With the highly anticipated Iowa Caucuses just around the corner, a new poll reveals a surprising shift in the Republican presidential race. While former President Donald Trump continues to maintain a commanding lead, the battle for second place is heating up, with Nikki Haley now pulling ahead of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Suffolk University poll, conducted January 9-11, 2024, among likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa, shows Trump securing a solid 54% of the vote. However, the race for second place is much tighter. Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has surged ahead of DeSantis, garnering 20% support compared to DeSantis’ 13%.
This marks a significant change from previous polls, which often showed DeSantis neck-and-neck with or even slightly ahead of Haley. Analysts attribute Haley’s recent rise to her strong performance in early primary states like New Hampshire and South Carolina, as well as her effective messaging on issues like national security and economic policy.
DeSantis, who has been considered a rising star in the Republican party and a potential frontrunner in the 2024 race, faces certain challenges. His focus on culture war issues and his handling of COVID-19 have attracted both fervent supporters and strong critics. Additionally, some voters may be hesitant to back a candidate facing legal battles related to investigations into his administration.
The remaining candidates in the field trail far behind the top three. Vivek Ramaswamy, a venture capitalist and author, received 6% of the vote, while former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who recently dropped out of the race, garnered a mere 2%.
The Iowa caucuses, scheduled for February 6, 2024, are the first major electoral event in the Republican presidential primary season and serve as a crucial test of candidates’ viability. While Trump’s lead appears insurmountable at this point, the battle for second place between Haley and DeSantis could have significant implications for the rest of the race.
This poll suggests that the Republican primary field is still fluid, and any candidate can make a comeback. With Iowa less than a month away, the next few weeks are likely to see intense campaigning and further shifts in voter preferences.
