As Nikki Haley rises in polling, Ron DeSantis says he's still the biggest threat to Trump

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — As former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley gains support in early state polls, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis isn't willing to call the fight for GOP nomination a three-person race.

Asked about Haley's rising poll numbers at a campaign stop in Marshalltown, Iowa, DeSantis told reporters to "watch where the money goes" — specifically, who former President Donald Trump is spending the most money to attack.

"That shows you who the threat is,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis and his campaign staffers previously have pointed to Trump attack ads as confirmation that the Florida governor is a significant challenger to Trump. DeSantis said Friday that Trump had spent $30 million in attacks against him.

"They are raining down millions and millions of dollars against me. Everybody's attacking me," DeSantis said. "That should show you who they care about."

Nikki Haley on the rise in Iowa and New Hampshire polls

DeSantis entered the presidential race in May, hoping to harness his popularity as a conservative governor who made national headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeSantis described the primary as a two-man race between him and Trump, who consistently polls as the most popular first choice candidate for Republican voters.

But, despite months of intense campaigning in Iowa, DeSantis has yet to surge with caucusgoers. An August Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll found DeSantis was the first choice of 19% of likely Republican caucusgoers. In October, DeSantis was first choice for 16% of likely caucusgoers, tied with Haley, who jumped 10 points.

Haley's position is even stronger in New Hampshire: In a Washington Post/Monmouth University poll released Friday, Haley is in a solid second at 18% — and DeSantis is in fifth, with 7%.

"Anyone still talking about DeSantis as the stalking horse is not keeping up with the race," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Ron DeSantis argues Trump attack ads prove him as a 'threat'

When asked Friday whether the "two-man race" had become a three-man competition with Haley, DeSantis pointed to Trump's attack ads against him, rather than the poll numbers. He touted his record as Florida's governor.

"They see that I appeal to conservatives in a way that none of the other candidates do," DeSantis said. "And when you're in a Republican primary, you know that's 80% of the vote. And so you've got to be able to go and win those types of voters."

DeSantis, Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy met on stage Friday evening for the Family Leader Thanksgiving forum. DeSantis criticized Trump for not attending the event. Instead, Trump held a rally Saturday in Fort Dodge.

"I think that it speaks volumes when you have such an important forum like this and Donald Trump just shakes it off," DeSantis said.

More: Haley, DeSantis, Ramaswamy will meet at the Family Leader's Thanksgiving forum Friday

Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ron DeSantis says Trump attack ads separate him from rising Nikki Haley