Haley and DeSantis Battle for Position as Trump's Principal Rival

While Haley's poll numbers rise and DeSantis's decline, the reality of the race appears more complex than the narrative suggests.

Despite a narrative of Nikki Haley's rise and Ron DeSantis's decline in the race to become Donald Trump's principal rival for the Republican presidential nomination, the reality appears more nuanced.
DeSantis has been a disappointment to his supporters, with his campaign and super PAC in disarray and his poll numbers declining.
Haley, on the other hand, has benefited from being underestimated. She has capitalized on her skills as a charismatic and savvy communicator, and her poll numbers have risen.
In New Hampshire, Haley has surpassed DeSantis in the polls, but in Iowa, the picture is less clear, with both candidates polling far behind Trump.
DeSantis has recently completed a tour of all 99 counties in Iowa, hoping this diligence will pay off on caucus night, while Haley is attracting good-sized crowds in the state.