Mr. Bush, a Republican who voted for Mr. Biden in 2020 and for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, in 2016, said he was struck by his knowledge and composure.
“The topic that everyone is thinking about is, ‘How do we beat Donald Trump?'” Mr. Bush said, “and she was careful to say, ‘Look, people will decide about him, but it’s where I stand on certain issues.’ .’ And she raised some issues related to our debt, to our role in the world. But what you captured was an electric energy,” he added, “that I think really excited this crowd. “
But even with Ms. Haley’s momentum, stopping Mr. Trump’s seemingly inexorable march toward the Republican nomination promises to be a daunting task. With a large lead in national and early state polls, the former president is effectively running as an incumbent, with legions of supporters ready to vote only for him.
Several donors and advisors described two groups emerging among the largest major donors:
First, those who have given in to the likelihood that Mr. Trump, whatever their feelings about him, is probably the nominee, and have decided to stop funding potential alternatives. Second, those who believe that with enough financial resources and a savvy field operation, Ms. Haley could topple him.
Despite the obstacles, his financial supporters say they see a path to victory.
“There were people who didn’t like Trump at all but were very skeptical that he could be stopped,” said Eric Levine, a Republican fundraiser who leads the bankruptcy and litigation practice at Eiseman Levine Lehrhaupt & Kakoyiannis. “They now believe he can be stopped,” he said, pointing to Ms. Haley’s steady rise in the polls.
