Here Are the GOP Presidential Candidates Who Got the Biggest Bump in First Post-Debate Poll

Three candidates have increased their support after the first Republican presidential primary debate on Wednesday, according to a new poll.

The debate hosted eight candidates apart from Donald Trump, who has boycotted the debates citing his lead and whose interview with Tucker Carlson aired during the debate. While support for Trump declined by 6 percentage points, candidates Nikki Haley, Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis saw an increase in their support, according to a new poll released by Emerson College on Monday.

Haley saw her support increase by 5 percentage points, from 2% to 7%, according to the poll. Haley, who served as the cabinet-ranked ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, has been acclaimed by some conservative commentators for her debate performance — pointing to her remarks about abortion, foreign policy, appropriations earmarks and Social Security reform.

“Can’t we all agree that we should ban late-term abortions? Can’t we all agree that we should encourage adoptions? Can’t we all agree that doctors and nurses who don’t believe in abortions shouldn’t have to perform them?” Haley said. She was praised by the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal — owned by conservative media baron Rupert Murdoch — which said that “she respected viewers by telling them the truth.”

Apart from Haley, Pence, who was Trump’s running mate twice previously, increased his support from 3% to 7%, according to the poll. Pence gained attention during the debate for his support for a six-week abortion limit, which Haley opposed, as well as his criticism of pro-Trump candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.