In the final sprint before the New Hampshire primary, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, along with former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, are intensifying their campaign efforts as they vie for an advantage in this critical state. With just four days remaining until voters head to the polls, the stakes are high for all the candidates.
Haley wasted no time and hit the ground running this morning, already attending her second campaign event of the day. Her approach is primarily focused on positioning herself as the frontrunner capable of challenging Trump's dominance in the race. In a recent appearance at a sandwich shop, she downplayed Trump's victory in the Iowa caucuses, emphasizing the low turnout and expressing confidence in a higher voter participation in New Hampshire.
Her strategy in the state revolves around appealing to independent voters, a significant demographic constituting nearly 40% of the electorate here. While it is uncertain whether all independents will rally around Haley, her team believes they can successfully attract their support.
Another aspect of her campaign strategy is tying Trump and Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden together, characterizing their candidacies as a 'Trump-Biden nightmare.' She questions why voters would want two individuals in their 80s vying for the presidency. This narrative aims to draw attention to her own comparatively younger and dynamic candidacy.
As Trump increases his attacks on Haley, she has swiftly responded, defending herself against his accusations. Earlier this week, she pushed back against his racist insinuations, suggesting that his heightened rhetoric reflects his fears of her candidacy. She also highlighted her tenure as the best U.N. ambassador he had worked with and questioned why he would invest significant resources in attack ads if he believed she had no chance.
Haley expressed her desire for a strong showing in the New Hampshire primary, aiming to surpass her third-place finish in Iowa. Her supporters privately acknowledge the critical importance of a victory or a close second-place finish against Trump in order to solidify her position in the race.
With events scheduled throughout the state, Haley aims to make the most of the limited time remaining before the primary. The energy and fervor on the ground are palpable as candidates intensify their efforts to sway undecided voters and solidify support before New Hampshire heads to the polls in just four days.
