Former President Trump Wins Second Consecutive Republican Primary
By Xinhua News Agency reporters Liu Chen and Sun Ding
The second Republican primary for the 2024 U.S. presidential election concluded in New Hampshire on the 23rd, with former U.S. President Donald Trump emerging victorious once again. Trump defeated his sole challenger in the party, former U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nikki Haley.
With this victory, Trump has now won two consecutive states, including Iowa. The results have raised questions about the highlights and remaining suspense in this year’s Republican primary.
Trump secured a vote rate of 54.2% in the New Hampshire Republican primary, while Haley gained 43.8%. Trump’s lead over Haley exceeded 10 percentage points, aligning with pre-poll predictions. Upon the closure of New Hampshire polling stations, the Associated Press promptly announced the calculation results, affirming Trump’s significant lead over Haley.
In response to the results, Haley congratulated Trump on his victory and emphasized that the race is far from over, asserting her continued participation in the primary to challenge Trump’s candidacy.
Haley, who invested substantial time and resources in New Hampshire, targeting a “counterattack” against Trump, faced pressure from the former president to withdraw from the race. Trump’s remarks prompted a response from Haley’s assistant, citing a lack of leadership in Trump’s statements.
The victory in New Hampshire comes after Trump’s strong performance in the Iowa primary, where he garnered over 50% of the vote, surpassing Haley by more than 30 percentage points.
Meanwhile, in a separate Democratic primary held in New Hampshire, supporters of U.S. President Joe Biden organized an activity to write Biden’s name on the ballot, resulting in an estimated win for the incumbent president. The official Democratic primary will take place in South Carolina on February 3.
Analysts attribute Trump’s strong showing in the Republican primary to his rising approval rating among Republican voters, which has reached 67.7% nationwide. Calls for Haley to withdraw from the race have intensified, with prominent figures within the party throwing their support behind Trump.
Following the 2020 presidential election, Trump’s refusal to concede defeat and the subsequent events, including the Capitol Hill riots, have solidified support among his base, who claim electoral fraud and political persecution by the Democratic Party.
Republican voters have also expressed dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s policies, particularly in areas such as the economy, immigration, education, and climate. Trump’s policies implemented during his tenure and proposed during the campaign continue to resonate within the Republican Party, further bolstering his electoral support.
With Trump’s consecutive victories in the primaries, analysts suggest that the Republican Party continues to align itself with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” message, solidifying its position as the “Trump Party.”
Haley remains focused on the upcoming South Carolina primary in February, where she has a deep-rooted political history. However, polls indicate that Trump maintains a significant lead over Haley in South Carolina, making it difficult for her to secure a victory.
Media and political experts speculate that Haley may face mounting pressure to withdraw from the election, given Trump’s overwhelming popularity within the Republican Party. The “Wall Street Journal” has suggested that Haley’s path to victory is narrow, with some analysts declaring the Republican election campaign effectively over, transitioning into a confrontation between the two parties’ presidential candidates.
Attention has now turned to who will become Trump’s running mate, with potential candidates mentioned including Alice Stefanik, Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Republican Conference, Senator Tim Scott, and Representative Nancy Mace. Trump has hinted at having someone in mind but has not made an official announcement.