The main outside group supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ bid for presidency is set to air a TV ad on Sunday, targeting former Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley for her involvement in bringing Chinese businesses to South Carolina during her tenure as governor. The ad, obtained exclusively by CBS News, indicates a growing foreign policy feud between the two potential 2024 presidential candidates.
The ad, which cost $2.5 million and was purchased by the super PAC “Never Back Down,” will make its debut during Sunday’s broadcast of CBS “60 Minutes.” It will also air on Fox News, CNN, and Newsmax in the media markets of Iowa and New Hampshire.
The focus of the ad is a production plant in South Carolina that was built in 2016 by a Chinese fiberglass company called China Jushi. The company invested $300 million to establish its first U.S. plant on a 200-acre site in Columbia, South Carolina, creating 400 jobs, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
The ad highlights China Jushi’s connection to the Chinese Communist Party, as it is partially owned by a Chinese government enterprise with ties to the party. The ad also points out that the company’s materials have military applications, including the manufacturing of a Chinese military armored car.
The ad features a clip of Haley promoting Chinese companies doing business in South Carolina and praising China as a great friend of the U.S. However, it neglects to mention that her comments were made in the context of China’s cooperation with U.S. sanctions on North Korea. The ad’s narrator refers to Haley’s judgment as questionable and dangerous on China, accompanied by images of Haley with Chinese symbols in the background.
Haley, as a presidential candidate, has taken a strong stance on China, labeling it the biggest national security threat. She has proposed actions such as revoking federal funding for universities accepting money from China, reclaiming U.S. land purchased by China, and halting trade relations until the production of opioids from the country ceases.
DeSantis, on the other hand, has not released a formal foreign policy plan, but has shown a tough approach to China as governor. He has signed bans on Chinese nationals purchasing farmland and land near U.S. military bases in Florida, as well as bans on Chinese-owned social media apps TikTok and WeChat on government devices. He has also revoked school choice scholarships from schools with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
This ad, which is the second attack ad by “Never Back Down” against Haley, is indicative of the escalating rivalry between her and DeSantis. Both candidates have super PACs that highlight their respective positions on China.
Recent polling and fundraising data show that Haley is gaining ground on DeSantis. However, both candidates still trail behind former President Donald Trump in terms of popularity and support.
