MANCHESTER, NH — Former President Trump easily won Iowa last week and led nearly every poll in New Hampshire heading into Tuesday's primary, but in an arena full of loyal Granite State supporters Saturday, he wanted to talk about it. his Republican challenger is Nikki Haley .
“Nikki Haley, I know that very well. "Unfortunately, he made an evil alliance with the rhinos, not the caterpillars ... the globalists, the radical left-wing communists," Trump said, criticizing the former UN ambassador as he was surrounded by about 5,000 people outside in 14-degree temperatures. . corner weather and see.
In recent days, Trump has lashed out at Haley as she slowly narrows her lead in New Hampshire. In the past two months, he has cut Trump's lead in the state in half. Trump leads the Granite State by 11 percentage points, according to an average of polls by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ. Two months ago the lead was 22 points.
"Nikki Haley is using radical Democrat money to finance the radical Democrat campaign she's running," Trump told supporters at a rally on Saturday.
To Haley's chagrin, Trump invited several politicians from his state, including Gov. Henry McMaster, to take the stage.
"Almost every politician in the state of South Carolina supports me," Trump said, disparaging Haley, the state's former governor. South Carolina is also next in the polls, after New Hampshire's first primary.
In addition to Palmetto State politicians, Trump also received the endorsement of state Sen. Tim Scott (R-C) on Friday. Haley ran Scott for the Senate when he was governor and pledged his support when he dropped out of the Republican presidential race in 2024.
These attacks were not unilateral. Haley has overcome her reluctance to criticize her former boss and has stepped up her attacks on the former president in recent days.
"The reality is. who lost the house for us? Who lost the Senate? Who lost the White House? Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Donald Trump," Haley said Thursday.
Tuesday's primary is a moment for Haley and Trump. If Haley wins (or finishes second) in the Granite State, it could threaten Trump's status as the Republican presidential nominee.
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