Donald Trump has emerged as the winner of New Hampshire's primary, further solidifying his position as a frontrunner for the Republican nomination. This sets the stage for an eagerly awaited rematch with President Joe Biden in November.
Shortly after voting ended, The New York Times and Washington Post both predicted that Trump would emerge victorious in Tuesday's primary, defeating former Ambassador Nikki Haley. Haley's supporters were initially confident about winning the state, but their expectations have been adjusted to a "strong" second-place finish in recent days.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden emerged as the victor in New Hampshire's Democratic primary, despite his unconventional approach of not actively campaigning or being listed on the ballot in the state. His success came through an unexpected write-in effort.
Biden emerged as the clear winner, surpassing two unlikely contenders, Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson, who were among the candidates listed on the ballot alongside several lesser-known individuals. His unexpected win solidifies Biden's hold on the Democratic nomination for a second term.
The New Hampshire race is expected to be excluded from the delegate count for the presidential nomination. Democrats in the state have opposed a primary calendar change supported by Biden, which prioritized South Carolina in the Democratic race for the White House.
This outcome increases the chances of a highly anticipated rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden later this year.
Furthermore, the outcome dealt a blow to former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who had dedicated considerable time and financial resources to secure victory in the state. She emerged as the final contender in the race following Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' decision to withdraw from the presidential race, positioning her as the only viable alternative to Trump.
Haley escalated her critique of the former president, raising doubts about his mental sharpness and positioning herself as a candidate who would bring about a new era of unity and progress.
The appeals did not connect with a sufficient number of voters. Per AP News, Trump can now proudly claim the title of the first Republican presidential candidate to win open races in Iowa and New Hampshire since both states began leading the election calendar in 1976. This remarkable achievement demonstrates the rapid support that Republicans have shown for him, solidifying his position as their nominee for the third consecutive time.
However, Trump expressed his frustration with the inclusion of independent voters in the race during the early night. In 2016, the former president strategically used open primaries to his benefit.
Nikki Haley Vs. Donald Trump
Haley's campaign made it abundantly clear well in advance of the results being released that she has no intentions of going anywhere. However, New Hampshire provided her with a favorable advantage that may prove challenging to find in the upcoming weeks.
The pair will not have another formal confrontation until the primary in South Carolina on February 24th. Despite Haley's familiarity with the area, recent polls indicate that Trump is expected to secure a victory over the former governor, which could potentially be seen as a humiliating outcome.
Her best chance is to hold on until Super Tuesday when the delegate race will kick into high gear. She is openly employing a strategy reminiscent of Trump's tactics from the 2016 campaign, aiming to attract independent voters to participate in the GOP primary process.
Leading members of the Republican party are already urging for the primary to come to a close. Prior to the New Hampshire primary, Trump showcased a number of endorsements from South Carolina to emphasize his determination to challenge Haley.
Trump falls short of the required number of delegates to secure his party's "presumptive" nominee status. As part of their design, the early states do not provide a significant number of delegates in a winner-take-all contest. However, Trump and his supporters are capitalizing on the initial successes to reinforce the idea that any attempts to oppose him are ultimately pointless.
