Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has downplayed the importance of winning Iowa for her 2024 White House ambitions, but her allied super PAC’s spending indicates her backers hope she can at least overhaul Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Hawkeye State.
SFA Fund, Inc. — the super PAC backing the former ambassador to the United Nations — has spent more than $4 million in Iowa against DeSantis since an Oct. 30 Des Moines Register poll showed the pair tied for second behind former President Donald Trump, federal receipts reviewed by The Post show.
The latest edition of the poll, released Monday, showed Haley in third place on 16% support, trailing DeSantis by three percentage points — and lagging Trump by 35 points.
Notably, the Haley super PAC has spent no funding on attacking the 45th president.
The spending gives a sign that Haley supporters see potential in knocking out DeSantis in Iowa, where the Florida governor has devoted much of his campaign’s focus.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley’s backers hope she can overhaul Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Iowa. REUTERSAs Haley has risen in the polls, the two White House hopefuls have increasingly gone after each other on the debate stage and over the airwaves, sparring over China, Gaza and their respective gubernatorial records.
“The way I look at it, we just need to have a good showing in Iowa,” Haley told a town hall in Sioux City on Friday. “I don’t think that means we have to win necessarily, but I think that means we have to have a good showing.”
Haley’s campaign has flatly stated she is “second” in Iowa — despite polls showing her rivaling DeSantis for the coveted spot — and has pointed to the endorsement of the Koch network-backed Americans for Prosperity Action, which they claim will boost her ground game in Iowa through “unmatched grassroots army and resources.”
Haley is focusing her efforts on early states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. AFP via Getty Images
DeSantis has sent a portion of his staff to Des Moines and has focused a majority of his efforts in Iowa. APHaley, 51, was also expected to be endorsed by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu Tuesday night, giving her a boost in the first primary state over DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
DeSantis and Haley have not fought over New Hampshire to the magnitude of Iowa, as Haley leads the Florida governor by over 10% in the Granite State
SFA Fund, Inc. has only spent $170,000 on anti-DeSantis expenditures in New Hampshire, federal receipts show.
The super PAC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.
