Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has chipped away at former President Donald Trump’s lead in the New Hampshire primary race as she’s now within single digits of first place, according to a new poll.
Haley trails Trump by 7 percentage points among likely GOP voters in the Granite State, a CNN poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire and released Tuesday found.
The survey shows the former South Carolina governor receiving the support of 32% of voters compared to Trump’s 39% backing.
Support for Haley in New Hampshire has surged since November, rising by 12 percentage points since the last CNN/UNH poll.
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The source of the former UN ambassador’s substantial upswing in polling lies in her strength with moderates, independents and those with college degrees – voting blocs where Haley has, in some cases, massive double-digit leads over the 77-year-old former president.
Haley has surged in New Hampshire since October, new polls show. AFP via Getty Images
Haley leads Trump by 42 points among moderates, 26 points among undeclared voters and 12 points among college graduates, whereas the former president tops the 51-year-old former governor by 40 points among conservatives, 37 points among registered GOP voters and 17 points among those that didn’t go to college.
Besides Haley, no other candidate is within striking distance of Trump with two weeks to go until the New Hampshire primary.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stands at 12% support, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is at 8% and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has plunged to 5%, according to the CNN/UNH survey.
A USA TODAY/Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll also shows Haley making significant gains on Trump, but still pegs her 20 points behind the former president in the first-in-the-nation primary.
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Trump still leads Haley in both New Hampshire polls released Friday. AFP via Getty Images
Trump leads Haley in New Hampshire 46%-26%, according to the poll released Tuesday, with momentum on the side of the former South Carolina governor.
In October, the same survey found Trump with a 30-point lead over Haley, but the former president’s support has dipped 3 percentage points since then, while the former governor’s has increased by 7 percentage points.
If Christie were to drop out of the race before the Jan. 23 contest, many of his supporters would flock to Haley, the survey found, but not enough to put the former UN ambassador over the top.
Trump’s lead over Haley narrows to 47%-32% in that scenario, but Christie insists that he has no plans to exit the race.
New Hampshire GOP Chairman Chris Ager declared last month that Haley, who received the coveted endorsement of New Hampshire’s Republican Gov. Chris Sununu in December, can “absolutely” win the Granite State.
“Expect the unexpected,” Ager told “Cats & Cosby Show” host John Catsimatidis.
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The state GOP chairman noted that with two upcoming New Hampshire debates – one on Jan. 18 hosted by ABC News and WMUR-TV and another on Jan. 21 that will air on CNN – and with same-day voting, if “somebody catches fire, this is the place they can do that.”
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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