Nikki Haley becomes Donald Trump's main rival

Nikki Haley made an impression during the recent GOP candidate debate. Photo: Reuters/Mike Blake

Nikki Haley now ranks second behind Donald Trump in key primary vote polls — ahead of Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida.

The former South Carolina governor has the support of 19 percent of those likely to vote in the New Hampshire Republican primary, the highest she has polled so far.

Mr DeSantis is now in third place with 10 percent, while the other GOP candidates are all have single digits.

She seems impressed with her recent election performance. Republican debate, donors are shifting their support from Mr. DeSantis to Ms. Haley.

Political analysts said she was confident on the debate stage in Simi Valley, California, last month and , appears to have distanced itself from much of the controversy between the other candidates.

Polls will take place just days before GOP candidates will flood New Hampshire next week.

Mr Trump will kick off the events, followed by most of the other candidates over the weekend. cattle call organized by the state Republican Party.

The former president remains in the lead with 49 percent of voters backing him, according to the Suffolk/Globe/USA Today poll.

Trump's campaign claims to have raised $45 million (£37 million). )—three times as much as Mr. DeSantis—between July and September.‌ His July photo is believed to have made a major contribution to fundraising efforts.

Mr. DeSantis raised only $15 million over the same period, starting in October with just $5 million on hand, compared to Trump's $36 million.

That was less than the $20 million he earned in the second quarter, perhaps a sign that donors are unhappy with Mr. DeSantis for failing to undermine Mr. Trump's dominance.

The Trump campaign said in a statement that the numbers are «strong indication that Ron's candidacy may not survive the Iowa caucuses in January or even later this month.»

Mr. DeSantis is moving a third of his campaign headquarters from Florida to Iowa, the state where the first Republican nominating contest was held on Jan. 15.

“This significant amount of fundraising not only gives us resources, we need in the fight for Iowa and beyond, but also closes the doubters who have overlooked Ron DeSantis for too long,” James Utmyer, the candidate's campaign manager, said in a statement.

This reflects how The state is important to Mr. DeSantis, who is betting on Iowa's social standing. conservative community, including evangelicals and other religious voters, to carry him to victory.