New Hampshire residents are participating in a consequential primary election on Tuesday, where Donald Trump contends with his last Republican adversary, Nikki Haley, at the polls.
In a bid to significantly impact the campaign of ex-South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, former US President Trump is strategically working towards a knockout. Meanwhile, Haley pins her hopes on winning over New Hampshire’s independent voters for a potential upset in the Republican White House race.
The aftermath of Mr. Trump’s overwhelming win in Iowa last week leads into the second contest. The eventual Republican nominee arising from these primaries is poised to challenge the anticipated Democratic candidate, President Joe Biden, in the November general election.
Democrats are participating in their primary in New Hampshire on Tuesday, yet due to a disagreement between national and local party officials, Mr. Biden becomes the first sitting president not to feature on the ballot.
The Republican nomination race consolidated to just two contenders on Sunday, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis securing a distant second in Iowa’s caucuses and then stepping down, endorsing Mr. Trump.
Read also: Republican Nomination: DeSantis Withdraws, Endorses Trump
Even before Mr. DeSantis’ exit, 77-year-old Mr. Trump had established a substantial double-digit lead in numerous New Hampshire opinion polls. The majority of surveys indicate that many of the Florida governor’s supporters now see Mr. Trump as the next best option.
At a rally in Laconia, New Hampshire, on Monday night Mr Trump said: ‘If you want a losing candidate who puts America last, vote for Nikki Haley.’
He told the crowd that “globalists and radical left communists” were convincing liberals to vote for her in the Republican primary.
‘They want to run against her because she’s so easy to beat,’ he added.
At a campaign event earlier in the day, Ms Haley, 52, said Mr Trump was preoccupied with the criminal and civil cases he faces. He denies all charges, claiming political persecution.
‘When you hear Trump speak,’ she said, ‘what’s he talking about? Grievances, the past. He’s talking about vendettas.’
‘Biden’s talking about investigations. Neither one of them is talking about the future. I’m doing this because… I don’t want my kids to live this way.’