Former President Donald Trump will be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the New Hampshire Republican Party on Saturday.The meeting kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday at Salem High School. Democrats and Republicans are reacting differently to the news of Trump's upcoming visit to New Hampshire this weekend. Both parties are focused on 2024, but the first-in-the-nation primary is also taking center stage, something both parties in New Hampshire agree is important.“President Trump has long been a strong defender of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary status, and we are excited that he will join us to deliver remarks to our members,” New Hampshire GOP chairman Steve Stepanek said in a statement. “New Hampshire sets the pace, and I like to say were the tip of the spear,” said Republican state Rep. Fred Doucette, Salem Deputy Majority Leader of the House. "The GOP understands that. President Trump, the only announced candidate right now on the Republican side, understands the value of that."Democrats agree on the importance New Hampshire plays in primary season.“We believe that New Hampshire plays a very important role, and we're going to work very hard to protect that,” said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Trump's last public appearance in New Hampshire was at a campaign rally in late October 2020. President Joe Biden defeated Trump in New Hampshire in the 2020 election by a 52% to 45% margin. Trump declared in November his candidacy for president in 2024.“If he’s really running in 2024, then, I think he needs to pay significant attention to the New Hampshire primary. He doesn't know who else might be running he needs people to know he’s a serious candidate,” said Chris Galdieri, professor in the Department of Politics at Saint Anselm College. Before Trump declared his candidacy, an August 2022 poll showed strong support for the former president among New Hampshire Republicans. The former president's visit will come right before he travels to South Carolina for his first rally Saturday night. Galdieri said it's all an indication his campaign is kicking into gear.“There’s a whole lot of uncertainty and a whole lot of nervousness among a lot of Republicans about Trump running in ’24,” Galdieri said.Galdieri said the former president's visit could also be a warning shot to Gov. Chris Sununu, who has been the center of speculation for a 2024 run.Sununu's office said the governor has made no plans to attend the annual meeting this year.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
Former President Donald Trump will be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the New Hampshire Republican Party on Saturday.
The meeting kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday at Salem High School.
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Democrats and Republicans are reacting differently to the news of Trump's upcoming visit to New Hampshire this weekend.
Both parties are focused on 2024, but the first-in-the-nation primary is also taking center stage, something both parties in New Hampshire agree is important.
“President Trump has long been a strong defender of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary status, and we are excited that he will join us to deliver remarks to our members,” New Hampshire GOP chairman Steve Stepanek said in a statement.
“New Hampshire sets the pace, and I like to say were the tip of the spear,” said Republican state Rep. Fred Doucette, Salem Deputy Majority Leader of the House. "The GOP understands that. President Trump, the only announced candidate right now on the Republican side, understands the value of that."
Democrats agree on the importance New Hampshire plays in primary season.
“We believe that New Hampshire plays a very important role, and we're going to work very hard to protect that,” said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.
Trump's last public appearance in New Hampshire was at a campaign rally in late October 2020. President Joe Biden defeated Trump in New Hampshire in the 2020 election by a 52% to 45% margin.
Trump declared in November his candidacy for president in 2024.
“If he’s really running in 2024, then, I think he needs to pay significant attention to the New Hampshire primary. He doesn't know who else might be running he needs people to know he’s a serious candidate,” said Chris Galdieri, professor in the Department of Politics at Saint Anselm College.
Before Trump declared his candidacy, an August 2022 poll showed strong support for the former president among New Hampshire Republicans.
The former president's visit will come right before he travels to South Carolina for his first rally Saturday night.
Galdieri said it's all an indication his campaign is kicking into gear.
“There’s a whole lot of uncertainty and a whole lot of nervousness among a lot of Republicans about Trump running in ’24,” Galdieri said.
Galdieri said the former president's visit could also be a warning shot to Gov. Chris Sununu, who has been the center of speculation for a 2024 run.
Sununu's office said the governor has made no plans to attend the annual meeting this year.
