MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Ron DeSantis tried Saturday to frame his presidential campaign as one that will include both Republican front-runner Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley — whose crucial primaries have traditionally been influential in determining the elections – can surpass. eventual nominee — though some attendees at one of his three events said they thought the state’s votes would likely go to Trump next month no matter what happened.
“I like his message,” said David Steding, as he and his wife waited for Florida’s governor. “I just don’t think he’s going to win here.”
The Stedings were among hundreds waiting to see DeSantis take the stage at a restaurant just off one of the main streets of coastal tourist mecca Myrtle Beach, a road lined with attractions such as miniature golf courses, wax museums and water parks. It was the first of DeSantis’ three-stop swing through South Carolina that reflects his decision to shift his presidential campaign away from New Hampshire just before the state’s first Republican primary, in which he is not expected to do so. performing as well as in Iowa.
Trump won Monday’s caucuses with just over a majority of votes cast, while DeSantis and Haley were in a distant second place.
The night after his second-place finish, DeSantis flew straight to South Carolina, while Haley and others shifted their efforts to New Hampshire, where Republicans are voting on February 24.
DeSantis is struggling in New Hampshire but has reportedly transferred most of his staff to South Carolina, Haley’s home state. The pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down transferred some of its Iowa staffers to other early states, while laying off the rest.
On Saturday, DeSantis offered a bit of comparison and contrast to Haley’s popularity in her home state. Standing on a raised platform in front of video screens displaying the logos of his campaign and super PAC, in place of the basketball games they normally play this time of year, he asked the audience to “tell me what the What were Nikki Haley’s most important achievements when she was governor? Anyone?’
After someone shouted “gas taxes” — which both DeSantis and Trump have accused Haley of trying to raise during her six years in office — DeSantis called it remarkable that “no one called it an achievement,” adding that “hands would go up ‘ as a The crowd in his home state was asked to list his achievements during just over one term in office.
Both DeSantis and Trump have argued that Haley, as governor of South Carolina, flipped her support for a gas tax, with a super PAC backing Trump’s campaign with a TV ad that included excerpts of State of the State addresses she opposed. were merged. when such action was requested.
Haley has characterized the criticism as evidence that her opponents, especially Trump, are threatened by her candidacy. Both Trump and DeSantis left out a significant portion of the gas tax proposal that Haley put forward as governor in 2015. In the speech cited by her opponents, Haley went on to say, “to get my signature on a gas tax increase,” South Carolina would also have to “cut our state income tax by 2%.”
That plan died in the state legislature. South Carolina lawmakers ultimately raised the gas tax under her successor, overriding a veto from Gov. Henry McMaster, Trump’s biggest backer in the state.
Ahead of DeSantis, Julie Maid said she was willing to support DeSantis in South Carolina despite Trump’s leadership.
“DeSantis is a straight shooter, and he’ll tell you how it is, but he doesn’t have the drama that Trump has,” Julie Maid said. “DeSantis is my frontrunner.”
Steding was behind her in line and wasn’t so sure.
“I’m here,” Steding said as he and his wife Shavonne walked down the line and weaved into the Myrtle Beach location. “I don’t know if I’m going to vote for him. But I’m here.”
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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP