New Hampshire Primary Tightens as GOP Aligns Behind Trump

In the Republican primary race, former President Donald Trump has solidified his lead following Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's exit from the contest. With New Hampshire's primary underway, Trump has been polling strongly against his remaining primary competitor, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Recent surveys indicate Trump is leading by substantial margins, with one Boston Globe/Suffolk poll showing him at 60% to Haley's 38%. Another poll by InsiderAdvantage, conducted post DeSantis's endorsement of Trump, has Trump at 62% to Haley's 35%.

Despite Haley's resolve to continue her campaign, Trump's victory in New Hampshire seems likely, and some party leaders have already begun referring to him as the "presumptive nominee." This sentiment was echoed by prominent GOP figures, including Rep. Richard Hudson and Sen. Steve Daines, even as several months of primaries remain before the official nomination is decided in July.

New Hampshire holds a unique position due to its significant number of independent voters, who represent over 40% of the electorate and can sway the primary's outcome. Some independent voters, engaged in the political process, have expressed openness to voting across party lines in the primary. The state's independents are thus poised to play a pivotal role in the upcoming primary results.