Trump, Haley duke it out in New Hampshire ahead of critical primary vote

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump will make their final pitches for the Republican presidential nomination in New Hampshire on Sunday, the last day of campaigning before voters vote on Tuesday.

Haley, who formerly served as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, is running out of time to dethrone the Republican presidential leader, whose victory in the Iowa caucuses highlighted his primary race supremacy.

If Haley fails to achieve an upset in New Hampshire on Tuesday, her already tight route to the nomination may be cut short.

Trump, who is leading Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis here, spoke to a stadium packed of roaring fans in Manchester on Saturday night, pushing people to vote on Tuesday, when the primary takes place.

He did, however, appear to turn part of his emphasis to the next big nominating battle, which will be held in South Carolina in late February.

Several high-ranking state and federal leaders from that state, including South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, spoke in support of Trump at the event.

“They understand that I am the only candidate in this race who is going to save America and we’re gonna get rid of this Biden disaster right away,” Trump said.

“So you know what I’m doing? I’m kissing ass.”

Haley has stepped up her attacks on Trump in recent days with a late-in-the-game move to draw contrasts with a businessman and politician whose time in the White House was characterized by chaos and who faces four criminal cases, including for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election that he lost to now President Joe Biden.

Despite her shift, some Republican and independent voters say Haley should go further with her criticisms and that she has not hit her main rival hard enough throughout her campaign.

“I think Trump needs to be put in his place,” said Chris Jay, 57, a Republican who said he was leaning toward Haley but wanted her to lob more head-on attacks at the former president.

Haley on Saturday knocked Trump, 77, for his age after he seemingly confused her with former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. Haley also criticized Trump for his affinity for strongmen such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

Trump, she said at a campaign event in Keene, New Hampshire on Saturday, “needs to stop praising dictators.” She said as his UN ambassador, she tried to break up his “bromance” with Putin.

Trump has upped his already fierce attacks on Haley as well, targeting her given first name on his social media platform and amplifying false posts questioning her birthright U.S. citizenship.

The daughter of two immigrants from India, Haley was born Nimarata Nikki Randhawa but has long used her middle name Nikki and later took her husband’s surname.

At the Saturday night rally in Manchester, Trump attacked Haley for her support among some wealthy donors who have also supported Democrats and called her a threat to social security.

Above the stage where Trump spoke, a large screen showed messages critcizing Haley, alongside unflattering pictures of her.

“Nikki Haley is loved by Democrats, Wall Street and globalists,” one of the images on the screen read.