DES MOINES, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump said he is not “worried” about Nikki Haley gaining momentum in New Hampshire after former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the race for the White House on Wednesday.
“I’m not exactly worried about it. I understand it and feel very well. I won it twice and did very well in New Hampshire. I love the people; they love me, I think,” Trump said during a Fox News town hall.
Ahead of the dropout announcement, Christie was caught on a hot mic apparently criticizing his former opponents during his campaign’s livestream. During the conversation, he appeared to reference Haley, saying that “she’s going to get smoked” and that “she’s not up to this.” Trump called the moment a “bigger story” than the fact that Christie bowed out of the race.
“The biggest story was not that he dropped out; we don’t care too much about that,” Trump said to laughs from the audience. “He happened to say [Haley] doesn’t have what it takes and will be creamed in the election. I know very well, and I happen to believe Chris Christie is right; that’s one of the few things he’s been right about.”
Trump says Chris Christie’s hot mic incident overshadowed his actual campaign announcement:
“The biggest story wasn’t the fact that he dropped out, nobody cared too much about that…” pic.twitter.com/kLgm0Oia2G
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 11, 2024
Christie’s departure from the GOP field adds some uncertainty to the primary contest, bringing the prospect that the anti-Trump vote could be consolidating support against him.
A CNN poll released Tuesday found Trump leading in New Hampshire with 39% of likely GOP primary voters, followed by Haley at 32%. Christie received 12% support in the poll.
The former president appeared to downplay expectations in New Hampshire, where the electorate is more centrist and less partisan than voters in the Hawkeye State.
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“New Hampshire is interesting; it’s a great place, a great state, unbelievable people, but they allow independents and Democrats to vote in the Republican primaries. You say, ‘What’s that all about?’” Trump asked rhetorically. “It’s a little false in that regard, but even with that, I think we will win substantially.”
New Hampshire’s primary is open not only to Republicans but also to the state’s undeclared voters, who make up the largest chunk of voters. Currently, 39% of the state’s voters are not registered with either party, while 31% are Republicans and 30% are Democrats.