
In a recent poll by The Wall Street Journal, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has emerged as a frontrunner in the 2024 presidential race, surpassing President Joe Biden. The survey revealed that Haley garnered a majority support of 51 percent in a hypothetical matchup against Biden.
Interestingly, even former President Donald Trump, who has maintained a strong following within the Republican Party, trailed behind Biden with a 4-point lead (47 percent-43 percent). Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, a prominent figure in conservative politics, was tied with Biden at 45 percent.
Her ability to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters sets Haley apart. Despite being targeted by DeSantis for her ties to the Republican establishment and the Koch brothers, Haley’s popularity seems to be soaring. Some political analysts had even compared her potential to challenge former President Ronald Reagan’s decisive victory in 1984 when he won by a staggering 18 points.
Although Trump led Biden in this particular poll for the first time, with Biden’s approval rating dropping to a new low of 37 percent and his disapproval rating reaching a record high of 61 percent, it is worth noting that Trump continues to dominate the GOP presidential primary field by a significant margin of 44 points.
The poll also provided insights into the preferences of Republican voters in the primary race. Trump led with 59 percent support, followed by DeSantis at 14 percent. Despite her strong showing against Biden, Haley only garnered 15 percent support as a second choice among respondents. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy received 4 percent support, while former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson received 2 percent and 0 percent, respectively. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum also received 0 percent support.
The survey was conducted by GOP pollster Fabrizio Lee and Democrat pollster GBAO Strategies, who interviewed 1,500 registered voters from November 29 to December 4. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, Haley’s popularity and potential to challenge the current political landscape make her a candidate to watch closely. With her ability to attract a broad base of supporters, she may offer a unique and compelling alternative for voters seeking a fresh perspective in the upcoming election.