Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina Governor, could potentially defy the odds and defeat former President Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primary, according to Chris Ager, the chairman of New Hampshire’s Republican Party. Despite Trump holding a substantial lead in the polls, Ager believes that Haley has a chance of emerging victorious in the upcoming primary contest.
According to the latest polling average from FiveThirtyEight, Trump currently has a 15 percentage point lead over Haley, with 48.9% of the support compared to Haley’s 33.8%. However, Ager remains optimistic about Haley’s prospects and confidently stated at a recent Bloomberg event that she can “absolutely” win.
Trump has been critical of Haley’s support in New Hampshire, suggesting that it may be illegitimate due to potential independent voters participating in the primary. He has even gone so far as to falsely claim that Democrats are allowed to vote in the Republican primary. Ager, however, dismissed Trump’s concerns and defended the inclusion of independents in the primary process. He emphasized that this system has been in place for over four decades and was also utilized by Trump during his successful campaign in 2016. Ager argued that allowing independents to participate ensures that the most electable candidate is chosen as the nominee, rather than a more fringe candidate.
Unlike other states, New Hampshire permits independent or undeclared voters to participate in primaries but requires them to choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot. Registered Democrats or Republicans are not allowed to vote in the opposing party’s primary.
In the recent Iowa caucuses, Trump secured a victory with a significant margin of around 30 percentage points. This win further solidified his position as the frontrunner in the Republican Party.
Ager acknowledged that the momentum and expectations favor Trump in the New Hampshire primary. However, he also pointed out that stranger things have happened in politics, leaving room for Haley to potentially defy the odds and emerge victorious.
In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden will not be included on the New Hampshire Democratic primary ballot. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) had approved a new electoral calendar last year, making South Carolina the first primary state. However, New Hampshire has decided to proceed with its primary despite the DNC’s calendar. The DNC has since declared the New Hampshire Democratic Primary as “meaningless,” and Biden’s campaign has announced its intention to skip the event.
While Trump continues to hold a significant lead in the polls, there is still a possibility that Nikki Haley could overcome the odds and secure a victory in the New Hampshire primary. As Ager aptly stated, “stranger things have happened” in the world of politics. Only time will tell if Haley can defy expectations and emerge as a serious contender against the former president.
