DeSantis and Haley are blowing their chance to derail Trump in New Hampshire: journalist

27 November 2023

According to an Emerson College poll released on November 22, frontrunner Donald Trump has a 55 percent lead over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and a 56 percent lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. That's nationwide; in a New Hampshire GOP primary poll conducted by the Washington Post and Monmouth University, Trump leads Haley by 28 percent and DeSantis by 39 percent.

Trump appears to be on track to win the nomination. But in an article published on November 27, The New Republic's Walter Shapiro argues that New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary could be a golden opportunity for Haley or DeSantis if they play their cards right. But Shapiro thinks they're blowing it by not being more aggressive in their criticism of Trump.

"New Hampshire may again be in the crosshairs of history on the night of January 23, as the returns rush in from the first-in-the-nation Republican primary," Shapiro explains. "The Granite State will provide an answer to one of the most pivotal questions ever facing American democracy: Can Donald Trump be stopped in his drive for his third GOP nomination?"

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?

Shapiro adds, "If Trump sweeps the January 15 Iowa caucuses and then romps in the New Hampshire primary eight days later — the date is still unofficial — the GOP race would be effectively over."

Shapiro describes New Hampshire as "the last best hope for Never Trump Republicans" and a state that has "never been a true Trump bastion."

"There are enough maybes in New Hampshire to hand Trump a stinging defeat on January 23," Shapiro observes. "At least, that's the theory."

Shapiro adds, however, that "Haley and DeSantis somehow believe that they can successfully get through the primaries without enraging the Former Guy or his most ardent supporters."

"A New Hampshire victory for Haley, DeSantis, or even a surprise candidate would spark nonstop speculation that maybe, just maybe, Trump is finally yesterday's man," Shapiro writes. "But for that to happen, the candidates must be brave enough to confront Trump directly."

The New Republic's full report is available at this link.

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