As Iowa Heads to Caucuses, Battle Is On for 2nd Place

Nikki Haley passed Ron DeSantis in the polls but both remain well behind President Trump. Each remains confident of achieving a second place finish or better.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (L) and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley speak during the fifth Republican presidential primary debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 10, 2024. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

DES MOINES, Iowa—Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley appear to be locked in a battle for second place in the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses as former President Donald Trump continues to hold a commanding lead in the polls.

Ms. Haley eclipsed Mr. DeSantis in a pair of polls released last week but continues to trail President Trump by 28 percentage points.