In the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses, former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have engaged in a bitter political war. At a rally in Indianola, Iowa, Trump questioned Haley’s suitability for the president and chastised her for lacking the necessary firmness. He related how, while Haley was the governor of South Carolina, he appointed her as the U.N. ambassador with the goal of installing then-Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster as governor.
In a Fox News Digital interview, Haley questioned Trump, saying, “It’s you and me now,” in response to polls that had her trailing Trump but ahead of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Based on polling data, Trump continues to dominate the field with a dominating margin.
Trump acknowledged that he was unsure he would garner more than 50% of the vote in the caucuses despite his lead. As he seeks a third term in office, the former president leads the field in both national and Iowa polls for the GOP presidential nomination.
According to the final Des Moines Register/Mediacom/NBC News poll, 48% of potential Republican caucus attendees supported Trump. Haley and DeSantis came in second and third, respectively, with 20% and 16%. Conducted by famed pollster Ann Selzer, the survey is considered the gold standard for Iowa polling and is well-known for its accuracy in previous GOP presidential caucuses.