Donal Trump scored another victory in the Republican primary on Tuesday by defeating his only rival, Nikki Haley, in New Hampshire, further solidifying his position to face Joe Biden in the November general election.
With 57% of the expected votes counted, the 77-year-old candidate maintained a comfortable lead of 54.4% to 43.6% over the former ambassador to the UN, who upon learning the result stated at a post-election party in Concord that "this race is far from over," and challenged Trump to debate her, reportedReuters.
However, Trump responded by mocking Haley in his speech in Nashua, where he called her an "imposter" and said that "she's giving a speech like she won. She hasn't won. She's lost... She's had a very bad night." stressed Trump, who on his social network Truth Social continued to comment that the woman was "Delirious."
Haley hoped the northeastern state's sizable pool of independent voters would carry her to an upset victory that could loosen Trump's tight grip on the Republican Party; but the former president has consolidated his position bywin in Iowa last week and now in New Hampshire, becoming the first Republican to achieve such a feat since 1976.
The result could strengthen calls for the 51-year-old politician to leave the race.
Although his campaign promises to continue until "Super Tuesday" on March 5, polls suggest that Trump has broad support in Haley's hometown of South Carolina, where the next race will be held on February 24.
Haley in her speech Tuesday warned that Trump, whose mental acuity she questioned, would lose again to Biden if he was nominated.
"The worst kept secret in politics is how much Democrats want to compete against Donald Trump. They know that Trump is the only Republican in the country that Joe Biden can defeat," said Haley, who remained the former president's only rival in the Republican race afterRon DeSantis will announce his retirement.
Trump's victory is not without controversy, as he faces 91 criminal charges for various crimes, including attempts to overturn his 2020 defeat and withholding classified documents.
Despite these legal challenges, 42% of Republican voters said in an exit poll that they would not consider Trump fit for office if he is convicted.
On the Democratic front, Joe Biden, although he did not appear on the New Hampshire Democratic primary ballot, leads with 67.7% against his only opponent, Representative Dean Phillips, with 19.4%.
Biden, anticipating a rematch with Trump, stressed the importance of the election and criticized Republican efforts to restrict abortion rights.
In a recent statement Biden said: "It is now clear that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee. And my message to the country is that the stakes could not be higher. Our democracy. Our personal freedoms, from the right to choose to the right to vote. Our economy, which has seen the strongest recovery in the world since COVID."
At 82 years old who will turn in November,Biden will be the Democratic candidate, who already defeated Trump four years ago and took the presidency from him.
What do you think?
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