Former President Donald Trump is currently leading the pack of Republican candidates in the race for the 2024 presidential election. However, he is facing a late surge from Nikki Haley, who has been steadily gaining support in recent polls.
According to the latest Morning Consult poll of nationally registered Republican voters, Trump holds a commanding 55-point lead over his competitors. While Haley’s rise in the polls is noteworthy, she still trails behind Trump with 11% support, tying with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for second place.
One potential concern for Haley is her performance in her home state of South Carolina. A recent Emerson College poll shows Trump with a significant lead of 29 points in the state. This is particularly significant considering Haley’s tenure as governor of South Carolina for eight years and her previous role as a member of the state’s House of Representatives.
However, there is some positive news for Haley in the poll. She leads among Independent voters in South Carolina, receiving 37% of their support compared to Trump’s 33%. Among Republican voters, Trump maintains a substantial advantage with 62% support versus Haley’s 21%.
Spencer Kimball, the Executive Director of Emerson College Polling, describes the current state of the race in South Carolina as Trump being the frontrunner with Haley as his main opponent. The key question arising from the poll is whether Haley can mobilize enough support in her home state before the primary.
The South Carolina Republican primary is scheduled for February 24, following earlier decisions in Iowa and New Hampshire. Haley has been actively campaigning in these states and has performed well in recent polls. In a recent New Hampshire poll, Trump and Haley were in a close race, with Trump receiving 37% of the vote and Haley closely behind with 33%. Undecided voters in the poll also showed a preference for Haley, with 36% compared to 29% for Trump.
Haley’s strong performance in Iowa and New Hampshire is crucial to maintaining her momentum and potentially winning her home state. A poor showing in these early voting states or a failure to secure victory in South Carolina could present an uphill battle for the presidential candidate.
Experts have praised Haley’s performances in the Republican primary debates, further highlighting her potential as a strong contender. She, along with DeSantis, will be participating in the fifth Republican primary debate on January 10, while Trump has chosen to skip the event. Candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie did not qualify for the debate.
The fifth debate will be aired on CNN, a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. As the race for the Republican nomination intensifies, Haley’s performance and ability to build on her current momentum will be essential in determining her success in the 2024 presidential election.
