Haley makes a comeback in New Hampshire to narrow the distance with Trump ahead of primary
Nikki Haley, Republican contender, embarks on a crucial three-day tour in New Hampshire, determined to bridge the polling gap with Donald Trump, the leading GOP candidate With just a month left, Haley aims to rally supporters and gain momentum in her bid for the presidency
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is back on the campaign trail, kicking off a three-day tour in New Hampshire. With just under a month until the state's first-in-the-nation primary, she is working to narrow the polling gap between her and GOP front-runner Donald Trump. This marks Haley's return to the Granite State since receiving the endorsement of New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a sign of her growing momentum.
Sununu, who has always been vocal about his opposition to Trump's candidacy, is set to join Haley on the campaign trail this week. They aim to promote the former South Carolina governor as the top choice over the former president before the January 23 primary.
Before hitting the road, Haley debuted a new ad that will be broadcast statewide. The ad includes Sununu endorsing Haley and explaining why she has his support.
"Sununu describes her as a leader who empowers others, a staunch Republican embracing fiscal responsibility and individual liberty. She represents a fresh wave of conservative leadership that seeks to move past the chaos and drama of the past," Sununu shared in the advertisement.
Recently, Haley has been touting her increasing support in the GOP primary, citing strong debate performances and growing endorsement from affluent GOP donors. According to a recent CBS News/YouGov poll, Haley is gaining ground on Trump in New Hampshire, with the former president leading at 44% and Haley at 29% among likely GOP voters. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis falls behind with 11% support.
Haleys GOP opponents have intensified their criticism in response to her increased support. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, for example, has refused to drop out of the GOP primary to support Haley's efforts to challenge Trump in the Granite State. "If she demonstrated that she was truly running against Donald Trump, I might," he stated at a recent event with his supporters.
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE - DECEMBER 12: Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate, addresses her supporters following the endorsement of New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu at a Town hall event at McIntyre Ski Area on December 12, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Photo by Sophie Park/Getty Images)
Sophie Park/Getty Images
Nikki Haley is trying to shatter the presidential glass ceiling. She rarely mentions it
Last week, the super PAC MAGA Inc., which supports Trump, released an advertisement aimed at Haley. This marks the first time Trump's team has targeted his former United Nations ambassador in a public campaign. The 30-second commercial criticized Haley for her remarks about a gas tax during her time as governor of South Carolina and accused her of changing her stance on the issue.
While Haley was governor, a Republican state legislator was advocating for a gas tax increase. Haley only supported the increase after it was linked with cuts to the income tax. Ultimately, the proposal did not succeed in South Carolina.
During a Fox interview, DeSantis reiterated his criticism of Haley, stating that she is not a conservative that Republicans have confidence in. He emphasized that her program does not align with what Republican voters are seeking and that this has become increasingly clear as people have become more familiar with her.
Haley publicly denounced both Trump and DeSantis for spreading false narratives about her, emphasizing that winning by lying is not deserving of victory. Despite being targeted by opponents, Haley's campaign remains focused on connecting with voters in the final days leading up to the election.
"We believe that Granite Staters are prepared for a fresh wave of conservative leadership. We sense the growing momentum and are enthusiastic about continuing to harness it," stated Olivia Perez-Cubas, spokesperson for Haley, in an interview with CNN.
This report includes contributions from CNN's Alison Main, David Wright, and Kit Maher.
