(The Center Square) – Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley appears to be chipping away at former President Donald Trump’s lead in New Hampshire, according to a new poll.
The latest CBS poll shows Trump leading Haley 44% to 29% among likely GOP New Hampshire voters. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trails Haley by 18%, with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie one point behind DeSantis. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who has poured many resources into Granite State, is polling at 5%.
Haley is giving Trump a run for his money, even beating him among likely voters in areas of likability and reasonableness. When asked who New Hampshire GOP voters believe is the best prepared, Trump led Haley 54-53%.
Trump tied Ramaswamy for third place at 36% in the area of likability, with Haley leading the pack at 55% and DeSantis squeaking ahead of Trump and Ramaswamy by 1%.
Haley also scored well among voters asked who they believed was the most reasonable candidate. The former South Carolina governor led the candidates at 51%, with DeSantis at 37% and Trump falling one point behind the Florida governor. Ramaswamy and Christie tied in last at 27%.
Haley didn’t fare as well in the category of who voters believe would make the strongest leader. Trump led the pack with 66%, with DeSantis at 45% and Haley at 41%.
The poll shows that Granite State GOP voters overwhelmingly believe Trump is the best candidate to beat President Joe Biden in next year’s presidential election. The former president leads 51%, while Haley trails 32%, followed by DeSantis at 27%.
Haley received a huge boost following last week’s endorsement from New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. The governor has been heavily courted by DeSantis and Christie, who hoped to receive Sununu’s stamp of approval.
During Sununu’s speech last week, he echoed the Granite State voter’s sentiment that Haley shines regarding likability. “To see her out there, to see her connecting with folks, to feel that momentum, it is real and it is tangible,” said Sununu.
The governor appeared to cement that the race is firmly between Trump and Haley in New Hampshire.
“This is a race between two people. Nikki Haley and Donald Trump. That’s it … with all due respect to the other candidates,” Sununu told the crowd.
