In a strategic move, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to head straight to South Carolina after Monday's Iowa caucuses, where he will go head-to-head with his rival Nikki Haley on her home turf. The decision by DeSantis' campaign comes as both candidates vie for second place in Iowa, which has been dominated by former President Donald Trump.

Following a caucus night party in Iowa on Monday, DeSantis will leave for South Carolina and participate in a campaign event in Greenville, highlighting his determination to perform well in Haley's home state. Notably, DeSantis boasts a higher number of endorsements from current and former elected officials in South Carolina compared to Haley.

The move also reflects Haley's stronger performance in New Hampshire. A recent CNN/UNH poll suggested that she is closing in on Trump's top spot in the state, with approximately one-third of likely Republican primary voters supporting her compared to 4 in 10 choosing Trump.

DeSantis' campaign spokesman, Andrew Romeo, emphasized their long-term strategy, stating, "This campaign is built for the long haul." The campaign plans to actively compete for delegates in New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, and beyond. Following the Iowa Caucus, DeSantis will kick-start his campaign in both South Carolina and New Hampshire, participating in a CNN town hall event in the latter.

Typically, candidates would head straight to New Hampshire after Iowa. However, DeSantis' decision to prioritize South Carolina underscores his determination to challenge Haley in her own state. Meanwhile, Haley has pledged to prioritize the earlier rounds of votes before focusing on South Carolina, where she hopes to secure a victory.

South Carolina has remained a stronghold for Trump since his 2016 primary win, which helped catapult him to the GOP nomination. Notably, he has received endorsements from influential figures in the state, including Governor Henry McMaster, Senator Lindsey Graham, and several U.S. House members.

Haley's campaign has not yet commented on DeSantis' move. With tensions mounting between the two candidates, their battle for support and delegates is expected to intensify as the race progresses. After Nevada's GOP caucus in early February, the South Carolina Republican primary is scheduled to take place on February 24th.