In recent political polls, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has surged ahead of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.[0] The polls, conducted by various organizations, show that Haley has gained significant support among likely GOP primary voters in key states like New Hampshire and South Carolina.
In a survey conducted by USA TODAY/Boston Globe/Suffolk University, Haley garnered 19% support among likely Republican primary voters, surpassing DeSantis, who dropped to 10%.[1] However, the poll still showed former President Donald Trump leading the pack with 49% support.[2]
Another poll conducted by Fox Business in South Carolina revealed that DeSantis had the backing of 10% of the respondents, while Trump had 46% support.[3] Haley, a former governor of the state, came in at 18%.[3]
The Race to the White House polling average also shows DeSantis in third place with 11% support, trailing behind Trump (46%) and Haley (17%), but ahead of other contenders like Florida Senator Rick Scott (9%).[4]
These polls indicate that Haley has gained momentum in the race for the Republican nomination, positioning herself as a strong alternative to Trump. Despite Trump’s continued dominance in the polls, Haley’s rise suggests that she could pose a significant challenge to the former president.
One factor contributing to Haley’s rise in popularity is her stance on key issues.[3] The polls show that primary voters are most concerned about the economy and immigration and border security.[1] Haley has positioned herself as a strong advocate for addressing these issues, aligning herself with Trump’s hardline views on immigration.
In addition to her growing support among primary voters, Haley has also gained favorability in comparison to DeSantis in terms of being the preferred choice for second place. In a recent poll, 19% of respondents selected DeSantis as their second choice, while Haley came in at 16%, followed by Senator Tim Scott at 10%.[5]
Haley’s rise in the polls is not limited to the Republican primary race. A poll conducted by the Daily Mail revealed that 47% of Americans would prefer to live in DeSantis’ Florida, compared to 40% who would rather be in California under Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership.[6] This indicates that DeSantis’ governance in Florida has resonated with a significant portion of the American population.
While Haley’s surge in the polls is promising for her campaign, it is important to note that Trump still maintains a strong lead. His support among primary voters remains high, and he continues to be seen as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. However, Haley’s rise suggests that she could pose a formidable challenge to Trump’s dominance.
These polls also highlight the fluidity of the race, with a significant percentage of voters indicating that their minds could still be changed regarding their preferred candidate.[2] This opens up the possibility for shifts in support as the campaign progresses.
As the race for the Republican nomination heats up, the polls indicate that Haley’s momentum is for real. She has gained significant support among primary voters, positioning herself as a strong contender in the race. While Trump remains the frontrunner, Haley’s rise suggests that the Republican nomination is not a foregone conclusion. The coming months will be crucial in determining the final outcome of the race and whether Haley can continue to gain traction and challenge Trump’s dominance.
0. “Poll: Nikki Haley has nearly twice the support Ron DeSantis does in New Hampshire” Florida Politics, 4 Oct. 2023, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/637786-poll-nikki-haley-has-nearly-twice-the-support-ron-desantis-does-in-new-hampshire/
1. “Exclusive: Trump holds lead in New Hampshire but Haley surges past DeSantis in fluid race” Yahoo! Voices, 3 Oct. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/gma/exclusive-trump-holds-lead-hampshire-112717554.html
2. “Nikki Haley soars past DeSantis in New Hampshire Republican primary: Poll” Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2023, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/nikki-haley-desantis-new-hampshire-republican-primary-poll
3. “Nikki Haley takes second behind Trump in New Hampshire primary poll – live” The Independent, 4 Oct. 2023, https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-polls-2024-primary-biden-b2423824.html
4. “Ron DeSantis losing half his support in South Carolina, according to his own pollster” Florida Politics, 3 Oct. 2023, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/637421-ron-desantis-internal-poll-shows-him-losing-half-his-support-in-south-carolina/
5. “Ron DeSantis in third place in New Hampshire, according to his own pollster” Florida Politics, 2 Oct. 2023, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/637413-ron-desantis-internal-poll-shows-him-in-third-place-in-new-hampshire/
6. “Americans reveal whether they would rather live in Florida or California and who they would pick out of Ron De” Daily Mail, 30 Sep. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12575553/Americans-reveal-live-Florida-California-pick-Ron-DeSantis-Gavin-Newsom-president-Daily-Mail-poll.html
