Less than 20 minutes after the New Hampshire polls closed, Donald Trump was declared the victor of the state’s GOP presidential primary, making him the first Republican to ever secure both the Iowa caucuses and the first-in-the-nation primary. His opponent, Nikki Haley, wasted no time in affirming her determination to continue the race in her home state of South Carolina.
Addressing her supporters in Concord, New Hampshire, the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador made it clear that she was not backing down. “The fight is not over,” she declared with unwavering resolve.
However, with Trump securing a substantial victory in New Hampshire with 55% of the vote compared to Haley’s 43%, her path to the nomination appears increasingly challenging.
Haley will face off against Trump in the Nevada primary on February 6th. However, she will be the sole Republican candidate in the primary, as the state’s GOP party leaders opted for their traditional method of selecting delegates through a caucus, in which Trump will be the only contender.
The most anticipated Trump-Haley showdown will undoubtedly take place in South Carolina on February 24th. Despite Haley’s strong connections to her home state, a recent Emerson College poll of likely GOP primary voters showed Trump leading Haley by a significant margin of 54% to 25%. At a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, Trump showcased his considerable influence in South Carolina by standing alongside Governor Henry McMaster, who assumed office in 2017 when Haley was appointed to the U.N. post. The rally also featured three other statewide officials, the speaker of the state House, and three U.S. Representatives.
While some rallied behind Haley’s unwavering commitment to the race, others expressed their discontent. Chris Ager, the New Hampshire State GOP Chair, told Newsmax that he had remained neutral in the primary and would continue to do so until a presumptive nominee emerged. However, he suggested that if Trump were to secure a double-digit victory in the state’s primary, Haley should consider reevaluating her plans.
Despite the odds, Haley seemed resolute and showed no signs of reconsidering her intentions to compete for the nomination.
