新罕布什尔州米尔福德妮基·黑利她对新罕布什尔州的人群说，该州的初选选民有机会“纠正”定于本月晚些时候举行的爱荷华州党团会议的结果。
在州长克里斯·苏努努(Chris Sununu)的陪同下，这位共和党候选人和前联合国大使在该州南部地区的三场活动中都看到了大量人群。周三，在米尔福德的汉普希尔运动俱乐部的活动中，她用一句迎合新罕布什尔州选民的话结束了她的讲话，淡化了爱荷华州党团会议的重要性。爱荷华州党团会议将于1月15日举行，就在新罕布什尔州1月23日初选的几天前。
“我们有机会把这件事做好。我知道我们会做好的，我相信你。我相信你们每个人。你知道怎么做。你知道，是爱荷华州开始的。你知道你纠正了它。…然后我可爱的南卡罗来纳州把它带回家。这就是我们所做的，”曾任南卡罗来纳州州长的哈利说。
竞争对手佛罗里达州州长罗恩·德桑蒂斯的竞选活动抨击了哈利的评论。在上的帖子中X德桑蒂斯竞选团队写道，“妮基·黑利贬低爱荷华州的党团会议成员——声称他们的决定需要得到新罕布什尔州选民的纠正。”
德桑蒂斯本人周四在爱荷华州广播电台KFAB的采访中做出回应，指责哈利“对爱荷华州人不尊重”。
“我认为她试图为自己表现不好提供借口，”德桑蒂斯继续说道。
海利发表评论后，爱荷华州州长金·雷诺兹予以回击。
2024年1月2日，共和党总统候选人、前联合国大使妮基·黑利在新罕布什尔州拉伊的市政厅竞选活动上问候选民
罗伯特·f·布卡蒂/美联社
“我相信艾奥瓦人会做出自己的决定。不需要‘纠正’!”雷诺兹，谁支持德桑蒂斯，张贴到X.
福音派领袖鲍勃·范德普拉茨也支持德桑蒂斯，发布到X海莉的话“很能说明她在爱荷华州的地位”，这是“承认在那里被打败了”。
爱荷华州民主党向X“看起来妮基·黑利认为爱荷华州只是在挑选玉米，而新罕布什尔州在挑选总统。”
“对所有爱荷华州人来说，这是多么令人厌恶的一记耳光，这只是她永远不应该靠近椭圆形办公室的众多原因之一，”该帖子继续说道。
据报道，哈利在爱荷华州的民调中落后于前总统唐纳德·特朗普和德桑蒂斯538的最新民调平均值.
虽然哈利与德桑蒂斯相差不远(分别为15.7%至18.4%)，但两人都远远落后于特朗普，特朗普的平均支持率为50%。
哈利一直在几个早期的州进行竞选活动，包括新罕布什尔州和南卡罗来纳州，而不是在爱荷华州正面交锋。
据统计，在新罕布什尔州，海利的支持率落后于前总统约20个百分点，为25.7%，而特朗普为44.1%该州538名选民的最新平均投票率。德桑蒂斯的支持率为7.6%，落后于前新泽西州长克里斯·克里斯蒂的11%。
德桑蒂斯和海莉将出现在连续的市政厅活动周四晚上在爱荷华州。
Haley downplays Iowa, says New Hampshire voters will 'correct' caucuses
MILFORD, N.H. --Nikki Haleyis facing backlash for comments she made to a New Hampshire crowd that its primary voters have the opportunity to "correct" the results of the Iowa caucuses set for later this month.
Joined by Gov. Chris Sununu, the Republican candidate and former U.N. ambassador saw large crowds at all three of her events across the state's southern region. At her event at Milford's Hampshire Hills Athletic Club on Wednesday, she closed her remarks with a note catered to New Hampshire voters downplaying the significance of Iowa's caucuses -- which takes place Jan. 15, just a few days before New Hampshire's Jan. 23 primary.
"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. … And then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home. That's what we do," said Haley, who served as governor of South Carolina.
The campaign of competitor Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis knocked Haley for the comment. In a post onX, the DeSantis campaign wrote, "Nikki Haley belittles Iowa Caucusgoers -- claiming their decisions will need to be corrected by New Hampshire voters."
DeSantis himself responded on Thursday in an interview on Iowa radio station KFAB, accusing Haley of being "disrespectful to Iowans."
"I think she's trying to provide an excuse for her not doing well," DeSantis continued.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds fired back after Haley's comments.
"I trust Iowans to make their own decisions. No 'corrections' needed!" Reynolds, who has endorsed DeSantis, posted toX.
Evangelical leader Bob Vanderplaats, who has also backed DeSantis,posted to Xthat Haley's remark "are very telling regarding her status in Iowa" and that it is an "admission of getting beat" there.
The Iowa Democratic Party posted toXthat it "seems like Nikki Haley believes Iowa just picks corn while New Hampshire picks presidents."
"What a disgusting slap in the face to all Iowans and just one of the many reasons she should never be anywhere near the Oval Office," the post continued.
Haley trails in the Iowa polls behind former President Donald Trump and DeSantis, according to538's latest polling averages.
While Haley is not far from DeSantis -- 15.7% to 18.4%, respectively -- both are far behind Trump, who is polling at an average of 50%.
Haley has been splitting her time on the campaign trail across several early states including New Hampshire and South Carolina, rather than taking on Iowa head-on.
In New Hampshire, Haley is polling about 20 points behind the former president, 25.7% to Trump's 44.1%, according to538's latest polling averages in the state. DeSantis is polling at 7.6% -- falling behind former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who is at 11%.
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DeSantis and Haley will appear atback-to-back town hall eventsin Iowa Thursday night.
