She wants him to drop out.
Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, vying for the second position in the GOP presidential contest, engaged in a direct confrontation during an Iowa town hall on Sunday night. Speaking at the Fireside Grill in Altoona, Haley took aim at DeSantis, stating, “While Ron is spreading falsehoods about me, I’m here to share the truth about him.” Despite her usual avoidance of negativity, Haley stressed that resorting to lies for victory is unacceptable. The rivalry between the two candidates, both trailing significantly behind former President Donald Trump in polls, has escalated in recent weeks as they seek to establish themselves as the primary alternative to Trump in the GOP race.
The distinct aspect of this confrontation was Haley’s decision to address DeSantis directly at the end of her standard stump speech. Although she occasionally responds to questions about DeSantis, she has generally refrained from directly criticizing him, maintaining a consistent stance in her stump speech throughout most of the campaign. The ongoing feud has involved attacks from super PACs supporting each candidate on issues such as ties to China and support for Israel.
Haley’s comments on Sunday began with dissatisfaction regarding pro-DeSantis ads’ lack of accuracy. Despite her campaign releasing a digital ad criticizing DeSantis for his stance on entitlements, Haley had refrained from engaging with DeSantis’ increasing criticism until this point. In her speech, she critiqued DeSantis on spending and energy policy and raised the issue of his campaign with Rep. Thomas Massie in Iowa, accusing DeSantis of inconsistency in his pro-Israel stance.
In response, DeSantis clarified Massie’s position on foreign aid and reiterated his strong support for Israel. His campaign press secretary, Bryan Griffin, accused Haley of attempting to divert attention from her record on Gaza refugees and her endorsement of U.S. tax dollars going to the Gaza Strip. With the Iowa caucus approaching, the latest poll indicates Trump leading the GOP field with 51% support, followed by DeSantis at 19% and Haley at 16%. The competition for second place remains within the margin of error, adding intensity to the unfolding GOP presidential race.
