Haley could overtake Trump in New Hampshire primary after Christie's exit

A significant number of Chris Christie voters may now defect to Nikki Haley in the upcoming primary. Photo: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Nikki Haley could overtake Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primary after Chris Christie's withdrawal from the race gave her a boost.

Ms Haley is hot on Trump's heels just days before the start of the 2024 Republican elections. starts in Iowa, trailing by just 7 percentage points.

Mr. Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, had 12 percent support in the same CNN/University of New Hampshire poll before he left — an amount that could push Ms. Haley closer to Mr. Trump.

Called Mr. Christie's withdrawal from the race a «game changer» that could prevent Mr. Trump from «waging a campaign of attrition.» ahead of January 15.

«There's no doubt: Haley is winning,» New Hampshire state representative Bill Boyd told NBC News. “What was considered a Trump dunk here in New Hampshire has now become a toss-up.”

Mr. Christie was the highest-profile anti-Trump candidate in the race.

Despite the potential gain, Ms. Haley's performance in Wednesday night's debate with Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, cast doubt on her ability to stand up to Mr. Trump.

But Ms. Haley stumbled over her words and got bogged down in a duel c Mr DeSantis sidesteps questions about Mr Trump's character.

While Mr DeSantis' performance has not been widely praised, Ms Haley appears poised to suffer the most given her need to strengthen her position as Mr. Trump's main rival.

Political analysts said Trump benefited from avoiding direct engagement with his Republican rivals.

They suggested he had demonstrated surprisingly «convincing» performance in his post. own event, which took place simultaneously with the debate.

Liam Donovan, a former staffer for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told The New York Times: «Trump's decision not to pander and validate the debate was itself a shrewd move, but letting them tear each other apart was a nice side benefit.

< p>«Little lines and digs may appeal to their supporters, but it's really hard to imagine how all this could appeal to people who want to make a decision.»

«She'll light up»

On Wednesday, Mr. Christie was heard predicting that Ms. Haley would lose badly in a call recorded on a studio microphone.

Moments before he ended his own 2024 campaign, Mr. Mr Christie said Ms Haley was «going to smoke».

Chris Christie is the latest candidate to drop out this year&Elections #39. Photo: AP Photo/Robert F. Bucati

«That's not what she's there for,» he said during a private conversation that appeared to have been inadvertently broadcast online and then deleted before a performance in Windham, New Hampshire.

G- Mr. Christie also said that Mr. DeSantis called him «petrified» and then the microphone was cut off.

Mr. Trump said on Truth Social, the social network he founded, that Mr. Christie was caught on a hot mic «making a «very truthful statement» about Ms. Haley.

Mr. Trump's civil fraud trial resumed in New York on Thursday for closing arguments. as the state attorney general is pursuing the former president for exaggerating his net worth to banks.

The lawsuit filed by Letitia James alleges that Mr. Trump and his associates inflated the value of his assets by billions of dollars to ensure better lending terms and other financial benefits for more than a decade.

Trump denies wrongdoing and calls the case a political witch hunt.