The seemingly inevitable rematch between Trump and Biden comes despite polls showing most Americans have little enthusiasm for another contest between the pair.
This was evident in New Hampshire,where many voters raised concerns about Biden’s age and ability to do the job,and Trump’s ongoing dramas.
The former president currently faces 91 charges across four different trials,as well as two civil trials,including a defamation case against writer E Jean Carroll that resumes in New York on Thursday.
In the town of Salem,Haley supporter Terri Taylor said she disliked Trump so much that she would probably vote for Biden.
“I just don’t understand his popularity;it’s like a cult,” she told this masthead.
In the state capital,Concord,undeclared voter Carol Smith said:“Personally I don’t want to see Biden or Trump in. They’re too old and almost senile,among other things”.
And registered Democrat Kris Make said she did not have faith in Biden and voted instead for his long-shot challenger for the presidential nomination,Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips.
“I can’t stand what’s going on in the world right now and I don’t think Biden is doing what we need our president to do,” she said.
“He’s made quite a few blunders and his age is definitely an issue. He’s shown some weakness at times. Most of all I don’t think he can beat Trump - and that terrifies me.”
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Biden did not actually register to compete in the New Hampshire primary due to an internal party clash in which South Carolina was chosen for the Democrats’ first nominating contest this year.
However,party members embarked on a campaign to “write-in” his name on the ballot to ensure he was not embarrassed by the primary results.
In the end,Biden received about 55 per cent of the vote,while Phillips,who spent months campaigning in New Hampshire,received 19.5 per cent.
“How can one ‘support democracy’ while supporting the most unpopular and unelectable Democrat in the modern era,” Phillips,55,wrote on X on Wednesday.
“The delusion is dangerous,and it’s not rocket science,folks. We need a different nominee.”
The gap between Trump and Haley was not as wide but it was nonetheless a resounding victory Trump,one week after his triumph in the Iowa caucuses.
With most of the vote counted,Trump had 54.4 per cent support compared to 43.3 for Haley,prompting more members of the Republican Party to coalesce around him.
Among them was Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel,who said that while Haley had run a great campaign,“there is a message that’s coming out from the voters,which is very clear:we need to unite around our eventual nominee,which is going to be Donald Trump.”
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South Carolina will hold its Republican contest on February 24,followed by Michigan three days later on February 27. From there,the race goes national with Super Tuesday on March 5,when the largest number of states and territories hold their primaries and caucuses.
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