Trump Tops the Race in New Hampshire as Haley Makes Gains: Monmouth Poll

President Donald Trump is enjoying record approval ratings in New Hampshire, and according to the latest Monmouth University poll, he has increased his edge on his 2020 general election counterparts. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who just announced her candidacy, has made the biggest jump since Monmouth’s February polling. Trump now has a 20-point lead on the rest of the field, with 48 percent of likely New Hampshire voters supporting him in a three-way race. Haley has moved up 11 points to 28 percent since February. The remainder of the top tier of Republican hopefuls, including former Massachusetts Governor William Weld and Colorado Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto, have remained steady in their support amongst the New Hampshire electorate. The latest polling also found that Trump is more popular amongst New Hampshire voters who identify as Republicans. The President currently enjoys an 81 percent approval rating amongst GOP voters in the state. In comparison, Weld has the most support amongst self-identified Democrats, with 39 percent of those surveyed backing his candidacy. Despite the positive news for Trump’s campaign, the latest Monmouth poll also showed that many New Hampshire voters are still unhappy with the direction of the country and are not entirely sold on the President’s political agenda. While 55 percent of likely voters in New Hampshire approve of President Trump’s job performance, only 45 percent believe that the United States is heading in the right direction. Similarly, almost two-thirds of those surveyed don’t believe Trump will help the country if he is reelected in 2020. Importantly, the latest polling reveals that President Trump and his fellow Republicans still have work to do to convince a majority of the state’s voters to back them in November. Despite the recent surge in support for Haley and Trump, more than half of New Hampshire voters view the President unfavorably and a plurality of voters still believe the country is on the wrong track. Furthermore, many voters remain undecided, leaving the race still highly competitive. With nearly a year to go before the election, there is still time for candidates to make their case to voters in New Hampshire. As the race develops, Monmouth’s polling should continue to provide a valuable insight into the views of the Granite State’s electorate.