Trump Eyes Blue States as New Hampshire Poll Tightens

As former President Trump looks to expand his reach beyond traditional battlegrounds, recent polls indicate a tightening race in blue-leaning New Hampshire, raising hopes among Republicans of an end to their losing streak in the Granite State.

Former President Donald Trump is setting his sights on traditionally blue states in the 2024 presidential election, with New Hampshire emerging as a potential battleground. Recent polls have indicated a narrowing margin between Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden in the Granite State, fueling Republican optimism.

For the past 24 years, no Republican has won New Hampshire in a presidential election, but Trump's campaign sees an opportunity in the wake of Biden's perceived poor debate performance. Trump adviser Steve Stepanek believes New Hampshire is "very much in play," while former Democratic National Committee member Kathy Sullivan maintains that the state remains "not Trump-friendly territory."

Trump Eyes Blue States as New Hampshire Poll Tightens

Since the start of the general election rematch between Biden and Trump four months ago, the focus has primarily been on the seven key battlegrounds that decided the 2020 election. However, Trump's campaign has recently targeted Minnesota and Virginia, two states that typically lean Democratic in presidential contests.

Trump's debate performance, widely seen as a setback, has raised concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden's ability to handle the demands of the presidency. Biden is looking to prove his stamina and acuity, while Trump is capitalizing on Biden's perceived weaknesses.

Trump Eyes Blue States as New Hampshire Poll Tightens

Non-partisan political handicapper Sabato's Crystal Ball has shifted Michigan and Minnesota towards Trump in its predictions, citing the impact of the debate. In New Hampshire, a poll by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center suggests a two-point lead for Trump within the survey's margin of error.

Experts see New Hampshire as a potential battleground, but acknowledge that Democrats have a significant organizational advantage in terms of ground-game operations. The Biden campaign and the state Democratic coordinated campaign have 14 field offices across the state, while the Trump campaign currently operates one field office.

Trump Eyes Blue States as New Hampshire Poll Tightens

Trump's team, led by Stepanek, believes they have an army of enthusiastic supporters who will turn out for their candidate. Stepanek emphasizes a "significant ground game" to mobilize Republicans and independents. However, Sullivan dismisses these claims, citing the lack of visible ground game operations from the Trump campaign.

Sullivan points to the strong support for abortion rights among New Hampshire voters, which she believes Republicans are "not in the mainstream" on. She attributes the Biden campaign's strength to its ground game, issues alignment, and the presence of a write-in effort that helped Biden win the state's unofficial Democratic primary in January.

Trump Eyes Blue States as New Hampshire Poll Tightens

As the race intensifies, Trump's campaign will face the challenge of building out a ground game in New Hampshire. The outcome of the election in this traditionally blue state could have implications for the overall presidential contest.