The Republican presidential primaries and caucuses are almost here. But it looks like it’s all just too much for one politician.
And a major GOP candidate threw in the towel at the last second.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley’s momentum has ebbed and flowed in Iowa, and a veiled jab at voters there may have indicated her reservations about winning the election.
Haley, who has gained ground on Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) but still trails him by 2 points and is more than 35 points behind front-runner former President Donald Trump, told a crowd of New Hampshire voters on Wednesday that they will “correct” Iowa’s Republican presidential choice, referring to the state’s primary taking place one week after the caucuses.
“You know Iowa starts it. You know that you correct it,” she said during an event in Milford, New Hampshire. Attendees applauded in response to her remark.
“And then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home. That’s what we do.”
DeSantis’ campaign quickly echoed her remarks, calling them “unreal.”
“Nikki Haley belittles Iowa caucusgoers — claiming their decisions will need to be corrected by New Hampshire voters,” DeSantis War Room posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Unreal.
Nikki Haley belittles Iowa caucus goers — claiming their decisions will need to be corrected by New Hampshire voters.
"You know Iowa starts it. You know that you correct it…and then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home." pic.twitter.com/CCRUOHt0Qp
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) January 4, 2024
Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), a prominent DeSantis supporter, also criticized the former ambassador’s statement, writing on X, “I trust Iowans to make their own decisions.” There are no ‘corrections’ required!”
Andrew Romeo, DeSantis’ communications director, piled on, accusing her of “insulting Iowans” before the caucuses.
“While the pressure mounts on Nikki Haley and the Wall Street donors bankrolling her to buy the strong second-place finish in Iowa that her top surrogate is predicting, her closing argument is insulting Iowans by saying their votes will need to be corrected.”
Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis is “outworking and outorganizing the competition day in and day out in Iowa,” he wrote on X.
The Iowa caucuses will be held in less than two weeks on January 15, followed by the New Hampshire primary on January 23.
Iowa and New Hampshire have a mixed track record of forecasting subsequent Democratic and Republican nominees, as well as eventual presidents.
South Carolina, which has traditionally held a later primary before Super Tuesday, has a better track record of selecting nominees and subsequent presidents.
The two early nominating states have historically had a rivalry over their responsibilities in selecting presidential candidates and setting the tone for primaries and caucuses across the country.
During a separate rally on Wednesday in Londonderry, New Hampshire, Haley’s recent endorsement, Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH), said Haley would “shock everyone in Iowa with a strong second.”
The DeSantis campaign worked immediately to hold Haley to this standard, preparing her for disappointment if she does not finish as well as Sununu projected.
“Having a strong second-place finish was always our goal,” Sununu said to the audience.
“We’ve got that wrapped up, guys. … We’re gonna win.”
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
