Nikki Haley says she doesn't need to “hop around state-to-state” as she reacts to the news that her presidential opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is heading to his home state ahead of the New Hampshire primary. .
“We're going to take this one step at a time. We played hard at Iowa. We're going to play hard at New Hampshire. We're going to play hard at South Carolina. We're going to move forward. We're going to continue. We're not going to have to jump state to state,” Haley said in an interview on Fox News Digital. “We’re going to be in every game and make sure we fight to get every vote.”
We will continue to do so. No need to jump state to state.
The two-term South Carolina governor, who later served as U.N. ambassador in the Trump administration, said he welcomed DeSantis to his home state of South Carolina but thought it was a “mistake.”
“I think it's a mistake to ignore New Hampshire like that,” Haley said. “But if he wants, I welcome him to South Carolina.”
Surprise move: DeSantis campaign tries to beat Haley in his own state after Iowa caucuses
Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (left) and former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (right). (Related news organizations)
Haley's sharp remarks about the Florida governor came after DeSantis' campaign announced he would be heading to Greenville, South Carolina, to hold a rally Tuesday morning.
Trump seizes opportunity with approach to Iowa caucuses
DeSantis later told Fox News he would be heading to New Hampshire later that day. New Hampshire will hold its first primary and second general election on the Republican nomination calendar on January 23, eight days after the Iowa caucuses.
Campaign signs for Republican presidential candidates, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on the road in front of Drake University where CNN will host the presidential debate on January 10, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. are lined up. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Typically, Republican candidates move on to campaign in New Hampshire after Monday's Iowa caucuses.
Haley appears to be doing well at Iowa State despite media expectations
south carolina Another key early voting state will hold its first Southern primary on a Republican date on February 24th.
Republican presidential candidate and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event at the Thunder Bay Grill on January 13, 2024 in Davenport, Iowa. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a campaign event at the Grasswagon in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on January 13, 2024. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
On Saturday night, the final Des Moines Register/Mediacom/NBC News poll of people likely to participate in the Republican caucuses was released.
Opinion polls show Trump's approval rating at 48%, Haley at 20%, and DeSantis at 16%.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a billionaire biotech entrepreneur and first-time candidate, has been campaigning relentlessly across the Hawkeye State for the past few months and is polling at 8% support.
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The survey, conducted by longtime pollster Ann Selzer, has a reputation for accuracy in past Republican presidential caucuses and is considered by many to be the gold standard for Iowa polls.
Get the latest on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more with Fox News Digital's Election Hub.
