For Bonnie Cote, a 33-year-old resident of New Hampshire, her political allegiance has always been clear. She has consistently supported former President Donald Trump, and she was relieved when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis withdrew from the race. She was also unaware of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s existence until recently. Despite acknowledging that Trump may not fit the traditional mold of a president, she believes he is the bravest candidate and was unjustly denied a second term in 2020.
Trump’s victory in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, aided by voters like Cote, underscores the enduring loyalty of many GOP voters. Despite the availability of other candidates, many Republicans seem uninterested in seeking an alternative to the former president. This unwavering support, coupled with the motivations behind it, offers a stark reality check to his remaining GOP rivals.
Trump’s supporters credit his first term with economic prosperity and global peace. They dismiss the four criminal indictments against him as partisan attacks and, in some cases, hold the unfounded belief that the 2020 presidential election was stolen due to widespread voter fraud. While some admit that his behavior was not always ideal, they view him as a known and reliable figure, unlike his competitors.
Despite extensive campaigning and significant expenditure on advertisements, mailers, and door-to-door canvassing in New Hampshire, some Trump supporters remain unfamiliar with Haley. Those who are aware of her are often unimpressed by what they’ve heard, and many have never even contemplated voting for anyone else.
Adrienne Kirwin, a 74-year-old from Derry, initially supported South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, then DeSantis, both of whom eventually endorsed Trump. She considered supporting Haley, but ultimately decided to vote for Trump, swayed by the wave of endorsements he received.
Christy Piper, a 38-year-old from Dover, was open to other candidates but always favored Trump. She believes his messaging resonates with many people who are frustrated with the current state of the country. Piper also believes that Trump has a large base of silent supporters who are hesitant to publicly express their support due to the current political climate.
As the New Hampshire primary concluded, both Trump and Haley intensified their criticisms of each other. Trump, flanked by former rivals including Scott and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, criticized Haley for remaining in the race despite his consecutive first-place finishes. Haley, on the other hand, highlighted Trump’s legal troubles and his recent confusion of her with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Haley has also emphasized her electability, pointing to national and swing state general election polls that show her defeating Biden by wider margins than Trump. She has promised her supporters a clear and uncontested victory against Biden, with no recounts, lawsuits, or doubts about the election results.
While some former Trump voters, like Mike Condor, a 59-year-old from Derry, have been swayed by Haley’s arguments, many of Trump’s supporters are hoping for a swift conclusion to the nomination process. Robert Stacy, a 26-year-old from Rochester, expressed his hope that the nomination process would soon conclude in Trump’s favor, and cautioned against a prolonged race, as happened in 2016.