In the Republican primary, former President Donald Trump secured a significant victory in a closely contested race against former Ambassador Nikki Haley. Notably, Governor Haley received substantial financial support from her campaign and Super PACs, with nearly $30 million spent on her in the state of New Hampshire. This amount far exceeded the funds allocated to former President Trump, reflecting the intense competition between the candidates. Additionally, Haley enjoyed support from independent voters and Democrats who registered as independents to participate in the state's open primary system.
Surprisingly, despite the substantial backing for Haley, Donald Trump emerged triumphant with a double-digit win, which was achieved amidst record voter turnout in New Hampshire. Looking ahead, the next crucial contest will take place in Nevada, where Haley will not appear on the state's caucus ballot. Subsequently, the candidates will face off in South Carolina, Haley's home state where she formerly served as a popular governor. However, recent polling data from the Real Clear Politics average indicates that Donald Trump holds a commanding lead of 30 percentage points over Nikki Haley in South Carolina, signaling a challenging uphill battle for her.
