In a recent campaign stop in Iowa, Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley made a major blunder when she confused University of Iowa basketball player Caitlin Clark with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins. The incident occurred at a tailgating event in Coralville, ahead of the Lady Hawkeyes game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Attempting to heap praise on the No. 4-ranked team, Haley mistakenly referred to point guard Clark as Collins.

"What a team they are. What a great coach," Haley said, according to a post by Gazette reporter Tom Barton. "Kaitlan Collins is phenomenal," she gushed. Collins, quick to respond, humorously chimed in on social media, stating, "I can assure you her free-throw percentage is much better than mine." The mix-up drew attention and highlighted Haley's lack of familiarity with the Iowa basketball star.

Haley's appearance in Iowa comes as the state's Republican presidential caucus approaches on Jan. 15. With other candidates scrambling to make campaign stops in an effort to boost their performance next month, Haley is currently polling third in Iowa with just 16.1% support. She trails former President Donald Trump, who leads with 51.3%, and Ron DeSantis, who has 18.6% support, according to the RealClearPolitics poll average.

This recent gaffe adds to a series of missteps by Haley. Just days before, she faced criticism for her comments at a town hall in New Hampshire, where she failed to mention slavery as the primary cause of the Civil War. Haley's team has yet to respond to requests for comment on these incidents.

However, despite the misstep, Haley did manage to fulfill her wish of seeing Caitlin Clark in action. Accompanied by her son, Nalin, Haley attended the Iowa basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Wearing an Iowa button on her jacket, she expressed her excitement to be there and praised Iowa coach Lisa Bluder as a "rock star." Haley also made a reference to her home-state Gamecocks, showcasing her familiarity with women's basketball.

During the game, Haley and her son sat with David Bluder, the coach's husband. Fans approached Haley as she took her seat, but all eyes were on Clark, the reigning Associated Press national player of the year. Clark, who has gained fame and a large following on social media, has about 20,000 more Instagram followers than Haley.

It is worth noting that Haley had previously expressed her admiration for Clark during a campaign stop in Ankeny in November. She had stated that if there was a way to attend a game and meet Clark, she would be there. This display of support for the basketball star was likely an attempt to connect with Iowa voters and build momentum leading up to the caucuses.

As the campaign intensifies, Haley finds herself battling Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for what may amount to a second-place finish in Iowa. However, former President Donald Trump continues to dominate the party and frustrate some Iowa voters who desire a more competitive race. Haley's missteps and struggles to gain traction highlight the challenges she faces in her pursuit of the Republican nomination.