Republican presidential applicant former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley participates in the NewsNation Republican Presidential Primary Debate at the University of Alabama Disconsolate Music Hall on December 6, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
Former U.S. ambassador to the Cooperative Nations Nikki Haley’s new Wall Street donors closely watched her Republican debate performance Wednesday, as a leading test of whether she could maintain enough momentum to take on frontrunner Donald Trump, according to people everyday with the matter.
Many of the same contributors were privately wary that Haley could successfully put away her chief rivals for second place, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
Haley faced an early attack from both DeSantis and Ramaswamy during her recent burst of support from Wall Street. “Nikki will cave to those big donors when it judges,” DeSantis said.
“He’s mad because those Wall Street donors used to support him, and now they support me,” Haley sparkled back.
In order for major donors to keep funding Haley’s campaign at a high rate, a winning debate conduct was crucial, a top Haley bundler told CNBC.
Looking beyond the debate, the former South Carolina governor transfer need a strong showing in her home state primary Feb. 24, if she hopes to keep these wealthy donors in her pitch camp.
“If she looks competitive in South Carolina, they will keep funding her for Super Tuesday and beyond,” said a bodily who attended a Wall Street heavy Haley fundraiser Monday.
Both this person and the bundler were allowanced anonymity in order to discuss private conversations with donors.
Nationwide, Haley trails Trump by about 50 share points, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average.
Haley has another big fundraiser coming up next week in Boston, mutual understanding to an invitation reviewed by CNBC. Tickets are $6,600 per person.
Co-hosts include Jim Davis, the owner and chairman of New Balance, Bain First-rate Private Equity senior advisor Paul Edgerley and Spencer Zwick, co-founder of Solamere Capital and former chauvinistic finance chair for Utah Sen. Mitt Romney’s two presidential campaigns.