Kristi Noem’s office throws herself into DeSanti’s ‘clown show’ about abortion

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s communications director slammed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for saying the Republican rising star’s pro-abortion stance was too liberal.

“Governor Noem was the only governor in America on national television to defend the Dobbs decision,” aide Ian Fury told National Review for a story published Thursday. “Where was Governor DeSantis? Is hiding behind a 15-week ban. Does he think 14 week old babies have no right to life?’

In April, DeSantis — who ranks as the top GOP presidential contender for 2024 — signed a 15-week abortion ban in the Sunshine State.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the Florida Republican state legislature rejected changes that would have allowed exceptions in cases of rape, incest, human trafficking and mental health.

South Dakota communications director Kristi Noem (left) snarled at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) and suggested that the Republican rising star’s stance on abortion was too liberal

Exceptions have been retained for cases where the mother’s life is at risk, they exist fetal abnormalities or “irreversible physical impairment”.

In December, after DeSantis advanced to re-election by about 20 points, the Florida Republican indicated he was ready to sign even more restrictive abortion legislation, The Orlando Sentinel reported.

Ian Fury, communications director for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, slammed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his abortion position in an email to National Review

“I am ready to sign a great law of life. I’ve always said that,” he said when asked if he supports a so-called “heartbeat” law that would ban abortion at about six weeks — a time when many women may not even know they’re pregnant.

In his note to National Review, Fury claimed DeSantis “just quit his anti-life secretary for AHCA, Simone Marstiller, the most anti-life member of his cabinet.”

Marstiller, now the former secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration, left the administration in November, with Politico reporting that her departure had to do with a new lobbying ban, not bad blood with the Florida governor.

The DeSantis office called the claim that Marstiller was fired on poor terms “absolutely false,” according to FloridaPolitics.com.

“Florida Right to Life is embarrassed by Governor DeSantis’ record, so they invited Governor Noem to speak at their annual conference in October 2021,” Fury said.

Fury later took to Twitter to attack the reporter he sent the message to, National Review’s Nate Hochman.

“Nate’s a jerk to Governor DeSantis. He’s attacking Governor Noem with the once-proud National Review imprint because he sees her as a threat,” Fury said.

Noem is also considered a Republican climber.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, attendees voted her No. 2 in the president’s annual straw poll, after DeSantis when former President Donald Trump was absent.

Of course, Trump has already announced a presidential candidacy for 2024.

However, recent polls have largely ignored Noem as a potential competitor.

Instead, the Real Clear Politics poll average includes Trump — who still has an 18.2 percent lead — and DeSantis, followed by former Vice President Mike Pence, the former UN ambassador. Nikki Haley, former Rep. Liz Cheney, Senator Marco Rubio, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.

In addition to Trump and DeSantis, all other candidates are in the single digits.

The Democratic National Committee applauded the Republican infighting and sent out a statement Thursday on Noem vs. DeSantis.

“Republicans head into a chaotic 2024 season racing for MAGA in almost every issue,” the DNC said in an email. “Let’s not forget: Kristi Noem is the same anti-choice extremist who said on national TV that she would force a 10-year-old rape victim to give birth.”

“And the Ron DeSantis anti-choice record in question is already extreme. Thanks to an abortion ban signed by DeSantis, a child incest victim was forced to leave the state to seek treatment,” the message said.

Democrats have cited the abortion issue as a reason better-than-expected results in the 2022 midterm elections as they retained control of the Senate and gave Republicans a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.