FRANKLIN, N.H. (WCAX) – In less than 24 hours, Granite State voters will head to the polls for the state’s first-in-the-nation primary. On Monday, Nikki Haley made her final pitch, telling voters that she has the best shot to beat President Joe Biden in November.
Caroline Butler, an undeclared voter who can vote in the GOP primary if she chooses, was first in line Monday to a Haley event at the Franklin VFW. “It’s just wonderful that we have this great opportunity to come out and meet and see all the candidates,” said the Alton woman. Butler hasn’t made up her mind yet about who she’s voting for.
Dale Spaulding is also undeclared but is all in for Haley. “I also think she is decent. She is trying to do the right thing for our country. I think she can unite us and I don’t think others can,” Spaulding said.
“People want to go in a new direction. They want a new generational conservative leader,” Haley said.
Donald Trump has led in the polls in New Hampshire and nationally. He won last week’s Iowa caucuses with 51% of the vote. But in an exclusive interview before the rally, Haley said her party is ready to move past Trump. “Now it is about how do we get people out to vote. We think it is going to be a strong showing tomorrow. The weather is going to be great. We are excited,” she said.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended his campaign over the weekend, throwing his support behind Trump, which has essentially turned the race into a two-person contest.
“I voted for Trump and I would vote for him again if he was running against a Democrat,” said Brad Marshall. But in the primary, the registered Republican from Boscawen is backing Haley. “His personality is so abrasive to so many that it’s costing him some of the votes.”
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu says Haley can grow the GOP. “I was talking to a lot of these young republicans that walked away from the party. They want back in with Nikki Haley. A lot of these suburban moms, good Republicans, walked from the party. They want back in with Nikki Haley,” he said.
Butler says she’ll decide who to support on Tuesday. “It will be the energy from the candidates that will make my final decision,” she said.
Haley was holding several events in New Hampshire on Monday. Donald Trump had a rally scheduled in Laconia.
