• Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley held a campaign rally in Salem, New Hampshire, on the eve of the nation's first primary on Tuesday.
• Some of the voters Haley attracted are registered Republicans who don't necessarily vote Republican, according to Daily Caller News Foundation conversations with nine participants from New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. There were also members of Congress, supporters of President Joe Biden, and Never Trumpers. .
• “I'm a left-wing independent, but I'm pro-life, so neither political party appeals to me,” Mark Croteau, 64, a Massachusetts resident who grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire, told DCNF. “Democrats are disgusted and Republicans are disgusted.”

SALEM, NH — Hundreds of voters packed Nikki Haley's campaign rally on Monday, the eve of the nation's first primary. Also in the crowd was Mary Ellen Stelziou, a 62-year-old registered Democrat who plans to vote for Haley in the primary due to protests against President Trump and President Joe Biden's absence from voting.

“I feel like I would be better off voting for her than voting for him,” Sterziu told the Daily Caller News Foundation, along with her husband, Chuck, who is an undeclared voter. “We've seen cultural norms of common sense, respect and kindness crumble. As mothers and fathers, we've watched it disappear and it's terrifying. and I always say [Trump] I've opened Pandora's box. ”

Sterziu, a former healthcare worker from Manchester, told DCNF that one of her biggest issues was “women's health”. A registered Democrat who describes herself as an independent voter, she said she voted for Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016. (Related: Report: Haley rejects marriage proposal from Trump supporter in New Hampshire)

The Daily Caller News Foundation spoke with nine attendees at Haley's event from New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts, all of whom said they would not support Trump if the Republican nominee in November. Ta. Several attendees were registered Republicans who are supporting or considering supporting Biden in the general election, while others were undeclared voters.

Terry Taylor, a 69-year-old retired nurse who came from Maine to hear from Haley and her husband, Richard, supported the former president in previous cycles despite being a registered Republican. I didn't.

“She's just a great female leader and she's not going to be like a man, she's going to be like a woman. And I think she's going to be a great president,” Taylor told DCNF. “We don't need another narcissist in our president. I'm sorry, but that's not the case. I can't even listen. [Trump]”

The former president received 51% of the vote in the January 15 Iowa caucuses, to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' 21.2%, Haley's 19.1% and conservative businessman Vivek Ramaswamy's 7.7%. % followed. Both Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Ramaswamy subsequently withdrew from the race and endorsed Mr. Trump.

Ernie Fredericks, who recently retired from the medical industry, is a registered Republican in New Hampshire, but said he hasn't always voted Republican. Fredericks told DCNF that Haley, 62, is a “candidate,” but that if Trump were the nominee, she would support a third-party candidate, as she has in the past two elections.

“I'm going to hope that a viable third party comes along, but to me it doesn't even really have to be viable,” Fredericks told DCNF.

Mark Croteau, a Massachusetts resident who grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire, is an undeclared voter who supported Haley in the primary. The 64-year-old road construction worker voted for Biden in 2020 and told DCNF he would vote for Biden again if he faced Trump again.

“I'm a left-wing independent, but I'm pro-life, so neither political party appeals to me,” Croteau told DCNF. “Democrats are disgusted and Republicans are disgusted.”

Another Massachusetts voter, Susan Hyder, said she is a registered Republican and previously voted for Clinton and Biden. Haider, a 60-year-old payroll executive, told DCNF he would consider voting again for Biden over the former president for the general position, but that he believed Haley could secure the nomination. Told.

“I like what she has to say. I think she's honest. I trust her values. To be honest, I feel like I'm the same as any other Republican other than Trump. '' said Haider.

CNN/University of New Hampshire poll A report released Sunday found Haley received 58% support from undeclared voters in the Granite State who plan to vote in the Republican primary, and 73% support from voters who identify as independents or Democrats. did. Moreover, among voters who consider themselves conservative, only 17% supported Ms. Haley, compared to 71% who supported Mr. Trump.

Haley spoke on Fox News about the support she is receiving from New Hampshire voters. interview I met with Martha McCollum earlier Monday, and her campaign pointed me to the DCNF in response to a request for comment.

“You know, it's great. Look at the fact that suburban women are coming back to us. We're seeing young college kids coming back to us. Because Because they want to see someone who can be their new voice, their fresh voice, their warrior,” Haley said. “That's what we care about. That's what we've always cared about is ordinary people.”

The former ambassador currently trails President Trump by 18.2 points in RealClearPolitics (RCP). average For the New Hampshire primary.

The Democratic National Committee's new schedule means Biden will not participate in the New Hampshire primary, leaving Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and other lesser-known candidates vying for the state.However, the president still maintains majority support in the Democratic primary through a massive write-in campaign, according to RCP. average.

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