A recent YouGov poll reveals that among Republicans, Donald Trump is more favorably viewed than Nikki Haley, the two major candidates in the GOP presidential primary.
The survey indicates that 45 percent of Americans hold a “very favorable” or “somewhat favorable” opinion of the former president, while only 34 percent feel the same way about the former U.N. ambassador.
The ongoing feud between Haley and Trump has been marked by exchanges of criticism, including a recent ad from Haley titled “Grumpy Old Men Say What,” where she targets both Trump and President Biden for their age.
The poll further highlights that more Americans perceive Trump as authentic, with 30 percent stating that the former president is more authentic than the ex-South Carolina governor.
In contrast, 20 percent believe Haley is more authentic than Trump. However, when it comes to compassion, 27 percent see Haley as more compassionate, while 23 percent think Trump is more compassionate than Haley.
In response to the tensions, Trump, via his Truth Social platform, declared that anyone contributing to Haley would be “permanently barred from the MAGA camp.”
Using a nickname for Haley, he stated, “We don’t want them and will not accept them because we put America first and always will!” In turn, Haley fundraised off the donor threat, offering a T-shirt with the slogan “Barred. Permanently.”
The YouGov poll, conducted between Jan. 24 and 30 with 1,000 U.S. adults as respondents, has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
The results provide insight into the dynamics within the Republican Party as the primary race intensifies, showcasing the divisions in favorability and perceived traits between the two prominent candidates.