Trump tightens grip on the Republican party
Donald Trump won the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, tightening his grip on the Republican presidential nomination and bolstering the likelihood of a rematch later this year against President Joe Biden.
The result was a setback for former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who invested significant time and financial resources into winning the state but finished second.
She is the last major challenger in the race after Florida Governor Ron Desantis ended his presidential bid over the weekend, allowing her to campaign as the sole alternative to Mr Trump.
Ms Haley intensified her criticism of the former president, questioning his mental acuity and pitching herself as a unifying candidate who would usher in generational change.
The appeals failed to resonate with enough voters and Mr Trump can now boast of being the first republican presidential candidate to win open races in Iowa and new hampshire since both states began leading the election calendar in 1976, a striking sign of how rapidly Republicans have rallied around him to make him their nominee for the third consecutive time.
By posting easy wins in both early states, Mr Trump is demonstrating an ability to unite the Republican Party’s factions firmly behind him.
He has garnered support from the evangelical conservatives who are influential in Iowa and New hampshire' sm ore moderate voters, strength he hopes to replicate as the primary quickly expands to the rest of the US.
Ms Haley was unable to capitaliseon new hampshire’ sm ore moderate political tradition. Now, her path to becoming the Republican standard-bearer is narrowing quickly.
She will not compete in a contest that awards delegates until South Carolina’s February 24 primary. As the state’s former governor, she is hoping a strong showing there could propel her into the March 5 Super Tuesday contests. But in a deeply conservative state where Mr Trump is exceedingly popular, those ambitions may be tough to realise and a homestate loss could prove politically devastating.
Ms Haley vowed on Tuesday night to stay in the race and push ahead to South Carolina.
“New Hampshire is first in the nation, it is not the last in the nation,” she said. “This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go.”
About half of Republican primary voters in New Hampshire said they are very or somewhat concerned that mr trump is too extreme to win the general election, according to AP Vote cast, a survey of the state’s electorate. Only about one-third say the same about Ms Haley.
President Joe Biden, meanwhile, won New Hampshire’s Democratic primary via a write in effort after the state party moved forward with its own contest. mr bid en did not appear on the ballot but allies helped him beat a series of little-known challengers.
Mr Trump’s momentum has given him a position in the contest which is remarkable considering he faces 91 criminal charges related to everything from seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election to mishandling classified documents and arranging payoffs to a porn actress.