Former President Donald Trump is gaining significant support in the New Hampshire primary elections, according to the latest poll results. A Suffolk University poll conducted in partnership with the Boston Globe and NBC-10 revealed that Trump received the backing of 55% of the survey respondents in New Hampshire. The poll, which collected data from 500 respondents on January 19-20, showed a five-percentage-point increase in support for Trump compared to the previous poll conducted on January 15-16.
In second place is former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who received 36% of the votes, a two-percentage-point improvement from the previous poll. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trailed behind with 6% of the votes. Notably, Haley also saw increased support from undeclared voters, with almost half of them (49%) backing her, surpassing the 41% support for Trump in this group. This marks a significant improvement for Trump, as the previous poll showed a 44%-38% lead in favor of Haley among undeclared voters.
Undeclared voters play a crucial role in the New Hampshire primaries since they are allowed to participate. As President Joe Biden’s name does not appear on the state’s Democratic primary ballot, the preferences of these voters could have a significant impact on the outcome of the GOP primary.
Trump and Haley are currently engaged in a heated campaign, using every opportunity to criticize each other. Trump faced criticism after confusing ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi with Haley during a campaign speech, where he also blamed Haley for security lapses during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Haley seized upon this gaffe to question Trump’s mental acuity, further intensifying the rivalry between the two candidates.
Following Trump’s victory in the Iowa caucuses, where he emerged as the frontrunner among GOP primary candidates, nationwide opinion polls indicate that he is likely to secure the party nomination. However, legal challenges remain a potential hurdle to his second-term aspirations.
As the New Hampshire primary approaches, Trump’s increasing support and ongoing rivalry with Haley make the race even more intriguing. The outcome of the primary could have significant implications for the future of the Republican Party and the 2024 presidential election.
