Donald Trump secures commanding victory in New Hampshire’s Republican primary, Nikki Haley vows to fight on

Trump achieved a rare feat by winning both Iowa and New Hampshire, making him the first Republican to do so since 1976.

In a decisive win on Tuesday, Donald Trump emerged triumphant in New Hampshire’s Republican presidential contest, further solidifying his path to a potential November rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Despite the valiant efforts of his sole remaining rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump’s lead remained unassailable.

Addressing her supporters at a post-election gathering in Concord, Haley declared, “This race is far from over,” challenging Trump to a debate. “I’m a fighter. And I’m scrappy. And now we’re the last one standing next to Donald Trump.”

Trump, however, wasted no time mocking Haley during his own party in Nashua, dismissing her as an “imposter” and asserting, “She’s doing, like, a speech like she won. She didn’t win… She had a very bad night.” His sentiments echoed angry posts on his Truth Social app, where he branded Haley as “DELUSIONAL.”

With 75% of the expected vote tallied, Trump held a commanding lead at 54.2% to Haley’s 43.7%, according to Edison Research.

Haley had pinned her hopes on New Hampshire’s significant number of independent voters, aiming for an upset that could challenge Trump’s dominance within the Republican Party. However, Trump achieved a rare feat by winning both Iowa and New Hampshire, making him the first Republican to do so since 1976.

While the final margin remained uncertain, some Republicans are likely to urge Haley to withdraw, allowing the party to unite behind Trump. Despite this pressure, Haley’s campaign, outlined in a memo earlier on Tuesday, vowed to persist until “Super Tuesday” on March 5.

The upcoming contest in South Carolina on Feb. 24, where Haley has strong ties, is anticipated to favour Trump, who has garnered widespread endorsements from the state’s Republican figures, as per opinion polls.

Exit polls from Tuesday’s vote hinted at potential vulnerabilities for Trump in a general election, with 42% of Republican primary voters expressing concerns about his fitness for office if convicted in court. Trump faces 91 criminal charges for a range of offenses, including his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the retention of classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021.

For Biden, who declined to appear on the ballot in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary, early results showed a strong lead with 67.7%, affirming his political strength.

While New Hampshire has a mostly white population like Iowa, it boasts a more moderate Republican electorate, making it a noteworthy predictor of the eventual nominee. Haley intensified her attacks on Trump in the run-up to the election, targeting his relationships with strongmen like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and raising concerns about his age and mental acuity.

In her post-election speech, Haley cautioned that Trump’s nomination would lead to a repeat defeat against Biden, saying, “The worst-kept secret in politics is how badly the Democrats want to run against Donald Trump. They know Trump is the only Republican in the country who Joe Biden can defeat.”