New Hampshire voters headed to the polls Tuesday for the presidential primary that will decide whether former President Trump quickly thwarts the Republican nomination or faces a continuing challenge from former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Ta.
If Trump wins a decisive victory over Granite State voters, the primary election will effectively end. If Ms. Haley wins an upset victory or closes in on her share of votes, the nomination battle could drag on for weeks.
Haley won the first precinct by a landslide at the traditional late-night voter rally in Dixville Notch. She received the votes of all six people who voted in this small rural town.
“This was a great start to a great day in New Hampshire,” Haley said in a statement shortly after the vote. “Thank you, Dixville Notch!”
He faces an uphill battle in the primary, even though New Hampshire is seen as the best state for early voting.
Real Clear Politics polls show Trump leading Haley by an average of 18.2 points.
New Hampshire has historically attracted attention during presidential elections, as it plays the role of hosting the nation's first primary election.
This year, Democrats overhauled their schedule, arguing that New Hampshire and Iowa, which hold their caucuses just before the Granite State, were not representative of the nation's demographics.
Biden is not campaigning in the state, and his name does not appear on primary election ballots. But his supporters have waged an aggressive write-in campaign, and he is widely expected to win the state's Democratic primary.
The Republican race appears to have been under particular scrutiny this year, as the state's highly independent and moderate voters were seen as a potential bulwark against Mr. Trump's candidacy.
Trump won a landslide victory in the Iowa caucuses last week despite facing 91 felonies in four criminal cases, including attempts to subvert the last election.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was expected to be the former president's strongest challenger, withdrew on Sunday and endorsed Trump. He is among a string of candidates to compromise against Trump, including former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. He was the newest person.
DeSantis' decision to suspend her campaign leaves Haley as the former president's only major Republican opponent.
Haley and Trump are increasingly at odds. On Monday, Ms. Haley stormed through New Hampshire, telling voters that she should not be reelected because of the criminal charges the former president faces and his obsession with people he considers his enemies.
“When you go out on Tuesday, you're going to decide if you want more of the same thing or if you want something new,” Haley said in Franklin, New Hampshire.
Even if Ms. Haley does well in New Hampshire, the road to the nomination will be difficult.
In her home state of South Carolina, where Haley served as governor, polls leading up to the February 24 primary election show her trailing Trump by an average of 30 points.
Trump, who has ramped up his attacks on Haley in recent days, addressed voters in Laconia, New Hampshire, on Monday and predicted victory.
“The Republican Party is becoming more united every day,” he said. “We started with 13 people. [rivals] And now we're down to two, and I think maybe tomorrow one will be gone. ”
