Haley is top spender in $100 million splurge as she tries to hold on to progress in Iowa

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has emerged as the top ad spender among Republican candidates in Iowa, while the Republican presidential hopefuls have spent more than $100 million combined on ads in the state.

Haley, along with super PACs that support her, has spent roughly $30 million in the Hawkeye State, with nearly $5 million more in ad reserves, according to NBC News.

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Haley’s campaign has spent $4.6 million on ads in the state, with $1.3 million in reserves, while the pro-Haley super PAC SFA Fund spent $25 million on ads in 2023 and has nearly $3.3 million more in reserves, according to AdImpact.

The former governor is hoping for a strong finish in the Iowa caucuses later this month, for which she polls third. Former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) are polling first and second in the state, respectively. Haley is also hoping to finish in at least second place in New Hampshire, where she does poll second, according to RealClearPolitics.

DeSantis’s campaign has placed its main focus on the Hawkeye State, where he polls second, spending $2.3 million on ads in Iowa in 2023, with at least $400,000 more scheduled before the Jan. 15 caucuses. DeSantis has garnered the endorsement of Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), which his campaign has made sure to tout, also attacking Haley in several ads.

Never Back Down, a super PAC that supports DeSantis, has been the second largest spender in the state, dropping $17.6 million on ads in 2023. However, the group has pulled the remainder of its ad reservations due to internal conflict. Fight Right and Good Fight, which also back DeSantis, have spent $1.3 million combined on ads reserved for January.

Trump’s campaign has spent $4.1 million of its campaign chest on ads in Iowa, while the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. dropped $11.4 million on Iowa ads in 2023.

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The former president holds a 32.7-point lead over DeSantis in Iowa, where DeSantis polls at 18.6%. Haley polls shortly behind DeSantis at 16.1%.

The Washington Examiner has reached out to Haley’s campaign for comment.