In a recent political survey conducted by NBC News, the Des Moines Register, and Mediacom, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is gaining traction among likely Iowa caucus participants. She is now tied for second place with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, both securing 16% support. This is a significant leap for Haley, who had only 6% backing in an August poll, while DeSantis has slightly declined from 19%.
Why is this significant? The Republican landscape in Iowa is currently at a standstill, with former President Donald Trump leading the pack with a commanding 43% support, according to the same poll.
Other notable figures include Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who stands at 7%, down from 9% in August. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are neck-and-neck at 4%. Ramaswamy, in a recent Axios interview, hinted at a potential “surprise outcome” in the Iowa caucus. Meanwhile, former Vice President Mike Pence has suspended his campaign, and his meager 2% support has been reallocated to the second-choice candidates of his supporters.
Iowa holds a pivotal role as it will be the first state to cast votes in the 2024 Republican primary. Back in 2016, Trump narrowly lost to Senator Ted Cruz in Iowa but went on to secure victories in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.
Digging deeper into the poll’s data, 41% of respondents have already made up their minds about their preferred candidate. Among Trump supporters, a substantial 63% are firmly committed, which is roughly double the percentage of Haley and DeSantis supporters who have finalized their choice.
J. Ann Selzer, who has been conducting Iowa polls for many years, summarized the situation succinctly: “This is a good poll for Donald Trump.” Despite all the developments since the last survey, Trump remains the dominant figure in the Republican field, and his standing has actually improved since August.
