The race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination is down to two major candidates with just one day to go until New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation GOP primary. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was once seen as Donald Trump’s biggest obstacle in the GOP primary, dropped his bid Sunday and backed the former president over former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. On Monday, Haley has scheduled events in Franklin and Salem, while Trump has an evening rally in Laconia. The former president showed up for his defamation trial in New York, but the proceedings were canceled for the day after a juror fell ill.
Quick Read
- 2024 GOP Nomination Race Narrows: The race for the Republican presidential nomination is now primarily between Donald Trump and Nikki Haley, as New Hampshire’s GOP primary approaches.
- DeSantis Drops Out and Endorses Trump: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump over Nikki Haley.
- Haley and Trump’s Campaign Events: Nikki Haley has events scheduled in Franklin and Salem, while Trump plans a rally in Laconia, New Hampshire.
- Trump’s Defamation Trial Postponed: Trump’s defamation trial in New York was postponed due to a juror’s illness.
- Sen. Tim Scott Campaigns for Trump: Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina will join Trump at a rally in Laconia and continue campaigning through the primary election.
- Undecided Voters in New Hampshire: Independent voter Don Padgett, after seeing Haley, remains undecided for the primary, highlighting the presence of undecided voters.
- Haley Supporters Against Dropping Out: Haley’s supporters in Franklin booed the suggestion that she should drop out, showing strong support despite low voter turnout in Iowa.
- Trump’s Trial Delayed: The defamation trial against Trump was delayed due to a juror’s illness, with Trump expected to testify about his statements against accuser E. Jean Carroll.
- Jennifer Davis’ Support for Haley: Jennifer Davis, a caregiver to a veteran husband, supports Haley for her focus on veterans and caregivers, and would write in Haley in a Trump vs. Biden election.
- VP Auditions Underway for Trump: With Trump’s strong position in the GOP race, visits by prominent Republicans like Elise Stefanik, Tim Scott, JD Vance, Kristi Noem, Kari Lake, and Marjorie Taylor Greene are seen as auditions for the vice-presidential role.
The Associated Press has the story:
Trump and Haley hustle for last-minute votes a day after DeSantis drops out
Newslooks- LACONIA, N.H. — (AP)
One of Trump’s former rivals for the presidency is returning to stump with him in New Hampshire. A spokesperson for Sen. Tim Scott says the South Carolina Republican will join Trump on Monday night for a rally in Laconia.
Scott will remain in New Hampshire through Tuesday’s primary election to continue campaigning for the former president, spokesperson Nate Brand says.
Scott, who was initially appointed to the Senate by then-South Carolina Gov. Haley, formally endorsed Trump last week. The senator ended his own bid for the presidency in November.Voter still undecided with one day until primary
FRANKLIN, N.H. — Don Padgett, an independent voter who saw Haley in Franklin, said he will support Haley if she is the nominee but still hasn’t made up his mind for Tuesday’s primary.
While DeSantis supporters may shift to Trump now that the Florida governor has dropped out and backed the former president, there are still other voters up for grabs, he said.
“I think there are a lot of people who are not decided yet,” he said. “I would like to have seen some more debates, and I would really like to see a Trump-Haley debate, but that’s not going to happen.”
An Air Force veteran, Padgett said he wants a president who will keep the U.S. out of war, secure the border and get the economy back on track.
“This country is a mess right now,” he said.Haley backers boo suggestion she should drop out
FRANKLIN, N.H. — Haley supporters booed and yelled, “Noooo!” when she said the “media elite” and political establishment have been pressuring her to drop out.
“America does not do coronations,” she said at a VFW hall in Fraklin, citing low voter turnout in Iowa caucuses. “We believe in democracy.”
“Let’s show all of the media class and the political class that we’ve got a different plan in mind, and let’s show the country what we can do,” she said.
Haley, who was joined on the campaign trail by her daughter and son-in-law, said it’s no surprise that Trump has gained endorsements from South Carolina politicians and members of Congress, because she held lawmakers accountable in her home state and favors term limits in Washington.
“I don’t work for the political class,” she said. “I’ll spend every day trying to prove to you that you made the right decision.”Trump trial canceled for the day after juror falls ill
A juror’s illness has forced a postponement of Trump’s defamation trial for at least a day, delaying the question of whether he’ll testify about his yearslong statements about sexual assault accuser E. Jean Carroll.
Trump had been expected to testify as early as Monday about why he has spoken disparagingly about Carroll since she revealed her claims in a 2019 memoir.
The judge says he can’t say that the writer concocted her allegation or that she was motivated by financial or political considerations after a different jury found last year that Trump sexually abused Carroll. Last week, Trump was threatened with expulsion from court for making comments.Faced with Trump vs. Biden, this voter chooses Haley
FRANKLIN, N.H. — Waiting for Haley in a dark VFW hall, Jennifer Davis said she is backing the former U.N. ambassador and governor because she supports veterans.
Davis, 40, an independent from Pembroke, said she is a caregiver to her husband, a veteran and Purple Heart recipient, and appreciates Haley’s focus on caregivers.
If faced with a Trump versus Biden matchup in November, Davis said she would write in Haley because she doesn’t want more chaos.
“I’m not giving either one of them my vote,” she said. “We need someone who is going to be a more reasonable person who can bring people together, and I think only she can do that.”The GOP race isn’t over, but the veepstakes have already started
CONCORD, N.H. — With Trump closing in on the GOP nomination, the effective audition to become his vice president is underway.
His decisive win in last week’s Iowa caucuses and DeSantis’ departure from the race on Sunday has only heightened what had already been a widespread sense of inevitability.
That has given visits this past week by New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, as well as South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the feel of tryouts for the role reminiscent of Trump’s days as a reality TV host.
Others who have appeared in Iowa and New Hampshire on Trump’s behalf include South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Lake was at a rally Sunday night taking pictures with supporters and holding a baby in the crowd.
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy appeared with Trump on stage in New Hampshire a day after dropping out of the race, also drawing “VP” chants from the crowd as he delivered a fiery speech.
What to know
Can Trump be stopped? Key questions after DeSantis drops out of race
Haley tries to draw independents without alienating Trump backers
What to expect in the New Hampshire primary
Who’s running for president? Here are the major 2024 candidates
DeSantis drops out two days before New Hampshire’s primaryFormer Trump rival will campaign with him in New Hampshire
