign.”
An October Des Moines Register poll showed that 41% of Iowans who supported DeSantis chose Trump as their second choice, with just 27% saying Haley was No. 2 them.
Meanwhile, 34% of Haley’s supporters chose DeSantis as their second choice, with only 12% choosing Trump as their replacement.
Other White House hopefuls have spent more than $25 million against the Florida governor, and a little more than $18 million against Trump, according to published data by Rob Pyers, director of research for Target Books California.
“It’s easy to punch Ron DeSantis, his record is a target-rich environment filled with pro-[Chinese Communist Party] positions and anti-American politics like killing Social Security and Medicare,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in reaction to Haley’s PAC spending.
Trump continues to dominate the GOP field by an average of 40 points nationally. Getty Images
MAGA Inc., the main super PAC supporting Trump, has spent more than $23 million on ads against DeSantis and just over $6.7 million against Biden.
On the campaign trail, DeSantis and Haley have been hesitant to fully denounce Trump’s record, with both candidates saying they would support his Republican nomination even if he were convicted in one of his upcoming criminal trials.
However, both White House candidates have stepped up their criticism throughout the race.
DeSantis has called on Trump to join other candidates at the GOP debate and has warned that Trump will only “energize” Democrats and lead to a Biden victory.
Haley has said “drama and chaos,” followed the former commander-in-chief, but added that she agreed with many of his policies.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
