A New Republican is In 2nd Place in Presidential Race

(Scypre.com) – Nikki Haley’s political fortunes are experiencing a notable upswing. The former two-term South Carolina governor and ex-United Nations ambassador in the Trump administration is gaining traction in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race.

While Donald Trump maintains a significant lead in the GOP race, Haley’s national and early voting state poll numbers have been on the rise, fueled partly by her impressive performances in the initial two Republican presidential debates.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, following a town hall in Rochester, New Hampshire, Haley stated, “We can feel the momentum on the ground.”

Haley’s support doubled in a month, increasing from 5% to 10%, according to a recent Fox News national poll on the GOP nomination race. She secured third place, trailing Trump at a substantial 59% and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 13%.

DeSantis holds second place in the latest Iowa surveys, where the Republican calendar commences with caucuses. However, Haley has surpassed him and now stands second in some recent surveys in New Hampshire, which hosts the first GOP presidential primary, and in her home state, where the first Southern contest is held.

“We can feel it in Iowa. We can feel it in New Hampshire. We can feel it in South Carolina,” noted Haley, emphasizing the noticeable momentum in her campaign. She mentioned that her rise in the polls is garnering support from the GOP donor class, having engaged with top Republican donors at a Utah summit.

Haley acknowledged donor interest and stressed their focus on earning votes from every state. Additionally, an outside super PAC aligned with Haley, Stand for America, is contributing significantly to her campaign with a $6.6 million ad buy in Iowa and New Hampshire, marking their largest ad purchase to date.

Previously, DeSantis held the second-place position uncontested until Haley’s recent surge in the polls. Responding to concerns about his standing in the polls, DeSantis maintained confidence in their campaign strategy and highlighted their extensive efforts in Iowa.

DeSantis emphasized their hard work in Iowa and the substantial groundwork accomplished, expressing satisfaction with their progress and organization.

The DeSantis campaign is initiating a new $2 million ad reservation in Iowa, further underlining their dedication to reaching voters directly. DeSantis also reaffirmed their commitment to engaging with voters extensively in New Hampshire.

Former Representative Will Hurd of Texas, a less-prominent candidate in the GOP presidential nomination race, withdrew from the competition and threw his support behind Haley, a move acknowledged by DeSantis.

Regarding the prospects of other candidates facing challenges in the race, DeSantis suggested that those running for president should have a viable path and a genuine reason for their candidacy. He mentioned the importance of making informed decisions and potential coalescence based on individual circumstances.