Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is essentially bypassing New Hampshire to focus his campaign effort on South Carolina, a shift that comes as a super PAC backing him began laying off staff just days after he finished a distant second to Donald J. Trump in the Iowa caucuses.
A senior DeSantis campaign official said the Florida governor would leave New Hampshire — which will host its first in the nation primary in six days — after his events on Wednesday. Hours earlier, an official said a super PAC supporting Mr. DeSantis, Never Back Down, was “evaluating and paring down” some consultants, vendors and staff members. The scope of the layoffs was unclear.
The departure of Mr. DeSantis from New Hampshire, which was first reported by CBS News, shifts the dynamics in the state. He has polled poorly there, while Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who finished third in Iowa, has crept up on Mr. Trump’s significant lead in the polls.
Mr. Trump, who was scolded by a federal judge over his grousing during a defamation case against him on Wednesday, has begun focusing more of his attention on Ms. Haley, who he says is “artificially boosting” her support by courting Democrats and independents.
The former president was expected in Portsmouth for a rally on Wednesday night, but only after he again opted to spend part of his day in a New York courtroom. Mr. Trump watched the testimony of E. Jean Carroll — the writer who won a civil case against him last year over her claims he raped her in the mid-1990s — but was threatened with expulsion from the court after making comments including “witch hunt” and “con job.”
Ms. Haley, eager to try to make the race a one-on-one contest against Mr. Trump as it heads toward her native South Carolina, has accused Mr. Trump of ducking opportunities to face her in a debate, saying she would participate in future forums only if he were also onstage. Both debates scheduled for before Tuesday’s primary were soon canceled.
Jan. 17, 2024, 1:32 p.m. ET1 hour ago
1 hour ago
Nicholas Nehamas
Ron DeSantis, campaigning at a bar in Hampton, N.H., is criticizing Joe Biden for “ignoring New Hampshire,” even as he shifts his own resources away from it. His campaign just confirmed he will be holding events in South Carolina this weekend, days before the New Hampshire primary. South Carolina doesn’t vote until Feb. 24.
A senior DeSantis campaign official said the Florida governor would leave New Hampshire — which will host its first in the nation primary in six days — after his events on Wednesday. Hours earlier, an official said a super PAC supporting Mr. DeSantis, Never Back Down, was “evaluating and paring down” some consultants, vendors and staff members. The scope of the layoffs was unclear.
The departure of Mr. DeSantis from New Hampshire, which was first reported by CBS News, shifts the dynamics in the state. He has polled poorly there, while Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who finished third in Iowa, has crept up on Mr. Trump’s significant lead in the polls.
Mr. Trump, who was scolded by a federal judge over his grousing during a defamation case against him on Wednesday, has begun focusing more of his attention on Ms. Haley, who he says is “artificially boosting” her support by courting Democrats and independents.
The former president was expected in Portsmouth for a rally on Wednesday night, but only after he again opted to spend part of his day in a New York courtroom. Mr. Trump watched the testimony of E. Jean Carroll — the writer who won a civil case against him last year over her claims he raped her in the mid-1990s — but was threatened with expulsion from the court after making comments including “witch hunt” and “con job.”
Ms. Haley, eager to try to make the race a one-on-one contest against Mr. Trump as it heads toward her native South Carolina, has accused Mr. Trump of ducking opportunities to face her in a debate, saying she would participate in future forums only if he were also onstage. Both debates scheduled for before Tuesday’s primary were soon canceled.
Here’s what else to know:
- Mr. Trump appeared in court on Wednesday as Ms. Carroll took the stand and described how his claims that she was lying about her allegations of sexual assault affected her. Mr. Trump attended jury selection in the defamation case on Tuesday. A jury previously found Mr. Trump liable for sexually assaulting her, as well as for defamation.
- The independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he was moving to get his name on the presidential ballot this November by creating his own party in six states.
- Democrats, led by President Biden, have seized on Mr. Trump’s strong showing in Iowa to begin framing the general election. President Biden called Mr. Trump “the clear front-runner on the other side.” The November election, he added, “was always going to be you and me vs. extreme MAGA Republicans.”
Jan. 17, 2024, 1:32 p.m. ET1 hour ago
1 hour ago
Nicholas Nehamas
Ron DeSantis, campaigning at a bar in Hampton, N.H., is criticizing Joe Biden for “ignoring New Hampshire,” even as he shifts his own resources away from it. His campaign just confirmed he will be holding events in South Carolina this weekend, days before the New Hampshire primary. South Carolina doesn’t vote until Feb. 24.
