In a significant development, Former President Donald Trump emerged victorious in the New Hampshire primary, delivering a setback to his primary competitor, Nikki Haley, and strengthening his position as the likely nominee of the Republican party.
The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 8 pm on Tuesday, with a lead of approximately 9.6 percentage points over Haley, based on the tabulation of about 50% of the votes.
This marks the second consecutive instance where the AP swiftly declared Trump the frontrunner in the Republican primary.
Trump’s View: Fate Linked, Night Tough for Haley
In his victory address, Trump expressed the belief that the fate of the country hinged on their success and characterized the night as unfavorable for Haley.
He confidently anticipated an effortless triumph for his campaign in the upcoming significant contest in South Carolina.
Speaking before an enthusiastic audience at a primary night event in Nashua, New Hampshire, Trump was accompanied by US Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, viewed as a potential running mate for Trump.
Donald Trump’s victory in New Hampshire follows a decisive win in Iowa and poses a setback for Nikki Haley, particularly in light of the upcoming primary on February 24 in her home state of South Carolina, where Trump currently maintains a lead of approximately 30 points over her.
This success for the former president positions him to potentially conclude the nomination battle promptly and shift focus to a general election against President Joe Biden.
Haley Stays in the Race Despite Trump’s Triumph
Despite Trump’s success, Nikki Haley, the former UN Ambassador and South Carolina governor, expressed her intention to persist in the race.
The outcome of Haley’s loss prompts inquiries into the sustainability of her campaign, even as her supporters assert that she could endure without a victory on Tuesday.
Haley encountered donor pressure to secure a substantial performance in New Hampshire leading up to the vote.
The extent of Trump’s triumph is expected to impact the duration of her campaign and the donors’ inclination to finance her progressively improbable endeavors.