As the New Hampshire primary approaches, 2024 presidential candidates are making their final push to court voters and secure a strong finish. Nikki Haley has been heavily focused on the state, holding multiple events across New Hampshire. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, on the other hand, faced some confusion about his campaign's path forward. After campaigning in South Carolina, which has its primary over a month away, DeSantis canceled several Sunday morning TV appearances, citing scheduling conflicts. Additionally, Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips, who is mounting a long shot challenge to President Biden, is also actively engaging with voters through two events today.
With two days left until the New Hampshire primaries, both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump have been crisscrossing the state in order to deliver their messages. Trump's campaign advisors firmly believe that if he can win with large margins on Tuesday, it will effectively end the primary race early and force his rivals out. Notably, DeSantis isn't the only one who made the journey from South Carolina to New Hampshire. Trump called a series of South Carolina leaders to the stage during his rally in Manchester. The strategy seems to be to highlight that Haley is not well-liked in her own state. Governor Henry McMaster, a steadfast Trump supporter who endorsed him early on, and multiple South Carolina congressmen joined Trump on stage. Trump introduced them by questioning how Haley, a former South Carolina governor, could receive endorsements when the 'radical left Democrats' are allegedly supporting her due to their belief that she is easy to beat.
This strategic move by Trump comes after he secured a significant endorsement from South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. The Trump campaign had been actively pursuing Scott's endorsement since he dropped out of the presidential race last year. This endorsement has given Trump's team confidence about their prospects in South Carolina. By parading South Carolina lawmakers and their support for Trump on stage just days before the New Hampshire primary, Trump aims to undermine Haley's credibility. He has been actively attacking her, attempting to portray her as aligned with the left and insinuating connections to President Biden.
The timing of these moves reflects Trump's efforts to solidify his position as the frontrunner in the Republican race and rally support away from his opponents. With the primary race heating up, the outcome of the New Hampshire primary will likely shape the trajectory of the candidates' campaigns moving forward. As voters head to the polls on Tuesday, all eyes will be on the results and the impact it will have on the presidential race.
