SALEM, N.H. (CN) — Donald Trump has won the Republican New Hampshire primary, further cementing his front-runner status and handing a big defeat to Nikki Haley, his remaining rival for the nomination.
In the Democratic primary, Joe Biden won as a write-in candidate.
As of 11:30 p.m. Eastern time, with about 80% of the vote in, Trump had 55% while Haley, a former United Nations ambassador and governor of South Carolina, had 44%. Florida governor Ron DeSantis ended his campaign Sunday.
But Haley vowed to continue. “I’m a fighter, and I’m scrappy,” she said. “This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go.”
Trump responded on social media by calling Haley "delusional." In his victory speech he said she was still "hanging around" although "she had a very bad night."
New Hampshire had long been seen as the best opportunity for Haley to upset the race. She spent a lot of time and money here, and she benefited from both a socially moderate Republican electorate and an organized effort to persuade Democrats and independents to vote for her in the Republican primary in an effort to stop Trump.
In addition, the state’s popular governor, Chris Sununu, campaigned hard for her, and a Koch-backed group ran a get-out-the-vote effort on her behalf.
But in the end, it wasn’t enough.
Barring an unexpected development, it will be a difficult road for Haley from here. Trump has a commanding lead in the upcoming primary states, including Haley’s home state.
Trump came to New Hampshire with momentum from his win in the Iowa caucuses as well as endorsements from DeSantis and Tim Scott, a U.S. senator from Haley’s home state. Trump and a super PAC also splurged on a $4.5 million late ad spree targeting Haley on taxes and immigration.
As in other parts of the country, Trump benefited from “a core of white-hot support that nobody else has,” said Dante Scala, a political science professor at the University of New Hampshire.
“I would walk over broken glass to vote for Donald Trump,” said Melissa Szymansky, who voted in Salem Tuesday morning.
Pat Mastrola of Derry, who thinks Haley would be a good running mate, recounted that at one point he put a Haley yard sign next to his Trump yard sign. “Within 30 minutes, three of my neighbors called me to complain that the Haley sign was a stain on the neighborhood," he said.
“I know he can be chaotic,” added Nancy LaRue of Salem, “but we need him back.” LaRue’s two sons in their 30s had to move back into her home due to inflation. “Everything is too expensive,” she complained. “It’s out of control.”
On the Democratic side, President Biden was leading in the count despite the fact that he wasn’t on the New Hampshire ballot, thanks to a coordinated write-in effort.
As of 11:30 p.m., Biden had about 70% of the vote, compared to about 20% for U.S. Representative Dean Phillips and 5% for self-help guru Marianne Williamson.
A year ago, the Democratic National Committee dethroned New Hampshire and decreed that South Carolina should have the first-in-the-nation primary. But New Hampshire refused to go along because a state law says that its primary has to be scheduled first. The DNC responded by punishing the state and depriving it of voting delegates, and Biden didn’t register as a candidate.
This opened the door to rivals such as Phillips. But the write-in campaign saved Biden from losing the symbolic primary, which would have had no practical effect on delegates but could have proven a severe embarrassment that would intensify calls for him to step aside.
In Salem this morning, while many people wrote in Biden’s name, most seemed resigned about it.
“It’s not like I’m enthusiastic,” said Betsy O’Brien. “I wish we had some other choices.”
Tony McKeon worried that “I don’t think he can finish his term. But what’s the alternative?”
“I voted for Biden because, well, he’s the candidate,” said Patty Paris. “Not that I agree with him on everything.”
Arthur Auclair was a rarity in being a happy Biden voter. “I love the infrastructure act,” he explained. He thinks Biden has done a good job with Ukraine and Israel and “he cares about all Americans … not just the ones who look like him.”
From here, the Democratic campaign will include contests in South Carolina on Feb. 3 and Nevada on Feb. 6. Republicans will have contests in Nevada on Feb. 8 and South Carolina on Feb. 24. Both parties will have a primary in Michigan on Feb. 27.
In the first week of March, another 19 states and the District of Columbia will hold primaries or caucuses.
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