Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) each plan campaign events in New Hampshire next week, setting up a potential confrontation for the second major Republican nominating contest next year.
DeSantis is planning a town hall event in Hollis, New Hampshire on Tuesday.
The same day, the former president will attend the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women’s Lilac Luncheon in Concord. The two events are about 40 miles apart.
The trip represents the second visit by the Florida governor to the state.
Trump holds a significant advantage over his Republican opponent in recent state polling. A New Hampshire Journal/Coefficient poll earlier this month found that the former president enjoyed significant support following the 37-count federal indictment regarding Trump’s alleged handling of classified documents.
The polls indicate that the indictment may have helped him in the Republican primary. Among probable Republican primary voters in the state, 42% said that the Department of Justice’s indictment made them more likely to support the former president.
While 43% said that the charges would not impact their vote, just 15% said that the charges made them less likely to support him.
The former president enjoyed the support of 47% of respondents, while DeSantis ran farther behind at 13%. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) ranked third at 9%, with former Vice President Mike Pence registering 5%.
Another recent poll from National Research Inc. and American Greatness found Trump with a similar lead over DeSantis. Trump registered 44% to DeSantis’ 12%.
2024 New Hampshire Republican Primary:
Trump 44% (+32)
DeSantis 12%
Christie 7%
T. Scott 7%
Haley 5%
Ramaswamy 3%
Pence 3%
Hutchinson 2%National Research Inc./@theamgreatness, 500 LV, 6/12-14https://t.co/waSyeMqYKw pic.twitter.com/EoyG3cB3U6
— Political Polls (@Politics_Polls) June 15, 2023
New Hampshire was a crucial springboard for then-candidate Trump in 2016. Trump narrowly lost the Iowa caucuses to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and won a convincing victory in the state. Trump’s performance allowed him to bunch up other candidates into poor performers, including Cruz and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R).
Trump’s momentum after his victory in the Granite State helped propel him into a series of other primary victories, which eventually led him to the nomination and his victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.