MANCHESTER, N.H. (NewsNation) — Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is shuffling his campaign away from New Hampshire just days before the state’s primary, according to NewsNation sources.
DeSantis is reallocating the majority of his staff to South Carolina, with its primary in just over a month, according to campaign officials who spoke to NewsNation on the condition of anonymity.
The campaign shift comes as DeSantis is lagging significantly behind both former President Donald Trump and Nikki Haley in New Hampshire, according to polls. DeSantis is drawing less than 10% support in South Carolina, though it’s a closer margin than in New Hampshire, where he has around 6%.
At the same time, The Associated Press reports that the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down has transferred several of its Iowa staffers to other early states while laying off the rest. It’s unclear exactly how many people were laid off, although a super PAC official speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy said those who lost their jobs would be paid through the end of January.
“Never Back Down continues to host a slew of events on the ground for Gov. DeSantis in South Carolina, New Hampshire, and beyond aligned with our core mission of mobilizing grassroots field operations in those states,” Never Back Down CEO Scott Wagner said. “We’ve mobilized several members of our robust Iowa team over to the other early primary states to help in these efforts and will continue working to help elect Gov. DeSantis, the most effective conservative leader in the race, our next president.”
One voter who spoke with NewsNation at the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, New Hampshire, didn’t have much to say about DeSantis.
“Ron DeSantis? I truly haven’t given a whole whole lot of thought to him.”
For Buddy, a Trump supporter, it will be hard to find a better candidate.
“And there’s Trump,” said Buddy. “And I don’t think Trump is perfect; he’s got his faults. There’s no question. But he knows how to run the country.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
