GOP debate: Some donors are now looking to Nikki Haley as their best chance to defeat Trump
With more contributors stating they are paying more attention to Nikki Haley’s candidacy as an alternative to front-runner Donald Trump, Republican presidential challenger Ron DeSantis seems to be one of the greatest losers.
In the first Republican presidential debate in August, the former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the UN made an impression on four donors and one source close to a major donor, who expressed interest in contributing should she continue to advance as a candidate.
They will be keeping an eye on her performance in the second presidential candidate discussion on Wednesday night in California among those vying for the party’s candidacy.
Formerly seen as the most dangerous opponent to former President Trump, DeSantis has failed to get traction due to gaffes and Trump’s constant assaults on his campaign. Despite the difficulties his campaign has faced, he still has the backing of several significant funders.
funders are essential to keeping candidates for the White House afloat, and the fact that some are suddenly prepared to look beyond DeSantis highlights his difficulty persuading funders that he is the greatest option to Trump. It also demonstrates the desperation of some Republican establishment backers who are searching for a strong candidate other than Trump.
Five contributors have shown interest in Haley, but three have so far mostly stayed out of the race while one has given to DeSantis and another was in favor of him but withheld support. Reuters also spoke to a few Haley contributors, donors’ aides, and even supporters of other candidates, all of whom said that more donors are considering Haley.
