Republican candidate Nikki Haley made an inflammatory claim during a rally in New Hampshire, telling the audience that they could “correct” Iowans’ presidential choice.

The assertion seems to be an admission that she won’t win in Iowa where her popularity has been up and down and has been overshadowed by former President Trump’s numbers there. The cryptic jab at Iowans was viewed by many as an insult and will no doubt hurt her even further in the state.

“Haley, who has gained ground on Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) but still sits 2 points behind him and more than 35 points behind front-runner former President Donald Trump, told a crowd of New Hampshire voters on Wednesday that they will ‘correct’ Iowa’s Republican presidential choice, in reference to the state’s primary taking place one week after Iowa’s caucuses,” the Washington Examiner reported.

“You know Iowa starts it. You know that you correct it,” Haley said at an event in Milford, New Hampshire, getting applause from those in attendance and reigniting an old rivalry between the two states. “And then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home. That’s what we do.”

Rye ✅
Portsmouth ✅
Kingston ✅
Londonderry ✅
Milford ✅

Thank you Milford for closing out another wonderful swing. 600 folks packed it in tonight to hear how we make America strong and proud again, and I’m so grateful. Let’s do this! pic.twitter.com/T7NA5lk43W

— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) January 4, 2024

She notably left out Nevada which is the third state in play before South Carolina. Like Iowa, Nevada Republicans will hold a series of caucuses.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign nailed Haley over the comment, “Unreal. Nikki Haley belittles Iowa caucus-goers — claiming their decisions will need to be corrected by New Hampshire voters.”

Unreal.

Nikki Haley belittles Iowa caucus goers — claiming their decisions will need to be corrected by New Hampshire voters.

“You know Iowa starts it. You know that you correct it…and then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home.” pic.twitter.com/CCRUOHt0Qp

— DeSantis War Room (@DeSantisWarRoom) January 4, 2024

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has endorsed DeSantis, slammed Haley as well, commenting on X, “I trust Iowans to make their own decisions. No ‘corrections’ needed!”

I trust Iowans to make their own decisions. No “corrections” needed!

— Kim Reynolds (@KimReynoldsIA) January 4, 2024

DeSantis Communications Director Andrew Romeo bluntly accused Haley of “insulting Iowans” ahead of the caucuses.

“While the pressure mounts on Nikki Haley and the Wall Street donors bankrolling her to buy the strong second-place finish in Iowa that her top surrogate is predicting, her closing argument is insulting Iowans by saying their votes will need to be corrected. Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis is closing strong in Iowa by outworking and outorganizing the competition day in and day out,” he declared in a post on X.

Conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy also hammered Haley on X, “Nikki Haley says that New Hampshire needs to ‘correct’ the results of the Iowa caucus.”

The Iowa caucuses are set to take place on Jan. 15, less than two weeks from now. The New Hampshire primary will occur on Jan. 23.

All voters in Iowa should be on notice that @NikkiHaley thinks that Iowans must be “corrected.” So, about all that donor money spent attacking @RonDeSantis… #DeSantis2024 #DeSantisDelivers https://t.co/AYoDJy8rsO pic.twitter.com/5yx3haV7ak

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) January 4, 2024

“Iowa and New Hampshire have a mixed history of predicting eventual nominees for the Democratic and Republican parties and the eventual presidents. South Carolina, which has historically had a later primary ahead of Super Tuesday, boasts a more accurate record of selecting nominees and eventual presidents,” the Washington Examiner contended.

“During a different event in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Wednesday, Haley’s recent endorser, Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH), said Haley would ‘shock everyone in Iowa with a strong second.’ The DeSantis campaign quickly moved to hold Haley to this expectation, setting her up for disappointment if she doesn’t finish as well as Sununu promised,” the outlet added.

Chris Sununu introduces Nikki Haley in Londonderry with some expectation setting: he says Haley will “shock everyone in Iowa with a strong second.”

In NH he says “having a strong second place finish was always our goal. We’ve got that wrapped up guys….we’re gonna win.” pic.twitter.com/JRpTF0xQbc

— Dylan Wells (@dylanewells) January 3, 2024

“Having a strong second-place finish was always our goal,” Sununu told the crowd appearing to lay the groundwork for a vice presidential bid of some sort. “We’ve got that wrapped up, guys. … We’re gonna win.”

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