Former President Donald Trump is set to bolster his support in New Hampshire, aiming to fortify his position as the 2024 Republican front-runner ahead of the state’s first-in-the-nation GOP presidential primary. This marks Trump’s first visit to the Granite State in over a month, where he will host a rally in Durham, a college town located in one of the state’s most liberal counties.
Trump’s Campaign Trail: An Aggressive Effort to Maintain Dominance
Trump’s New Hampshire rally will be followed by events in Reno, Nevada, and Waterloo, Iowa, marking his second visit to the Hawkeye State within a week. This flurry of campaigning activities highlights Trump’s team’s aggressive efforts to sustain his commanding lead as the polls transition to actual voting. Trump’s advisers have expressed concerns privately that his supporters might take his comfortable lead for granted and underestimate the importance of their votes.
Trump’s Rivals: DeSantis and Haley Gain Momentum
Trump’s visit to New Hampshire follows a day after his rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, concluded his own visit to the Granite State. Meanwhile, another contender, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, seems to be gaining traction in the state, underscored by a recent endorsement from the state’s popular governor, Chris Sununu, who has been vocal about his opposition to Trump’s candidacy.
Trump’s Response to Sununu’s Endorsement of Haley
Following Sununu’s endorsement of Haley, Trump dismissed the New Hampshire governor as “unelectable” and claimed Haley has “no chance of winning.” Despite Haley’s growing prominence in the race, a Trump campaign adviser confirmed that there are no plans to alter their strategy in response to this development.
Impact of Endorsements on Primary: Uncertain Outcomes
The effect of Sununu’s endorsement on the primary remains uncertain. A recent poll in Iowa suggested that DeSantis’ support there increased only marginally following an endorsement by another popular governor, Kim Reynolds. A CNN/University of New Hampshire poll of likely voters in New Hampshire’s Republican primary released last month showed Trump leading with 42% support, while Haley, his closest challenger, stood at 20%.
Trump’s Dominance in National Polls
Trump’s dominance extends to national polls as well. A Pew Research Center survey released last Thursday found that 52% of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters named the former president as their top choice in the primary, with DeSantis trailing at 14%.
Trump’s Campaign Strategy in Iowa
In Iowa, the Trump campaign is attempting to counter Reynolds’ endorsement of DeSantis by releasing a new ad that highlights her previous support for Trump. This move could potentially counterbalance the influence of Never Back Down, the super PAC backing DeSantis, which features Reynolds praising the Florida governor.
DeSantis and Haley Challenge Trump’s Absence from Debates
Both DeSantis and Haley have criticized Trump for not participating in any Republican primary debates this year. Haley confirmed her participation in a CNN Iowa debate next month, while DeSantis committed to attending shortly after it was announced last week.
Christie’s Campaign Strategy: Direct Attack on Trump
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, another Republican hopeful, has launched his campaign’s first ad in New Hampshire, asserting that he is “the only one who can beat Trump because he’s the only one trying to beat Trump.” This direct attack on Trump is a key part of Christie’s campaign strategy, which is primarily focused on New Hampshire.