Republican support for former President Donald Trump in New Hampshire is solid as a rock.
In a new survey released a day before his visit to the Granite State on Tuesday, voters not only strongly backed Trump over all of his political challengers, but they would back his election even if he were serving time in jail, should he be convicted in any of the three criminal cases he faces.
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In the NH Journal/co-efficient poll, Trump has 43% of the vote among New Hampshire primary voters. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are tied for second place with 9%.
As important, the poll showed how loyal New Hampshire Republicans are to their former GOP president. It found that 62% would vote for Trump over President Joe Biden even if he were convicted of a felony. And almost as many, 57%, would send Trump back to the White House if he were serving time in prison on Election Day.
EXCLUSIVE POLL: Trump Holds Big Lead in NH, DeSantis Drops to Tie With Christie https://t.co/S5QWhPkKhe @NHGOP #FITN #NHPolitics
— NH Journal (@NewHampJournal) August 8, 2023
Michael Graham, New Hampshire Journal managing editor, told Secrets, “The talk from D.C. pundits that New Hampshire Republicans are drifting away from Donald Trump doesn’t match the reality we’re seeing on the ground. Talk to voters, and they have plenty of nice things to say about the other candidates, but, for the moment, they are sticking with Trump.”
The survey showed a dip in support since June, but Trump remains firmly in control of the state’s GOP voters.
Having that support is key to Trump’s success as the leading Republican in the race and is evidence that, as the legal cases build, the MAGA world tightens around him.
On Tuesday, he is traveling to New Hampshire again, this time to speak at Windham High School, about 20 minutes from Nashua near the Massachusetts border.
In his analysis of the poll, Graham highlighted the support for Trump despite the growing number of legal hurdles the former president is facing.
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“One number that might put the rest into context: Just 25% of GOP primary voters said they believe Trump committed a crime related to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, as special counsel Jack Smith has charged. The remaining 75% either believed Trump is completely innocent (35%), or they weren’t sure about his guilt or innocence but believed he is ‘only being prosecuted because he’s Donald Trump.’”
He quoted veteran GOP strategist Jim Merrill, who said Trump appears to be outrunning his legal and political challengers. “To paraphrase Donald Trump, he could stand in the middle of Elm Street and shoot someone and not lose any voters,” Merrill said. “Impressive loyalty, and yet he still has under 50% primary support. There remain opportunities for primary challengers to go on the offensive, draw contrasts more forcefully, and get creative. But they’re climbing an awfully steep hill to make it happen, and the clock is ticking,” Merrill added.
