'Phony': Ron DeSantis intensifies attacks on Nikki Haley in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis escalated his attacks on former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, calling her “phony” and “a darling of the Never Trumpers” in a joint interview with NBC News and the Des Moines Register.

“I'm just thinking to myself, you know, 'She's phony.' You know, she doesn't have a core set of convictions,” DeSantis said, adding, “She's coming in here. She's trying to be relatable, but just doesn't get Iowa. And I think that's becoming more and more apparent. "

DeSantis pointed to an incident last week in which Haley called Iowa Hawkeyes basketball player Caitlin Clark the wrong name, saying "Caitlin Collins" instead, and Haley saying in New Hampshire this week that state would "correct" Iowa's choice later this month.