The Iowa caucuses are upon us, and it appears former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has improved her position, according to the most recent poll.

But while the survey reveals favorable results for the candidate, what it says about her supporters in Iowa is also noteworthy. The poll revealed that most of her supporters would vote for President Joe Biden if former President Donald Trump became the Republican nominee.

While the overwhelming percentage of Republican voters in Iowa would support Trump if he gets the GOP nod, Haley’s supporters have a different plan.

Respondents who plan to caucus for Haley stand out as significantly less optimistic about Trump’s chances than other likely Republican caucusgoers.

A majority of Haley supporters, 54%, say it would be nearly impossible for Trump to win against Biden, given his legal challenges. That’s down from 65% in a December Iowa Poll.

Just 23% of Haley supporters say they would vote for Trump in a matchup with Biden. The plurality of Haley supporters, 43%, would vote for Biden instead.

The poll also found that 23 percent of Haley’s supporters would support Trump while 27 percent would back a third-party candidate.

One Haley supporter who participated in the survey was appalled that Republican voters would support a presidential candidate “that has knowingly broke laws” and said that it “just seems insane.”

The poll also showed Haley moving solidly into second place ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was previously seen as the favorite to defeat Trump, by four points.

🚨 IOWA POLL: Nikki Haley moves into second place

Trump: 48%
Haley: 20%
DeSantis: 16%
Ramaswamy: 8%
Ryan Binkley: 1%
Asa Hutchinson: 1%

MOE +/- 3.7%https://t.co/cPAOk8vBMQ

— Brianne Pfannenstiel (@brianneDMR) January 14, 2024

So, what does this say about Haley’s supporters?

It appears the former governor has carved out a distinct niche in the Republican field. Haley’s candidacy seems to resonate with moderates who are repelled by Trump’s candidacy, but are not exactly gung-ho about President Biden. It suggests that a large chunk of her supporters come from the traditional establishment stock, which Trump upended when he was elected in 2016. Haley appears to be popular among the NeverTrump crowd, which seems to yearn for the part to go back to its pre-Trump years.

However, it is worth noting that Trump’s influence has been a defining feature of Republican politics since he came onto the scene. Haley might be popular with the moderates, but the majority of the Republican base is not seeking another moderate candidate.

Still, Haley’s rise in the polls cannot be ignored. Before the election season began in earnest, it was expected that DeSantis, who was seen as a more polished version of Trump, would be the most dangerous challenger to the former president. Now, it appears that is not the case, especially if the Florida governor fails to make a decent showing in Iowa.

While it is still early, it does not seem likely that -- even if Haley cements her position as the second-place candidate -- she would have much of a chance of defeating Trump. Barring some cataclysmic upheaval possibly stemming from the former president’s legal issues, the GOP nomination race is still Trump’s to lose.