DES MOINES, Iowa — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign raised eyebrows Friday night by announcing that his first stop after Monday’s Iowa caucuses will be South Carolina instead of New Hampshire — the next contest on the GOP nominating calendar.
After holding a viewing party with supporters in West Des Moines Monday night, the 45-year-old plans to fly to Greenville, SC for an event Tuesday morning before returning to the Granite State for an evening town hall with CNN, his campaign confirmed.
DeSantis’ campaign schedule was first reported by the Associated Press.
“This campaign is built for the long term. We intend to compete for every delegate available in New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina and then into March,” spokesman Andrew Romeo told The Post.
Although the DeSantis camp insists that their man is not leaving New Hampshire ahead of the Jan. 23 election, polls show his standing has been falling in the state for months.
As of Friday afternoon, DeSantis averaged 6.5% support in New Hampshire, a distant fourth behind former President Donald Trump (43.5%), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (29.3%) and recalling former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (11.0% ).
Ron DeSantis plans to go all out in New Hampshire and South Carolina, according to his campaign. Reuters
In April of last year, by contrast, DeSantis averaged 29.3% support in the RCP average — exactly where Haley stands now.
In South Carolina, which holds its first title on February 24, DeSantis is also far behind with an average support of 11%, according to RCP.
Trump is ahead with an average of 52% support, while Haley is second in her home state with 21.8%.
Nikki Haley hopes to use New Hampshire as a springboard to the GOP nomination. Reuters
Despite DeSantis’ low ranking, the Florida gubernatorial campaign has made a point of bashing Haley for her six years in the Palmetto State before she became Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations.
DeSantis’ team previously boasted that their candidate had garnered 74 endorsements from current and former South Carolina elected officials, compared to 14 who had endorsed Haley.
The Florida governor also invited two of those supporters as his guests to Wednesday night’s debate with Haley in Des Moines.
DeSantis has also stepped up his attacks on Haley as she has risen in the polls, arguing that her campaign is controlled by liberal donors and that she has not touched on issues that drive the party’s grassroots.
Ron DeSantis has been balancing his duties as Florida governor while launching a presidential campaign. AFP via Getty Images Donald Trump is the 2024 GOP primary runaway. ZUMAPRESS.com
DeSantis has credited a strong showing in Iowa with changing the landscape of the GOP race.
“I think being the underdog suits me better,” he told reporters Tuesday. “Starting with Iowa, you’re going to see a lot of volatility with this.”
“We’re going to kick off our campaign going into overdrive in South Carolina and New Hampshire. We hope Donald Trump is prepared for a long and ugly campaign as we work to share Ron DeSantis’ vision across America. Game on,” Romeo added on Friday.
In 2016, then-candidate Trump bounced back from defeat in the Iowa caucuses by sweeping the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries, giving him a lead in the Republican nomination race that he has never relinquished.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
