Tensions between former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have escalated in recent days as they vie for the top Trump alternative spot in the Republican presidential primary. With the primary closing in, Haley's traction and rising popularity appear to threaten DeSantis's second-place position, leading to a flurry of verbal exchanges and attacks.

The latest back-and-forth between the two campaigns centers around the possibility of the U.S. receiving refugees from Gaza. DeSantis accused Haley of being "politically correct" on the issue, while Haley's campaign refuted the accusation and accused DeSantis of misrepresenting her stance. Their respective super PACs, Never Back Down and SFA, have also engaged in a war of words, highlighting contrasting viewpoints and attempting to undermine each other's credibility.

The recent spat between the candidates stems from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. DeSantis took a strong stance, declaring that the U.S. should not accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza and insisting that other countries in the region should bear the responsibility. Haley, on the other hand, emphasized the need to separate civilians from terrorists and questioned why neighboring countries like Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Lebanon were not taking in Palestinian refugees.

Both campaigns have resorted to highlighting perceived weaknesses in their opponent's positions. DeSantis's allies have accused Haley of flip-flopping on critical issues, suggesting that she will not be able to survive scrutiny and defend her actions. Meanwhile, Haley's campaign has used her experience at the U.N. to criticize DeSantis, accusing him of distracting from substantive issues by attacking her.

Despite the verbal sparring, Haley has seen increasing momentum in fundraising and polls. Her campaign reported raising over $11 million in the third quarter, with $11.6 million cash on hand. Polls show her trailing behind DeSantis, but by a narrow margin. A Fox News poll showed Haley only 3 points behind him, while a Winthrop University survey in South Carolina put her ahead of DeSantis at 17 percent to his 12 percent.

DeSantis, however, maintains a second-place position in most polls. The RealClearPolitics polling average shows him with 12.8 percent support, while Haley trails behind at 7.4 percent.

With the primary drawing closer, the battle between Haley and DeSantis is expected to intensify further. As they attempt to solidify their positions as the top Trump alternative, their verbal exchanges and attacks on each other's foreign policy records are likely to continue. The outcome of this heated rivalry will have significant implications for the Republican primary race in 2024.