GOP candidates intensify their campaigns in New Hampshire
Newsy
Candidates have to tailor their messages to an electorate very different from Iowa — but no less important to early gains in the nomination race.
In New Hampshire, voters take their first-in-the-nation primary status seriously. But the demographics in the Granite State are different from Iowa.
"For Republicans, the big difference is that New Hampshire Republicans are much less religious. In Iowa, the name of the game is 'Can you turn out evangelical Christians?' In New Hampshire, that demographic is far smaller than it is out there," said Chris Galdieri, professor of political science at St. Anselm College.
Nikki Haley has been hoping to capitalize on that difference. Even before Monday's caucuses in Iowa, she's been campaigning heavily all across New Hampshire, and for the past few weeks she's been closing the polling gap with Trump.
"She's also made a really strong play for what's left of the Republican establishment in this state. The folks who were much more likely to vote for John McCain or Mitt Romney than a Donald Trump, and as the field's gotten smaller she's really been the last candidate standing who can appeal to those sorts of folks," said Galdieri.
While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had the endorsement of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Haley got the endorsement from New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.
