The Granite State of New Hampshire is gearing up for its primary elections as candidates from both major political parties make their final push to win over voters. While the Republican side has seen a strong showing by former President Donald Trump, recent polling shows a tightening race between Trump and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. However, new numbers released today indicate that Trump is widening his lead, currently ahead of Haley by 19 points. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trails behind in a distant third place.
The Republican primary in New Hampshire will award 22 delegates, with voting set to take place in just two days. On the Democratic side, however, zero delegates are up for grabs, as a dispute between the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and New Hampshire led to the cancellation of the Democratic primary in the state. The disagreement centered around which state should have the privilege of casting primary votes first.
Despite the absence of a Democratic primary, the political atmosphere in New Hampshire is palpable. Attack ads can be seen on local TV stations, and campaign flyers are scattered throughout the area. Voters are taking notice as the candidates make their final efforts to secure support.
New Hampshire holds great significance in the political landscape, as it has been the first-in-the-nation primary state for over a century. The role of New Hampshire in narrowing down the field of candidates is highly regarded by its governor, Krista Noonoo, who has thrown her support behind Nikki Haley. She believes that New Hampshire plays a crucial role in selecting the future president, as her father famously said, 'Iowa picks corn and New Hampshire picks presidents.'
Former President Trump, closely monitoring the polls, is striving to maintain his momentum. He has secured another endorsement, this time from South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and continues to criticize his rivals. In particular, Trump has targeted Nikki Haley, claiming that she will not effectively secure the border or address the fentanyl crisis plaguing New Hampshire.
Undeclared voters, who make up the largest voting bloc in the state at nearly 350,000, have become the focus of intense campaigning. These voters, regardless of their party affiliation, are concerned about key issues such as immigration, the economy, gun rights, and foreign policy. The race for their support remains competitive and could heavily impact the outcome of the primary.
With the excitement building, election officials are anticipating record voter turnout in New Hampshire on Tuesday. The outcome of the primary will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of the campaigns as candidates vie for the support of the Granite State's voters on their path to securing their party's nomination for the upcoming presidential election.
