DeSantis surrogate says ‘we never had high expectations’ for New Hampshire, ‘actual battle’ in South Carolina

As help for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in New Hampshire’s upcoming Republican presidential main appeared to dwindle in current polling, a surrogate for DeSantis on Sunday waved off the polls, saying “the real fight” can be hashed out in the South Carolina main.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., appeared on “Fox News Sunday” and was requested whether or not the 2 new polls displaying DeSantis trailing former President Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was the explanation why the governor canceled a spherical of appearances on the Sunday present circuit.

“We never had high expectations for New Hampshire anyway,” Massie responded. “And Nikki’s exploiting a quirk of their primary, which is that undeclareds, i.e. Democrats, can vote in a Republican primary.”

“The real fight, I think, is in South Carolina,” he continued. “And that’s where Nikki Haley, I think, stumbles. She’s going to miss expectations and not even win her own state.”

DESANTIS CANCELS NBC, CNN APPEARANCES SUNDAY OVER SCHEDULING ISSUE AHEAD OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY

DeSantis is trailing Trump and Haley in a distant third in New Hampshire, in accordance with the most recent polling. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Two new polls launched Sunday morning present DeSantis in a distant third behind Trump and Haley in New Hampshire.

A University of New Hampshire/CNN ballot confirmed Trump at 50%, Haley grabbing 39% help and DeSantis trailing in the one digits with 6%.

TRUMP LEAD OVER HALEY EXPANDS IN CLOSING DAYS BEFORE NEW HAMPSHIRE GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

Meanwhile, a each day monitoring ballot launched by Suffolk University, the Boston Globe and NBC10 in Boston confirmed Trump edging as much as 55%, whereas Haley stood at 36% and DeSantis at 6%.

The new surveys point out that Haley took majority help amongst independents, who’re often called undeclared voters in New Hampshire. Independents can vote in both main get together’s contest, and have lengthy performed an influential function in the state’s storied presidential main.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

With the New Hampshire Republican main set for Tuesday, DeSantis has already begun to shift his focus to Haley’s house state of South Carolina, the place he was campaigning over the weekend.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.