Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has seen a surge in fundraising, raising over $11 million in the third quarter, according to her campaign. This significant haul indicates a growing interest in her bid for the party's nomination and her potential challenge against former President Donald Trump. With the first nominating contest in Iowa just three months away, Haley is aiming to overtake Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who currently trails behind Trump as the frontrunner in the Republican primary race. DeSantis announced last week that he raised $15 million in the third quarter, but only $5 million of that can be used for the primary battle.

Haley's campaign claims to have $9.1 million available for the primary race, demonstrating a strong financial position. It is important to note that donations to political campaigns are specifically designated for primary fights or general election campaigns and cannot be shifted between the two funds. Despite Haley and DeSantis' impressive fundraising totals, they are overshadowed by Trump, who recently announced raising a whopping $45.5 million between July and September, with $36 million eligible for the primary.

Haley, the former ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, has emerged as a strong rival to DeSantis in the race to become the main alternative to Trump. Her two strong debate performances and tireless campaign schedule have gained her momentum, even surpassing DeSantis in recent polls in New Hampshire. Her campaign has received donations from over 40,000 new donors in the third quarter alone, indicating a significant surge in support. Haley's spokesperson, Olivia Perez-Cubas, stated, "We have seen a big surge in support and have real momentum."

The New York Times reported that in addition to her impressive fundraising, Haley's campaign has been running a lean operation, with a limited payroll and no campaign-backed television ads so far. By saving approximately half of every dollar raised into her 2024 account in the last three months, her campaign has maximized its resources. Haley's campaign provided these figures ahead of the October 15 disclosure deadline.

The next phase of the 2024 Republican race appears to be a primary within the primary, as Haley and DeSantis compete for the position of chief rival to Trump. Initially, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina seemed poised to benefit from major donors, but his poll numbers have remained stagnant. His campaign has not yet released third-quarter fundraising numbers, but it had over $21 million cash on hand at the end of June.

Haley's recent rise in the polls has prompted her campaign to expand operations in key states such as Iowa, opening a headquarters in Clive and hiring staff and advisers. Meanwhile, DeSantis has shifted staff from his Tallahassee headquarters to Iowa after his $15 million fundraising success in the third quarter. The Des Moines Register reported that Haley's campaign is also targeting major Republican donors at the American Opportunity Alliance gathering in Texas. These donors will be presented with the argument that Haley's fundraising has increased while DeSantis's has decreased in recent months, highlighting her stronger financial position overall.

In terms of ad spending, Haley's super PAC, Stand for America, has been a major advertiser in the early states over the summer, accompanying her rise in the polls. The upcoming report will reveal that Haley's campaign has seen overall cash on hand grow from $6.8 million to $11.6 million since the previous quarter. The majority of this funding, $9.1 million, is available for use in the primary race, with the remainder earmarked for the general election if she becomes the Republican nominee.