New Opportunities Emerge as DeSantis Struggles: A Thrilling Battle for Second Place in the GOP Primary!

The Republican primary race is currently in a fierce competition for second place, as candidates strive to have the opportunity to directly challenge front-runner Donald Trump. The position, previously occupied by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, now seems to be up for grabs.

Since the start of the 2024 presidential race, securing the second-place spot in GOP primary polling has been highly sought after. It was commonly believed that for candidates not named Trump, their main goal would be to become the consensus choice as an alternative to the former president. At the beginning of DeSantis' campaign and during its early stages, it seemed like he would be that candidate. The Florida governor had strong financial support and early polls indicated that he was only trailing Trump, although by a significant margin.

DeSantis' star has recently started to lose its shine. He was less prominent compared to his rivals in the previous Republican primary debate in Milwaukee, and his current poll numbers are similar to other non-Trump contenders. A recent CNN/University of New Hampshire poll of potential GOP primary voters in the Granite State revealed a close race for second place, with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and DeSantis being in contention.

As the second GOP debate approaches, Haley has been gaining support among Republican moderates, as indicated by surveys conducted in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. She is increasingly working on setting herself apart in terms of fiscal and foreign policy.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign town hall in Hampton, New Hampshire, on September 21, 2023.

Brian Snyder/Reuters

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"We require a leader who will confront both Democrats and Republicans," stated the former governor on Friday, while presenting her economic policy during a speech at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire. "Although Republicans talk a great deal, their approach to spending is almost as irresponsible as that of the Democrats."

Her impressive performance at the Milwaukee debate, particularly her interactions with Ramaswamy, earned her the appreciation of voters such as Tom Boyer, who attended her speaking engagement on Friday.

Boyer told CNN that he appreciated and fully agreed with what she said. He particularly appreciated her support for Ukraine, which some of her Republican opponents do not share. He also liked her economic plan and found her reasoning to be favorable. As a retired resident of New Jersey who now lives in New Hampshire, Boyer mentioned that although he was initially drawn to Christie's candidacy, he now believes that Haley has a stronger chance of winning.

Boyer expressed a preference for the candidate who can overcome the challenges that Trump is facing. This sentiment is shared by voters such as Thalia Floras, who plans to switch her party registration and participate in the Republican primary. Among her options are Haley, Christie, and former Texas Rep. Will Hurd. Floras' main objective is to identify the most formidable challenger to Trump.

"Absolutely," she said. "I will support the candidate that could potentially slow or stop Trump."

Hoping for a stumble

The overarching theme of a presidential primary often involves a consistent front-runner with various alternatives. In the 2012 cycle, Mitt Romney held the front-runner position, while his top rival changed throughout the primary. Initially, it was Newt Gingrich, then Rick Perry seemed like the biggest threat, followed by Rick Santorum. According to Kyle Plotkin, an experienced Republican campaign strategist, this cycle appears to be following a similar pattern. Plotkin commented, "Everyone will have an opportunity to compete for second place."

Former President Donald Trump speaks during the Pray Vote Stand Summit, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Washington.

Jose Luis Magana/AP

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Much of the remaining candidates in the field view it as a significant risk to challenge Trump in the primary. Despite numerous legal troubles and his refusal to participate in the initial two Republican presidential debates, Trump's lead in the polls has only increased, and he has experienced substantial success in fundraising. Whether they openly admit it or not, other campaigns are hoping for an unforeseen event that will derail the former president's momentum, according to David Urban, a former senior adviser to Trump's 2016 campaign and a CNN contributor.

"I believe everyone is leaning towards that possibility, hopeful that there will be a stumble along the way. They expect that at some point, the former president will make a misstep and be knocked off track, creating an opportunity for someone else. At this point, positioning oneself to be next in line is the best strategy," Urban stated. "Nobody is narrowing the gap. The gap remains unchanged. Since closing that gap has not been successful, the idea of running to be first is not working out. So now, aiming to be second appears to be the next best option. And that's the best one can do."

The potential stumble remains uncertain at this point. Unlike the other candidates, Trump has shown resilience against the consequences of strategic errors. Republican strategist Brett Doster believes that the debates are crucial opportunities for the rest of the field to make a breakthrough. Despite making several rookie mistakes, DeSantis is still regarded as the frontrunner among the non-Trump candidates due to his financial advantage. Doster anticipates an intriguing upcoming debate with a possibly reduced field, which could be a defining moment for either Pence, Vivek, or Nikki Haley to make significant progress.