The former president of the United States of America (USA) Donald Trump defeated the former US ambassador to the United Nations (UN) and the former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley in the Republican primary elections in the northeastern state of New Hampshire.
Trump opened his victory speech to supporters in Nashua by mocking Nikki Haley, calling her an "intruder" and saying she "gave a speech like she won."
"She didn't win, she lost ... she had a very bad night," Trump said.
Earlier, the 45th US president posted several angry messages on his "Truth Social" app, dismissing Nikki Haley as "deluded."
Trump was declared the winner very soon after the polls closed. Of the reported 82 percent of votes, Trump had the support of 143.416 voters (54,8%), while Haley received 114.055 votes (43,6%), according to data from the Associated Press news agency.
Florida Gov. Ron Desantis, who announced Sunday night that he was withdrawing from the race for the nomination, received 1.801 votes (0,7%).
The final difference is not yet known, but as things stand now, it seems that calls by some Republicans for Haley to drop out of the race will only intensify.
However, earlier in the day, Nikki Haley's campaign staff vowed that she will certainly continue to fight for the nomination at least until the so-called "Super Tuesday", March 5, when voters in as many as 16 states vote on the same day. Haley herself did the same at a post-election rally in the capital of New Hampshire - Concord.
"This race is far from over," Haley said and challenged Trump to a debate.
"I'm a fighter, and I'm not giving up. And now we're the last ones standing, with Donald Trump."
New Hampshire should have been more favorable to Haley
According to polls, Trump had a double-digit lead over Haley before the election.
Voting in primary elections, unlike caucuses, is secret and takes place in the same way as traditional voting. In the Republican primary elections in New Hampshire, registered Republicans, as well as voters who are not registered in any party, could vote. Such a voting system favors candidates who are closer to the center.
Because of the large number of independent voters, New Hampshire should have been more favorable to Haley than the more conservative Iowa. Candidates backed by Trump have not fared well in New Hampshire in recent years.
Had Haley won, the caucuses — which Trump currently dominates — could have become more competitive. A victory would also give her momentum ahead of the party elections in South Carolina - the state of which she was governor - on February 24.
However, Trump's - as it seems - convincing victory creates a feeling of inevitability that for the third time in a row, he will be the Republican presidential candidate.
Four indictments have been filed against Trump, which has not seriously shaken his rating so far. About 15 percent of his voters, however, said they would not vote for him if he were found guilty on any count of the indictment.
Hailey the winner of Dixville Night
Six registered voters in tiny Dixville Notch, New Hampshire cast their ballots at midnight Tuesday for Nikki Haley, giving her a clear victory over former President Donald Trump and all other candidates.
The resort was the first place in the country to vote in the 2024 primary election. Journalists from all over the world came to cover the event, outnumbering voters 10:1.
Dixville Night has a tradition of being the first polling place in the state, dating back to 1960, with results being announced just minutes after midnight.
Democrats in New Hampshire also voted in the party primary on Tuesday, but incumbent US President Joseph Biden was not on the ballot.
The Democratic Party wanted the first party election to be held in South Carolina instead of New Hampshire. But the Democrats at the state level of New Hampshire claim that the law obliges them to vote there first, so they still organized the election - and those who want to support Biden had to write his name - which a little more than a quarter of the voters did, so Biden had 86 votes after 23.095 percent of the ballots were counted. and was declared the winner.
In South Carolina, Democrats will vote on February 3, and Republicans will vote three weeks later.
Formally, the candidates of both parties will be known at the final conventions - for the Republicans in July, and for the Democrats in August.
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