Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley showed that she’s unsure of her performance in Iowa, telling New Hampshire primary voters that it’s up to them to “correct” the results of the Iowa caucuses if they don’t go in her favor.
“We have an opportunity to get this right. And I know we’ll get it right and I trust you. I trust every single one of you. You know how to do this. You know Iowa starts it. You know that you correct it,” the former South Carolina governor said at a New Hampshire campaign event Wednesday. “And then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home. That’s what we do.”
The Iowa caucuses are set for Jan. 15. The New Hampshire primary is Jan. 23.
“I don’t think that’s bad for her to say,” said GOP strategist Chip Felkel. “I think, perhaps, a better way would have been explaining how different caucuses are different than just a regular vote.
“Maybe in saying that, it didn’t help her with Iowa voters, but she apparently has given up on Iowa. So she’s focused on New Hampshire and South Carolina,” he said.
Mr. Felkel said every candidate wants to win the first caucus, “but if you don’t think that that’s going to provide you any momentum, it’s time to cash in and focus on the second one.”
Fellow GOP candidate Ron DeSantis’ campaign called Ms. Haley’s comments “unreal.”
“Nikki Haley belittles Iowa caucus goers — claiming their decisions will need to be corrected by New Hampshire voters,” the DeSantis War Room wrote on X.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has endorsed Mr. DeSantis, also shot back at Ms. Haley.
“I trust Iowans to make their own decisions. No ‘corrections’ needed!’” Ms. Reynolds wrote on X.
According to polling averages by FiveThirtyEight, former President Donald Trump still leads in Iowa. Mr. DeSantis is second, with 18.6%, and Ms. Haley is third, with 16.1%.
Ms. Haley does much better in New Hampshire, with the averages of polls showing her in second at 24.8%. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is third, with 10.5%. Mr. DeSantis, the governor of Florida, grabs the fourth spot with 9.5%.
Ms. Haley and Mr. DeSantis will participate Thursday in separate town halls in Iowa hosted by CNN.
The Washington Times has reached out to Ms. Haley’s campaign for comment.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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