Ron DeSantis targeted by more negative expenditures than 2024 rivals, new data show

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) was the target of the most attack campaign spending in the GOP 2024 primary race, according to new data.

With less than six weeks before the crucial Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses, more money has been spent targeting DeSantis than on former President Donald Trump and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, his top competitors in the 2024 race, along with President Joe Biden when evaluating campaign spending from groups independent of the candidates.

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More than $28.1 million was spent from independent expenditures negatively attacking DeSantis, while more than $20.6 million was spent attacking Biden, $18.8 million spent attacking Trump, and $6.3 million was spent attacking Haley, according to data compiled by Rob Pyers, research director at California Target Book.

While this spending wouldn’t include TV and digital ads from the candidates themselves, it reflects spending from their allied super PACs as well as outside political advocacy groups that are attempting to influence the primary race, including Americans for Prosperity, which endorsed Haley last month and the anti-Trump Lincoln Project. The majority of the funds were spent on digital and television advertising, direct mail, canvassing, text messaging services, and get-out-the-vote phone calls.

Less money was spent attacking the three lower-tiered 2024 candidates still running, including $70,390 against biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, $2,664 against former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and $1,875 against former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

DeSantis’s allies maintain the negative spending is an indication he is the best candidate to win the White House next year. “Ron DeSantis continues to be the most attacked presidential candidate on either side of the aisle because Republicans and Democrats know he is the candidate to beat,” said Carly Atchison, a national spokeswoman for the Florida governor’s presidential campaign.

But DeSantis faces the herculean task of defeating Trump, the current front-runner in the GOP primary race, who polls at 61.3% compared to DeSantis’s 13% in a RealClearPolitics poll average. Plus, he faces an insurgent Haley campaign that sometimes rivals his for second place in the early-nominating states and national surveys.

In a NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll released two days before Wednesday night’s fourth GOP debate, DeSantis and Haley were virtually tied for second place behind Trump at 60%. The Florida governor received 11% support, while Haley received 10%, within the poll’s margin of error of 1.62%.

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Haley’s rise has led to a bitter fight with DeSantis for second place. SFA Fund, the super PAC backing Haley, recently spent $1 million on an Iowa and New Hampshire ad buy, with $640,503 of the funds spent attacking DeSantis, according to Pyers.

DeSantis has committed to making winning the Iowa caucuses a pinnacle of his 2024 primary race, and a standout performance during this week’s debate may bolster some of his polling and fundraising. But it remains yet to be seen if he can dethrone Trump from his perch atop the GOP.