“If we don’t win the presidential election, America is finished.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump said this while clenching and shaking his fist during his victory speech in Nashua, New Hampshire on the 23rd (local time). At former President Trump’s victory speech, about 10 major Republican politicians, including Senator Tim Scott and Vivek Ramaswamy, who publicly supported former President Trump after withdrawing from the Republican primary, took the podium together. After becoming the first Republican candidate in 48 years to win the Iowa State Caucus and the New Hampshire Primary with a majority of the votes, he showed off his ‘Trump trend theory’. Former President Trump formalized his competition with President Joe Biden in the presidential election in his victory speech that day.
Former President Trump is assessed to have solidified his dominance in the Republican primary by winning the New Hampshire primary following the Iowa caucus. New Hampshire is expected to be the biggest challenge to former President Trump due to its strong centrist tendencies, allowing not only Republicans but also independent voters to participate in the primary. It is in New Hampshire that former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who attracted attention as the so-called ‘Trump opponent’, caused a sensation by chasing down former President Trump’s approval rating to single digits.
However, according to the Washington Post (WP) exit poll, former President Trump achieved a comfortable victory, defeating former Ambassador Haley in race, gender, and all age groups. With this victory, former President Trump is evaluated to have virtually solidified his monopoly system by outpacing former Ambassador Haley’s pursuit in the early stages.
Former President Trump’s easy victory was fueled by the unity of Republican supporters. 50% of voters who participated in the primary were Republicans and 46% were Independents. Former Ambassador Haley received the support of 65% of independent voters, but 74% of Republican voters voted for former President Trump.
87% of former President Trump supporters said that former President Trump would still be eligible to be president even if he is convicted. Even in New Hampshire, a state with strong centrist tendencies, the firm loyalty of the support base was confirmed.
The Associated Press said, “New Hampshire seemed unfavorable to former President Trump in every way, including his centrist tendencies and the voting enthusiasm of independent voters, but he easily overcame it,” adding, “Former President Trump is an unstoppable Republican presidential candidate at this point.”
However, it is pointed out that significant anti-Trump sentiment was confirmed in the New Hampshire primary. Only 35% of those who participated in the vote identified themselves as MAGA (Make America Great Again) Republicans, a slogan used by former President Trump. In addition, former Ambassador Haley was ahead of former President Trump among highly educated voters with a college degree or higher and among high-income households with a household income of $100,000 or more.
This again revealed the limits of expansion to highly educated and high-income Republicans and moderates, which were the key reasons why former President Trump lost to President Biden in the 2020 presidential election. In addition, 64% of voters supported former Ambassador Haley over former President Trump on the issue of abortion rights, and 63% supported former Ambassador Haley because of foreign policy. Unlike the primary, which is dominated by Republican supporters, the battle between moderates is the prevailing trend. The analysis is that this could serve as a weakness in the presidential election.
Former President Trump put strong pressure on former Ambassador Haley to resign early, including attacking her as an “imposter” at a rally that day. This appears to be based on the judgment that the presence of former Ambassador Haley, who is mobilizing anti-Trump sentiment among Republicans and moderate conservative voters, could be a burden on the presidential election. Former President Trump said, “Even though she lost the primary, she gave a speech as if she had won,” and added, “I will not be angry and will get it back.” He also said, “If she wins, she will be under investigation in 15 minutes,” and “I can give you five reasons why she will be under investigation.” If former Ambassador Haley continues to refuse to resign from the primary, he is threatening to launch an expose war.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.