DeSantis Campaign Slams Haley for Democrat Mega-Donor Money
The presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is attacking former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, his fellow Republican primary challenger, over a report that Democrat megadonor Reid Hoffman gave $250,000 to a PAC supporting her presidential bid.
According to a report from the New York Times, Hoffman, who cofounded LinkedIn, donated $250,000 to the pro-Haley super PAC SFA Fund Inc. His team checked prior to giving the donation, and the PAC agreed to accept the money despite Hoffman’s support of President Biden. It is far from Hoffman’s first time giving to causes viewed as anti-Trump; he financially supported E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit against the former president as well.
DeSantis’s team, which has dealt with drama and departures from the pro-DeSantis PAC Never Back Down, was quick to respond to the news.
“It makes perfect sense that liberal Democrat billionaires would support Nikki Haley’s bid for the White House, because she is a liberal,” DeSantis for President press secretary Bryan Griffin said.
“She would let corporations set immigration policy, roll out the red carpet for China, hike taxes on hardworking Americans, and require social media users to register with the government,” he continued, adding, “Ron DeSantis is bearing the banner of conservatism in this nomination contest and will defeat the swamp, starting with Nikki Haley.”
“WOW, another Democrat megadonor is supporting Nikki Haley. They know she will kowtow to their every demand, from opening our borders to being weak on China,” the DeSantis War Room wrote.
“Will Hillary Clinton — Haley’s inspiration for running for office — start donating to her as well?” it asked.
Haley has not been choosy about the support she has received in recent weeks, stating during an appearance on Fox News that she is “thrilled” to have individuals such as Jaime Dimon, whom the DeSantis War Room described as a “Hillary Clinton donor and Wall Street CEO Jamie Dimon,” supporting her.
The news of Democrat donors backing Haley also comes as anti-Trump GOP senators look to the former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. as the best alternative to Trump.
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MSNBC, CNN“She has better prospects than he does because her numbers are going up and his are coming down. Usually, you want to place your bet on someone who is doing better,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said, referring to DeSantis and Haley.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) also said Haley has “acquitted herself really well in the debates, and I think has done well out on the stump.”
“Part of running for national office — especially in those early states — is relatability, and I think she’s got a good retail political style. Seems to be winning over some people,” he said.
Famed establishment figure Paul Ryan has also been caught trying to rally the troops for Haley, urging Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), chairman of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, to publicly support the presidential hopeful.
“I think now is the time for a guy like you to endorse,” he wrote to Gallagher in a text.
“Plus, Her foreign policy/world views track closest to yours. She brings the most excitement. I like Ron, but don’t think he is the growth stock Niki [sic] is. Just following up per our talk [in] September. Go Packers!” he added, although Gallagher has made no such endorsement.
All of these realities will likely add to the fire during Wednesday evening’s debate, which will see both Haley and DeSantis — as well as Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie — take the stage as they effectively fight for second and third place in the GOP primary race. Haley is continuing to lead DeSantis in both South Carolina and New Hampshire, but DeSantis has maintained an edge in Iowa — something Haley hopes to change.
Former Governor of South Carolina and United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during the third Republican presidential primary debate on November 8, 2023. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty)
Anti-Trump GOP Senators View Haley as Better than DeSantis to Take Down Trump
Anti-Trump Republican senators are beginning to view former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, rather than Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, as their best bet in defeating former President Donald Trump, according to reports.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) is among those urging Republicans to unite behind an alternative to Trump, and at this point he appears to view that individual as Haley.
“She has better prospects than he does because her numbers are going up and his are coming down. Usually, you want to place your bet on someone who is doing better,” he said, according to the Hill.
Other Republican senators have also publicly acknowledged Haley as someone who is “starting to move ahead” in the race.
“I do believe that she’s starting to move ahead. To use the [Formula 1 racing] analogy, she’s probably in the P2 position now, moved up ahead of DeSantis,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said following the Koch family-backed PAC Americans for Prosperity backing the presidential hopeful.
“If DeSantis doesn’t perform in Iowa, and she does, then it sets her up for New Hampshire, and it becomes an interesting contest,” Tillis, who is not making an endorsement, continued, noting that DeSantis “peaked early and probably was playing it a little bit too safe at a time when he could have had a breakout moment.”
“Using a Florida, NASA analogy, I think the launch window has passed,” he added.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) agreed that Haley is seeing momentum at the right time in the race.
“After the Iowa caucuses, after New Hampshire, I think this will be narrowed down to a two-person race,” he said, adding that Haley has “momentum.”
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) also said Haley appears to be positioning herself as the alternate to Trump, asserting that she “acquitted herself really well in the debates, and I think has done well out on the stump.”
“Part of running for national office — especially in those early states — is relatability, and I think she’s got a good retail political style. Seems to be winning over some people,” he said.
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NBC NewsThese sentiments are not new, as establishment figures are beginning to more publicly rally around Haley.
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan, for example, was recently caught attempting to steer presidential endorsements to Haley, urging Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), chairman of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, to publicly support her.
“I think now is the time for a guy like you to endorse,” he reportedly wrote to Gallagher, who is not endorsing anyone in the race.“Plus, Her foreign policy/world views track closest to yours. She brings the most excitement. I like Ron, but don’t think he is the growth stock Niki [sic] is. Just following up per our talk [in] September. Go Packers!” he added.
The tension between the Haley campaign and DeSantis campaign is, indeed, heating up as the field continues to narrow, but neither of them have been able to put a dent in former President Donald Trump’s leads both nationally and in early primary states. But the race between the two is getting more intense, as Haley’s campaign is dropping millions in New Hampshire and Iowa as their respective election days draw closer.
According to RealClearPolitics, Haley is currently in second place in South Carolina, ahead of DeSantis, who is in third place. She is also in second place in New Hampshire, where DeSantis has dropped to fourth place. However, he has the edge in Iowa, leading Haley by an average of three points in the Hawkeye State.
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