POLITICS
How many delegates are at stake in the New Hampshire Primary?
Tuesday 23 January sees the New Hampshire primary take place and we’re down to just two candidates for the GOP nomination.
New Hampshire could bring the Republican race for a presidential nomination shuddering to an abrupt and early stop. With the various dropouts from the competition - the most recent coming in rather embarrassing circumstances from Ron DeSantis - we’re now left with just Donald Trump and Nikki Haley in the running. It’s Tuesday 23 January, and we’re all set for this primary, but just how many delegates are on offer?
New Hampshire delegates up for grabs
It’s fair to say that although there are not many delegates in the Granite State, especially when compared to the likes of California (169) and Texas (161), they do carry a degree of importance. New Hampshire has 22 delegates and this translates into the winning candidate having to secure 1,215 votes to get the nomination.
Given that the Iowa caucus was a comfortable success for the former president, this primary is key for Haley if she is to maintain a credible push towards securing her place. A big win for Trump could see her accept defeat given the demographics of the state.
While weekend polls pointed to more smiles for Trump and his supporters, it is not completely clear how the DeSantis votes will be split. Given she has been polling stronger than her opponent against incumbent president Joe Biden, there could be a number of New Hampshire voters pondering a fresh, younger leader for the country’s future.
No Joe Biden in New Hampshire primary
Talking of the current president, you may have heard that the Democratic National Committee decided to change its rules, and determine that their first official presidential primary will take place in South Carolina, and not in New Hampshire. The new party regulations would have Democrats in New Hampshire vote instead on 6 February, after those in South Carolina cast their ballots on 3 February.
This means that whoever wins the contest without Biden there will not end up with delegates to send to the Democratic National Convention in August.
Back to Nicky Haley, and if she comes out of New Hampshire alive - politically speaking, despite some of the MAGA rhetoric - she will then be hoping to stay the pace until Super Tuesday at the beginning of March. That’s when things can really move.