In a significant stride towards the 2024 GOP nominating contest, former President Donald Trump clinched victory in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary on Tuesday. This triumph marks his second major win in the first two states of the contest, following his substantial lead in the Iowa caucuses last week.
The election results, with 72 percent of expected votes counted, showed Trump leading his major opponent, Nikki Haley, by 55 percent to 44 percent. Trump’s decisive win in New Hampshire further solidifies his position as the front-runner in the race and poses challenges for Haley’s continued candidacy.
Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador, signaled her determination to stay in the race despite the setback. However, Trump, taking the stage later, referred to Haley as an “impostor” and expressed displeasure at her decision not to withdraw immediately. He stated, “I don’t get too angry. I get even.”
Here are some key takeaways from the New Hampshire primary:
- Haley Faces Uphill Battle: With Trump’s victory in New Hampshire, Haley’s path forward appears increasingly challenging. The state, which seemed potentially winnable for a candidate other than Trump, failed to provide a strong argument for Haley’s competitiveness. Early exit polls revealed that a significant portion of the GOP primary electorate in New Hampshire consisted of voters not registered as Republicans.
- Mixed Sentiments Among Haley Voters: Exit polls highlighted a notable difference in voters’ feelings toward the candidates. While Trump voters expressed strongly favorable views of him, Haley’s supporters were less enthusiastic. Only about one-third of Haley voters cited strongly favorable views, and a significant portion voted based on dislike for other candidates rather than genuine support for Haley.
- Trump’s Work Ahead: The results also shed light on New Hampshire’s unique electorate, where a majority opposed a federal law banning most or all abortions. Trump’s popularity in the state is less than in other swing states, presenting a potential challenge for him in the general election.
- Haley’s Reasons for Staying In: Despite the defeat, Haley insisted that the race is far from over and argued that Republicans shouldn’t risk moving forward with Trump due to his electoral track record. She raised concerns about a Trump nomination leading to a Biden win and a Kamala Harris presidency.
- Biden’s Clear Win: On the Democratic front, President Biden appeared to secure a decisive victory in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, reinforcing the notion that there’s little doubt about his ability to win the Democratic nomination again.
As the GOP primary progresses, Haley faces the challenge of maintaining momentum and support, while Trump’s dominance continues to shape the narrative of the 2024 presidential race.
