Haley’s crucial showdown with Trump in New Hampshire
Former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley Faces Off Against Trump in New Hampshire Primary
EXETER, New Hampshire — Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley got the two-way battle against former President Donald Trump she was hoping for after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) ended his White House run on Sunday.
But how she fares against the former president on Tuesday in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary could very well determine whether she shares a similar fate.
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Haley’s campaign had once claimed she could win in the state but tempered expectations after Trump’s decisive victory in Iowa last week.
“I think we always want to have as many people come out to vote,” Haley told reporters during a gaggle as she barnstormed New Hampshire over the weekend. “We want them to show the power of their voice. We want to get out there.”
The former South Carolina had for weeks jockeyed with DeSantis to be the sole alternative to Trump, but she is at risk of losing that new mantle right out the gate.
Half of likely Republican primary voters, 50%, said they would back Trump compared to 39% for Haley, according to the latest CNN-University of New Hampshire poll, conducted Jan. 16-19 and released on Sunday, while the former president has an average lead of 17.5 points.
The stakes could not be higher for Haley. If she cannot pull off a win or close second-place finish, she will face growing pressure to drop out. But Haley’s allies and even some Republican strategists claim the former South Carolina governor could still continue on through the Palmetto State’s Feb. 24 primary.
“I think she’s going to do well enough to allow her to continue,” Republican pollster Frank Luntz told the Washington Examiner. “But I question whether she can do well enough to be truly viable based on the national polling data and the focus groups that we’re doing. She needs to win, and I question whether she can do so.”
The late Sen. John McCain won New Hampshire’s primary in 2008 in large part due to independents after placing fourth during the Iowa caucuses. Haley’s supporters are holding out hope that New Hampshire’s undeclared voters, roughly 40% of the electorate, and its history of defying political conventions will help Haley pull off an upset.
NEW HAMPSHIRE IS FIRED UP FOR @NikkiHaley!
1,000+ Granite Staters flooded into the auditorium at Exeter High School tonight to hear Nikki deliver her vision for our country’s future — and they loved what they heard
GET OUT AND VOTE ON TUESDAY!
“I think it could do a lot to help her,” said Helene Hagger, a 70-year-old retiree from Raymond, New Hampshire, about Tuesday’s primary. “I don’t think it will break her. But I think it’s going to help her a lot.”
“She needs to win here,” stressed Carole Alfano, a longtime Exeter, New Hampshire, resident. “A super-close second she stays in the game.”
“I think it’s going to be tough, but I’m really hoping that she will pull off one of the biggest upsets in New Hampshire history,” Alfano said.
Yet some New Hampshire residents were skeptical Haley could eke out a win against Trump.
Scott Faiia, a 72-year-old retiree from Hampton Falls, attended a Haley event in Seabrook on Sunday in which Haley was jubilant after news broke that DeSantis had suspended his campaign. Faiia, however, was unimpressed.
“It was not very in-depth. So, it’s difficult to make any kind of judgment,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t learn anything today except that she knows how to smile and take selfies.”
DeSantis had staked his campaign on winning the Iowa caucuses but dropped out a week after finishing in second place but 30 points behind Trump.
The move could benefit Trump in New Hampshire — DeSantis endorsed the former president in announcing the end of his campaign. Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), another presidential candidate who dropped out, endorsed Trump on Friday despite representing Haley’s home state of South Carolina.
But Haley is banking on the backing of Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) helping her attract the independent voters who will prove critical to her performance on election night. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie exiting the race is also expected to benefit her in New Hampshire.
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Haley insists her campaign will continue irrespective of what happens Tuesday night.
“We’re making our case. New Hampshire likes what they hear. We’re going to keep going forward,” she said at an Epping, New Hampshire, event on Sunday. “And I think people want to see something new, something fresh, a new tone at the top. And that’s what we’re going to try and make sure that we do going forward.”
How important is it for Haley to win or come close to the top in the New Hampshire primary to remain a viable candidate?
Nikki Haley, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, is facing off against former President Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primary. This two-way battle comes after Governor Ron DeSantis ended his White House run, giving Haley the competition she was hoping for. However, the outcome of this primary will determine whether Haley shares a similar fate to DeSantis.
Haley’s campaign initially claimed that she could win in the state of New Hampshire, but they tempered their expectations after Trump’s decisive victory in Iowa. Haley expressed her desire for more people to come out and vote, emphasizing the importance of showing the power of their voices.
Despite jockeying with DeSantis to be the sole alternative to Trump, Haley is at risk of losing that position right out of the gate. According to the latest CNN-University of New Hampshire poll, 50% of likely Republican primary voters would back Trump, while only 39% would support Haley. Trump currently holds an average lead of 17.5 points.
The stakes are high for Haley, as a loss or close second-place finish would increase pressure for her to drop out. However, her allies and some Republican strategists believe she could continue through South Carolina’s primary on February 24th.
There is hope among Haley’s supporters that New Hampshire’s independent voters, who make up around 40% of the electorate, and its history of defying political conventions could help her pull off an upset. In 2008, the late Senator John McCain won New Hampshire’s primary largely due to support from independents, even though he had placed fourth in the Iowa caucuses.
There is enthusiasm among her supporters in New Hampshire, with over 1,000 Granite Staters attending a rally to hear Haley’s vision for the country’s future. Many believe that Tuesday’s primary could greatly benefit her campaign.
However, there are also concerns about Haley’s chances. Republican pollster Frank Luntz questions whether she can perform well enough to be truly viable based on national polling data and focus groups. Winning or coming close to the top is crucial for Haley to remain in the game.
In conclusion, the New Hampshire primary is a critical moment for former Ambassador Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign. The outcome will determine her future in the race and whether she can pose a real challenge to the dominance of former President Donald Trump. With New Hampshire’s reputation for defying expectations, Haley’s team remains hopeful, but the competition remains fierce.
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