Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pushed back on media reports that he is “skipping” New Hampshire as his campaign shifts resources and attention to South Carolina, where he is trailing in polls. is highly regarded and has gained some support.
“We had a free morning. And, yeah, we were probably planning on sleeping in and resting. So we're like, 'You know what? Let's use that time,'” DeSantis said Thursday. , in response to FOX News' Alexis McAdams. After the Iowa caucuses, he campaigned in South Carolina and then flew to New Hampshire.
“So we went to South Carolina, canceled some events, and then did what we had planned for New Hampshire,” DeSantis continued. “It was somehow caricatured, even though it didn’t ‘skip’ New Hampshire. South Carolina was added to that list. ”
Fox News confirmed this week that the DeSantis campaign is moving ahead with plans to move the majority of its staff from Iowa to South Carolina rather than New Hampshire (where polls show that Democrats are more likely to vote in the primary). Among those with the highest approval rating, former President Trump's approval rating was 50%).
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Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks with supporters at Lovell Winery in Derry, New Hampshire, on January 17, 2024. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
McAdams asked DeSantis if she was surprised by how well Haley is doing in New Hampshire (33%, according to the poll). RCP averageto which DeSantis responded, “She's not doing that well, believe me.”
“She attracted media attention and then came under intense scrutiny,” DeSantis said. “She can't beat Donald Trump in New Hampshire, and she definitely can't beat him in her home state of South Carolina.”
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Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a campaign event at Jethros Barbecue on January 11, 2024 in Ames, Iowa. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
DeSantis, who finished second in Iowa, sees shifting resources to South Carolina as an opportunity to beat Haley on her home court and knock her out of the race.
“when nikki haley “If Haley doesn't win in her home state, she's done and this will be a two-person race,” Andrew Romeo, DeSantis' campaign communications director, said in a statement. I won't waste my time.'' home ground. ”
Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a “Never Back Down” campaign event in Keene, New Hampshire, November 21, 2023. (Reuters/Sophie Park/File)
DeSantis currently has an approval rating of 11% in South Carolina and 6% in New Hampshire, according to RCP Average. Currently, President Trump's approval rating is 52%.
“It's all about South Carolina,” a political associate of Mr. DeSantis told Fox News this week.
“They haven't completely given up on New Hampshire. They're pursuing both states, but they're really looking at South Carolina,” the source added.
DeSantis' campaign has touted her support in South Carolina, noting that she makes more money in the state than Haley.
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“Even though South Carolina is Nikki Haley’s home state, DeSantis has already built an impressive grassroots organization,” a campaign spokesperson recently told Fox News Digital. “He has the support of 74 current and former elected officials, compared to only 14 for Haley, compared to 19 for DeSantis in the state House of Representatives.” It is.”
Mr. DeSantis is scheduled to make at least three visits to New Hampshire on Friday before campaigning in South Carolina on Saturday and Sunday. The Florida governor told reporters he would “most likely” return to New Hampshire on Sunday or late Monday, on the eve of the nation's first presidential primary.
New Hampshire residents will vote in the primary election on Tuesday, January 23rd.
Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
