Former United States President Donald Trump leaves his Trump Tower building on January 22, 2024 to go to Manhattan federal court to hear a defamation lawsuit filed against him by a writer (AFP / Charly TRIBALLEAU)
Donald Trump held a campaign rally Monday evening in the state of New Hampshire, the scene of Tuesday’s Republican primaries, with his only rival Nikki Haley seeking to block the former president’s path after the surprise withdrawal of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
As last week, the Republican Party’s ultra-favorite closed Monday between this small northeastern state and the New York courthouse they use as an election platform: a writer, E. was preparing to testify in a libel trial brought against him by Jean. Carroll, who accused him of rape and convicted him of sexual assault in civil court in 2023.
But a juror possibly sick with Covid forced the judge to postpone the hearing until Wednesday, the day after the New Hampshire primary.
With a nearly 20 point advance, this is “good polling in New Hampshire. +sparrow brain+ is down, I’m up”, Donald Trump launched on his Truth social network, insulting his former ambassador to the UN and ex-governor Nikki Haley. of South Carolina.
This weekend he took the liberty of calling her “not tough enough (…) not intelligent enough (…) not respectful enough”.
– “Tsunami” –
“I’m all for Trump,” exclaimed AFP’s Tony Ferantello, a 72-year-old architect who is counting on a “tidal wave” on Tuesday.
Similarly, Daneen Sanville, a 59-year-old entrepreneur from neighboring Massachusetts, says she “doesn’t really like (Nikki Haley) because she seems to be around people who have a lot of money and take (other people’s) for granted”.
The former president should hold a final meeting in Laconia, New Hampshire (02:00 GMT Tuesday) around 9:00 p.m., after his other rival, Mr. DeSantis, threw in the towel on Sunday by rallying behind him for the November presidency.
Florida’s conservative governor came in second in Iowa on January 15 but was credited with just 6% voting intention in New Hampshire.
Now alone on track against Donald Trump, Nikki Haley is going all out after a disappointing third-place finish in Iowa, won by the New York businessman.
No candidate has ever failed to win the Republican nomination after winning the first two states.
Barring Ms. Haley’s exploits, Democratic President Joe Biden, barring any surprises, looks clear for Mr. Trump’s Republican nomination this summer.
The latter will campaign in Virginia on Tuesday with his vice president, Kamala Harris, on the topic of abortion.
Nikki Haley, candidate in the Republican primary for the US presidential election in November, during a campaign trip in Manchester, New Hampshire, United States, January 22, 2024 (AFP / Joseph Prezioso)
Ms. Haley, who is trying to appeal to moderate Republican and independent voters — allowed to vote in both the Republican and Democratic primaries without being affiliated with them — has hit back at the 77-year-old Mr. Trump.
“It’s not at the same level as in 2016,” she attacked CBS, judging the former president in “decline” and at risk of creating “chaos.”
But she won’t have it easy.
– “Enjoyed with Hayley” –
A timeline of key events leading up to the November 5, 2024 US presidential election (AFP / Jonathan Walter)
Before Mr. DeSantis withdrew, she was at least 15 points behind Mr. Trump in the RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight polling averages. The recent good momentum that it had benefited from seems to have fizzled out.
However, there is no denying the good showing, which will put Ms. Haley in good stead for the upcoming Feb. 24 primary in South Carolina, which she leads.
“I think it would be great to have Nikki Haley as president,” Madison Gillis, 18, who will vote for the first time on Tuesday when Republicans “have her chance,” told AFP.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the Republican primary nomination during a campaign rally in Hampton, New Hampshire on January 17, 2024 (AFP / Joseph Prezioso)
New Hampshire represents just 22 of the 1,215 delegates who will nominate the Republican candidate at their convention in July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
But compared to more conservative states, New Hampshire offers a better indication of potential national and subsequent primary election success.
Notably, “Super Tuesday” on March 5, where 874 delegates are at stake and could offer three-quarters of the number of delegates needed to win the nomination. Donald Trump’s supporters estimate that he should cross this critical threshold in March or April at the latest.
Because the former president wants to move quickly in the face of the judicial clock: in March, two criminal trials targeting him will open, including one for his attempts to overturn the results of the November 2020 presidential election. Also looking at that date. February 8 is when the United States Supreme Court must begin hearing its impeachment case in Colorado.
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