Washington: Former US President Donald Trump has secured a decisive win in the New Hampshire Primary Election, beating his only rival, Indian-American Nikki Haley, by a comfortable margin. This is Trump’s second consecutive victory in the Republican Party primaries after he won the Iowa Caucus earlier this month. Trump has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, as he seeks to reclaim the White House in the November 2024 election.
Trump made history by becoming the first non-incumbent Republican presidential candidate to win the New Hampshire primary three times. He also won the state in 2016 and 2020, when he faced multiple challengers. Trump received 52.5 percent of the votes, while Haley got 46.6 percent, according to the latest results. The remaining votes went to write-in candidates and others who did not qualify for the ballot.
Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and the former US ambassador to the United Nations put up a strong fight against Trump, who enjoys a loyal base of supporters in the Republican Party. Haley positioned herself as a moderate alternative to Trump, who has been accused of inciting the violent insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Haley also appealed to the diverse and growing segments of the Republican electorate, such as women, minorities, and young voters.
Political analysts say that Haley performed better than expected in New Hampshire, a state that is known for its independent-minded and unpredictable voters. Haley congratulated Trump on his win but did not concede defeat or drop out of the race. She said that she will continue to campaign in the upcoming states, such as Nevada, South Carolina, and Florida, where she hopes to gain more support and momentum.
Trump, on the other hand, celebrated his victory in New Hampshire with a rally in Manchester, where he thanked his supporters and attacked his opponents, both in the Republican and Democratic parties. He claimed that he is the only candidate who can defeat the incumbent President Joe Biden, who he blamed for the economic and social crises facing the country. He also criticized Haley for being disloyal and weak and urged her to quit the race and endorse him.
Trump’s campaign issued a statement, saying that Haley should “do the right thing” and “stop wasting time and money” by challenging Trump, who they said is the “presumptive nominee” and the “leader of the Republican Party”. The statement also said that Trump will “make America great again” by restoring law and order, rebuilding the economy, and defending the Constitution.
The New Hampshire primary is the second contest in the Republican Party’s nominating process, following the Iowa caucus, which was held on February 6. The next contest is the Nevada caucus, which will take place on February 24. The Republican Party will officially nominate its presidential candidate at the national convention, which will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from August 21 to 24. The presidential election will be held on November 5, 2024, where the Republican nominee will face off against President Biden, who is running for a second term.
