Trump pollsters say Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy are rising threats in the Republican primary – while DeSantis ‘flatlined’ and got a ‘dead cat bounce’ from his debate performance

Former President Donald Trump’s pollsters see rivals Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy as rising threats in the Republican primary, while believing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has leveled off in the race after last week’s first Republican debate.

A confidential memo, written by GOP pollsters Tony Fabrizio, David Lee and Travis Tunis and sent to Republican donors, argued that Trump “still dominates BOTH games” in Iowa and New Hampshire, but there’s more of a battle for second place after Wednesday night’s elections. performances in Milwaukee.

The memo, a copy of which has been obtained by DailyMail.com, states that Haley “appears to have taken a hit” from her debate performance, while Ramaswamy was seen as the clear winner of the debate.

“DeSantis’ hoped-for ‘bounce’ was actually a ‘dead cat bounce’ in the sense that it doesn’t exist,” the trio argued. ‘Why? Because these voters have not seen a DeSantis debate win, far from it.”

“With Haley’s surge, DeSantis finds himself alongside Ramaswamy with another challenger for a distant second: Nikki Haley,” the memo continues.

Former President Donald Trump’s pollsters see rivals Nikki Haley (left) and Vivek Ramaswamy (right) as increasing threats in the Republican party primary, according to a confidential memo sent to donors, a copy of which DailyMail.com has obtained.

Former President Donald Trump still dominates the race in both Iowa and New Hampshire — the states hosting the first two contests next year — and appeared seemingly unscathed by skipping the first debate, held in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

The confidential memo was reported first from Axios.

In Iowa, where the nation’s first caucuses are taking place, pollsters found that after the first Republican debate — which Trump skipped — the former president retained the support of 44 percent of likely Republican caucus attendees.

DeSantis remained in second place with 18 percent support, while Haley received 10 percent.

Ramaswamy had a close relationship with Senator Tim Scott, with each candidate receiving 7 percent.

In New Hampshire, the state that will hold the first Republican primary, Trump received support from 48 percent of likely voters.

The pollsters then claim that DeSantis, Haley and Ramaswamy are statistically tied, with Florida’s governor at 11 percent and Haley and Ramaswamy both at 9 percent.

The margin of error for the study was plus or minus 4.38 percent.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has “flattened” the pollsters. “DeSantis’ much-anticipated ‘bounce’ was actually a ‘dead cat bounce’ in that it doesn’t exist,” they said.

“Despite the continued wishful thinking of some, Trump remains firmly in control in both states,” the pollsters wrote. “His lead is unchanged and the commitment to vote for him is rock solid.”

In Iowa, 72 percent of Trump voters said they are loyal to him, compared to 43 percent of DeSantis supporters who say they will vote for Florida governor no matter what, and 17 percent of those who currently support Haley.

In New Hampshire, 81 percent of Trump supporters said they are committed to the ex-president, compared to 28 percent of DeSantis supporters who say they stand by him and only 9 percent of those who say they currently support Haley. supports.

In both Iowa and New Hampshire, 80 percent of Republicans polled said they had heard at least something about Wednesday night’s debate.

In both states, 38-year-old Ramaswamy was the clear winner of the debate.

In Iowa, 28 percent of likely Republican voters held this view.

In New Hampshire it was 34 percent.

Haley narrowly beat DeSantis for second in Iowa, 19 to 18 percent, within the poll’s margin of error.

In New Hampshire, Haley and DeSantis tied for 16 percent for the best debate performance.