Donald Trump Races Toward 2024 Biden Rematch After New Hampshire Win
Donald Trump has taken a significant step toward securing the Republican presidential nomination after a resounding victory in the New Hampshire primary. With his win over former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump now has a clear path to an all-but-certain rematch with President Joe Biden.
Trump’s triumph in New Hampshire came just over a week after his dominant performance in the Iowa caucuses forced his main rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, to drop out of the race. News organizations wasted no time in declaring Trump the winner as soon as polls closed on Tuesday.
The consecutive wins put Trump in a strong position to deliver a severe blow to Haley’s campaign next month in her home state of South Carolina. As the results currently stand, Haley secured 43.5% of GOP primary votes, while Trump claimed 55% with 75% of the ballots counted. However, Haley now faces tough questions about the viability of her campaign, as there is little evidence to suggest she has significant support in the early-voting states ahead.
Haley’s defeat is likely to mark the final resistance of Never Trump Republican operatives, donors, and elected officials, who have attempted to shift the party away from its 77-year-old standard bearer. However, Republican voters have shown a strong appetite for Trump’s politics of grievance and populist zeal, making a shift back to traditional conservative roots unlikely.
With Haley’s path forward all but closed, Republicans have effectively passed up on the opportunity to move away from the most polarizing figure in American politics. Trump, despite facing four criminal indictments and losing the previous presidential contest, remains the frontrunner and a constant force in American politics.
The outcome in New Hampshire now makes it increasingly likely that Trump and Biden will face off in the 2024 presidential race. The result of this rematch will not only determine the course of America’s democracy but also shape its role in the world.
During his victory speech at his headquarters in Nashua, New Hampshire, Trump took aim at Haley, expressing annoyance at her claims of a strong performance. He mocked her dress and called her an impostor who had no chance of winning. Trump confidently proclaimed that he would defeat Biden in the general election, repeating his false claims that he also defeated the president in 2020.
Trump’s win in New Hampshire has also caught the attention of some Wall Street titans who were previously skeptical of a second term for the former president. JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon stated that Trump was kind of right about certain issues and criticized Democrats for scapegoating his supporters.
While Haley vowed to stay in the race during her remarks to supporters in Concord, New Hampshire, she continued to target Trump’s age, mental acuity, and ability to defeat Biden in November. She highlighted the upcoming races in other states and stated that the race is far from over.
Despite the uphill battle Haley faces, Americans for Prosperity Action, a group supported by billionaire Charles Koch, announced their intention to continue backing her in South Carolina. However, it is undeniable that the GOP has begun to coalesce around Trump, with several of his former primary opponents endorsing him recently.
Trump’s victory in New Hampshire was the result of broad support across the Republican coalition, as revealed by a poll conducted by AP VoteCast. He secured votes from urban, suburban, and rural areas without a significant gender gap. Trump also garnered support from every age group, with the highest levels of support coming from the youngest and oldest voters.
On the other hand, Haley’s support was limited to liberals, moderates, and white voters with a college degree.
Trump’s emerging dominance in the race presents an opportunity for Biden to solidify his message that the election is a choice between him and the Republican nominee, rather than a mere referendum on his presidency. However, Biden will need to ensure that voters who have yet to engage with the campaign start paying attention and consider his candidacy seriously.
As Biden speaks out against Trump, he emphasizes his belief that the current president is underestimating the level of concern and care from the American public. Biden’s recent comments were made at a Virginia abortion-rights rally, strategically planned to counter the Republican race in New Hampshire, where he did not participate.
In addition to the Republican primary race, New Hampshire also held an unsanctioned Democratic primary on Tuesday. Biden did not appear on the ballot, as he had decided to move the first Democratic contest to South Carolina. Despite this, Biden still won the primary by large margins through a write-in campaign, effectively diminishing the calls for him to pass the torch to a new generation.
With the results in New Hampshire now in the books, the stage is set for a fierce battle between Trump and Biden for the presidency in 2024. The outcome will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for America’s democracy and its role in the global arena.
In the coming months, both candidates will need to rally their supporters, hone their messages, and secure their positions on critical issues to gain the upper hand in this highly anticipated rematch.
