Haley super PAC takes Trump tone on ‘DeSantis desperation tour’

Supporters of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s presidential run are ramping up criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) 2024 campaign as she looks to oust him from his second-place status behind former President Donald Trump.

Stand for America Fund, the super PAC supporting Haley’s 2024 bid, labeled DeSantis’s most recent swing in Iowa the “DeSantis DeSperation tour” as the governor looks to complete his visits to all 99 counties in the state.

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In a press release, the super PAC said the Florida governor’s campaign is “floundering.”

“Florida Man is working his way across the Hawkeye State to save his campaign ahead of the Iowa caucuses. 99 counties in 99 days is a lot of ground to cover to really convince the voters and donors that his campaign isn’t flatlining,” it read, referencing the 97 days until the Iowa first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses take place.

The practice of traveling to each of Iowa’s counties during a campaign is known as the “full Grassley,” in homage to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who holds meetings in all of the state’s counties annually. DeSantis committed to completing the circuit earlier this summer and passed the halfway point at the end of August, hitting 53 counties.

SFA Fund’s release also mentioned the DeSantis campaign’s recent choice to relocate one-third of its 56 employees to the Hawkeye State as the caucuses near. It questioned whether the strategy was “too little, too late” as DeSantis has declined in national polls and some key state measures while Trump has risen.

SFA Fund lead strategist Mark Harris called DeSantis’s latest Iowa trip a “Hail Mary” in order to garner press coverage as the campaign continues to dwindle.

“While DeSantis continues on his DeSperation Tour across Iowa, Nikki Haley’s campaign has been investing in states across the country and as her poll numbers continue to rise, voters will continue to learn why she is the best candidate to take on President Biden,” he added.

The super PAC supporting DeSantis, Never Back Down’s communications director Erin Perrine responded in a statement, saying, “Trump has spent over $25 million spreading lies about Ron DeSantis because he’s the only candidate Trump is worried about.”

“Nikki Haley has had a free pass for months and was already forced to abandon Iowa because voters were rejecting her,” she added.

DeSantis’s campaign did not provide a comment to the Washington Examiner.

The Haley-supporting PAC’s use of alliteration and play on the Florida governor’s last name in “DeSantis desperation tour” echoes Trump’s past and repeated attacks on DeSantis. The Trump campaign has long deemed DeSantis’s campaign as doomed, pointing to its grappling with staff restructuring and financial woes over the summer, coupled with slipping poll numbers. SFA Fund took a similar angle, suggesting DeSantis’s recent staff move is evidence of the campaign’s downward turn.

Haley and DeSantis are emerging for some in the Republican Party as the two possible alternatives to Trump that could take him on in the primary. While Haley still polls below DeSantis nationally and in the key state of Iowa, she has surged in New Hampshire, which hosts the first-in-the-nation primaries after the Iowa caucuses, surpassing the Florida governor. Further, Haley has polled ahead of DeSantis in South Carolina, where she has an advantage due to it being her home state she once served as governor.

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The campaigns for both Haley and DeSantis will make competing pitches to an alliance of billionaire donors Friday, as Republicans look to consolidate support behind one alternative to Trump. The American Opportunity Alliance, established by billionaire Paul Singer, will meet with the campaigns in Texas. Additional Republican megadonors Ken Griffin and Harlan Crow were involved with planning the meeting.

In the third fundraising quarter of 2023, DeSantis’s campaign said it pulled in $15 million, with $13.5 million in cash on hand. However, just $5 million of that sum is available for use during the primary. Haley’s campaign announced an over $11 million haul, with $11.6 million on hand. Where she bests DeSantis is in cash available for spending during the primary race, posting $9.1 million.