Second Republican debate: Nikki Haley looks to capitalize on momentum
Christopher Tremoglie
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Perhaps one of the biggest surprises from the first Republican presidential debate was former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, with the event serving as a not-so-subtle reminder that Haley too is in the presidential race and should be viewed as a legitimate contender.
Haley was knowledgeable and assertive and charmed many viewers with her performance. Many said she won the debate (though I did not share such opinions). She received one of the bigger bumps in support after the debate. Tonight, Haley looks to capitalize on her momentum and rise in the polls even more.
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Furthermore, an NBC News poll released this week found that Haley had a 5-point lead in a speculative matchup against President Joe Biden. The poll showed Haley a 46% to 41% lead over the Democratic incumbent and sent shockwaves through the political landscape, catapulting Haley into being a legitimate potential contender for the GOP nomination. Based on these results, Haley performs better against Biden than many of her Republican rivals, including top dogs former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), NBC News reported.
Granted, all polls should probably be taken with a grain of salt. Many, if not all, of the 2016 polls showed that Trump was losing to his GOP rivals and had virtually no chance of beating then-presumed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. And we all know how that turned out.
Still, Haley’s rise is impressive, and it means her performance Wednesday night will be vital to her chances in the Republican primary. It will be the first debate in which she has the spotlight as a contender instead of just someone standing at one of the podiums next to DeSantis. The pressure will be on, and her performance tonight will do much to determine her political future and the direction of her presidential campaign.