Nikki Haley is emerging as a prominent alternative to Donald Trump in the upcoming Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire, as indicated by a CBS/YouGov poll released on December 18. While Trump maintains his lead, Haley has made significant strides by consolidating much of the non-Trump vote. The poll results follow the endorsement of Haley by New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who emphasized the state’s opportunity to lead the country forward.
According to the CBS poll, 29% of respondents expressed their preference for Haley in the Republican primary, compared to Trump’s 44%. In terms of readiness, 53% of GOP primary voters described Haley as prepared, only slightly trailing Trump at 54%. Other contenders in the race, including Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Chris Christie, received varying percentages of respondents describing them as prepared.
Haley received positive assessments for being likable and a reasonable GOP candidate from a large majority of GOP primary voters. However, she faced a slight setback in being perceived as a strong leader, with 41% of respondents describing her as such, whereas Trump and DeSantis received higher percentages.
The poll also revealed that 32% of respondents believe Haley could “definitely” beat President Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term. In alignment with this sentiment, Haley’s campaign released a video on December 19, where she criticizes Biden’s age and advocates for new leadership, emphasizing the need for term limits, mental competency tests, and a comprehensive plan to address challenges such as China and economic recovery.
