LONDONDERRY, N.H. — Donald Trump appeared cool, calm and collected at his third campaign stop Monday, despite facing intense criticism from his Republican rivals in the final 24 hours before New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary.
Speaking to an intimate group of supporters inside the local Lions Club, Trump went so far as to suggest he could be relaxing “on a beach somewhere” instead of trekking through snow and sleet to make his final pitch to Granite Stater voters. The New York businessman was forced to cancel one of his signature campaign rallies in Londonderry last week due to inclement weather, but refused to do so again on Monday amid steady snowfall and slick conditions.
“As much as I love you people, I could be on a beach somewhere,” he said in jest. “Right? It’s not so bad. We could be some place else.”
In a state where 33 percent of likely primary voters remain undecided, it was a rash thing for a candidate to say. Recent polls show Trump carrying a 17-point edge over his rivals in New Hampshire, but the upset dealt to him in Iowa, combined wit the swift rise of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, could affect his performance come Tuesday.
“We have a big day coming up tomorrow; it’s really important,” Trump said Monday.
During an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday, Trump admitted he would “unhappy” with another second-place finish, or worse, in the Granite State.
“I know all about expectations. If I came in second, I wouldn’t be happy, okay?” he said.
Trump will join his wife and children in Manchester Monday evening for a massive rally inside the Verizon Wireless Center. He predicted the event would attract 4,000 to 5,000 voters during his town hall Monday morning.
