During the early stages of the election cycle, Republican voters and elected officials in Iowa had limited exposure to Ms. Haley. She had low polling numbers and was behind her competitors in fundraising, which made it challenging to campaign in a rural state like Iowa that requires significant time and financial resources. However, her campaign has been gradually expanding by hiring staff and increasing her presence in Iowa since the summer. Last month, her Iowa team welcomed two new members: Hooff Cooksey, who managed Governor Reynolds’s campaign in 2018, and Troy Bishop, the 2022 field director for Senator Chuck Grassley.
Before the most recent Republican debate in Miami, a group of Iowa farmers and agricultural leaders publicly endorsed Ms. Haley’s candidacy. They cited her strong stance on China, support for renewable energy, and commitment to repealing government regulations. Additionally, she recently received endorsements from over 70 elected officials, community leaders, and business figures.
In interviews, Ms. Cournoyer and some Haley endorsers highlighted the opportunity for Ms. Haley to gain support from independent and moderate voters, even though much of Mr. Trump’s support in Iowa remains steadfast. Bob Brunkhorst, a former state senator and mayor of Waverly, emphasized that Ms. Haley’s team made strategic decisions to avoid excessive early spending and waited to expand their presence in the state.
“They know how the game is run,” he said, “and when to peak.”
On Monday, Ms. Haley’s campaign announced its plan to invest $10 million in television, radio, and digital advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire, starting in the first week of December. This marks their first advertising expenditure of the election cycle and significantly surpasses the DeSantis campaign’s planned spending in the coming months.
During a press call the following day, Mark Harris, the lead strategist for Stand for America, the super PAC supporting Ms. Haley, stated that the PAC has been working to level the playing field for her in Iowa. He noted that Never Back Down, the super PAC aligned with Mr. DeSantis, has already invested around $17.7 million in the state from this year until January, while Stand for America has committed $13.6 million, according to AdImpact, a media-tracking firm. Harris projected further growth for Ms. Haley’s campaign and argued that the DeSantis campaign had backed itself into a corner.