Over the past several months, Nikki Haley conducted her campaign with limited attention.
Following two debates where she vigorously challenged her higher-profile opponents while emerging relatively unscathed, and a summer during which her national and early-state polling experienced improvement while her opponents remained static, an increasing number of Republicans are beginning to perceive her as a contender in a two-way race with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the second-place position.
Both are striving to become the primary alternative to former President Donald Trump as they head into the early primary states this winter.