opinion
At one time, Ron DeSantis was the top Republican challenger to front-runner Donald Trump, and among Republicans he is considered the heir apparent and America's best governor.
But now the former South Carolina governor has surpassed the Florida governor in national polls.
“GOP presidential nominee Nikki Haley has edged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in FiveThirtyEight's national polling average (538) for the first time in the 2024 campaign,” The Hill reported.
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Haley now leads DeSantis
As David Marcus pointed out, DeSantis was the No. 2 candidate throughout all of 2023. And while the leaderboard usually changes after the first primary states, DeSantis appeared to be as good as gold.
Not longer.
The story continued:
This is the first time in the 2024 elections that Haley has come in second place in the average poll, and it also highlights her rise in polls conducted over the past few months.
Haley, who is also a former governor of South Carolina, has gained momentum since August, thanks to multiple strong showings in the primary debates.
The Hill notes, “DeSantis has held second place in the GOP field throughout much of the race and was at one point trailing former President Trump for the lead. But over the months he has fallen from more than 30 percent nationally to low double-digits.”
While DeSantis was once seen as a bridge between the Republican MAGA base and the GOP establishment, his poor campaign performance appears to have opened the way for another candidate to take on that competing role.
Haley was also a beneficiary of GOP establishment money — before it went to DeSantis — and even money from a Democratic billionaire who, like Haley, wants to defeat Donald Trump.
After several discussions, it appears that this candidate currently is Haley.
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But can anyone catch Trump?
Unlike DeSantis, Haley is the dream of the Republican establishment if she is to muster enough momentum to threaten Trump. Haley largely follows the mold of the Republicanism of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, which remains a favorite of much of the GOP leadership, although more Republican voters are now more aligned with Trump's “America First” agenda.
A victory for Nikki Haley would also be a victory for the old Republican guard.
But with Donald Trump far ahead of all other candidates at the moment, it's hard to see that happening.
But don't think the GOP establishment won't try it.
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