"Nikki Haley: The Rising GOP Challenger Overcoming Hurdles to Trump's Lead"

Nikki Haley has emerged as the top alternative to Donald Trump in the Republican presidential race, according to interviews with voters, operatives, and polling data. While Trump maintains a wide lead, Haley has pulled even with Ron DeSantis for a distant second place in Iowa and holds sole possession of that spot in recent surveys of New Hampshire and her home state of South Carolina. However, Haley faces challenges, including her pitch to move on from Trump, attacks from critics, questions about her ground game, and the presence of Chris Christie in the race. Haley's campaign sees a narrow path to victory, banking on a strong showing in the early states and a head-to-head contest against Trump in South Carolina.