In the 2024 GOP primary race, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is emerging as a strong contender against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for the position of the top alternative to former President Trump, according to a recent USA Today/Suffolk poll. The survey indicates that Haley has gained 11 percent support among likely Republican voters, which is just slightly below DeSantis’s 12.3 percent support. Donald Trump continues to lead the field with nearly 58 percent support.
According to The Hill, this poll is concerning for Ron DeSantis, as he has been holding the second-place position in GOP primary polls but has seen a significant decline from the 22.86 percent support he received in June. In contrast, Nikki Haley’s support has risen from 4.49 percent in the same poll conducted in June.
The campaigns of the two GOP rivals have recently engaged in disputes over foreign policy, specifically regarding the possibility of the U.S. accepting refugees from Gaza. DeSantis accused Haley of trying to be “politically correct” on the issue, leading to a response from Haley’s campaign, which accused DeSantis of falsely characterizing her stance.
Super PACs supporting both candidates have also targeted each other with ads and criticisms. For example, the pro-DeSantis Never Back Down PAC released an ad portraying Haley as sympathetic to refugees, while the pro-Haley SFA PAC pointed to reports of DeSantis losing donors and called it “DeSperation.”
These campaign disputes have arisen during the Israel-Hamas conflict, with DeSantis arguing against the acceptance of Palestinian refugees from Gaza, stating that Gaza civilians are “all antisemitic.” In response, Nikki Haley, drawing on her experience at the U.N., argued that not all Palestinians support Hamas and questioned why neighboring countries like Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Lebanon aren’t accepting Palestinian refugees.
In summary, while both Haley and DeSantis are vying to be the main alternative to Trump in the 2024 GOP primary, they still lag far behind the former president in terms of support. Trump’s popularity has even increased in the latest poll, rising from 48.16 percent in June.