CNN is on the scene as Donald Trump and Nikki Haley face off in the 2024 New Hampshire primary. A team of CNN reporters are spread out across the state to learn what is on the minds of New Hampshire voters as they head to the polls.
For on the ground perspectives, we turned to CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, who is covering his seventh New Hampshire Republican primary, and Omar Jimenez, who is making his New Hampshire primary debut.
Here’s what they had to share about what their work on the ground entails, what they are hearing from locals, and what’s at stake in the race going forward.
How do you prepare to cover a primary?
Zeleny: The preparation actually started about a year ago when we made our first visits of the 2024 campaign cycle to Iowa and New Hampshire. In the days leading up to the primary, I like to go back to read and watch our old stories to refresh my memory of what voters had to say and what issues were important to them. I also go back and look at recent primaries to put today’s race in historical context. New Hampshire often renders a different verdict than Iowa, so those historical comparisons are always important.
Jimenez: It’s all about talking to voters, trying to get the pulse on the ground whenever possible, and I try to retain contact with those voters. If the primary isn’t literally the next week, I often can see how voter behavior and thoughts evolve over the course of a campaign. Being able to marry the two perspectives is what I feel like gives me the best preparation, especially when can I go back to a voter who may have been undecided and pinpoint when it was they decided on a candidate and why.
How do you go about finding voters to talk to in the lead up to a primary?
Zeleny: Diners. Breweries. Churches. Schools. Small businesses. Voters are everywhere. In the final days of a primary race, we also typically interview people who attend campaign rallies and have interactions with candidates. But in New Hampshire, for example, the audiences are often filled with Massachusetts political enthusiasts as well, so it’s important to ask. It’s also a good time to check back with undecided voters we’ve met over the last year.
Jimenez: They’re everywhere! Voters are people on the street, people in cafes, diners, campaign events, you name it. That said, I do find campaign events are usually the most natural place to strike up political conversations. Chances are they’re at the event because they pay attention to what’s going on and are usually willing to chat about who they’re voting for and why. I always find being able to shake someone’s hand in person invites an easier conversation than trying to cold call businesses or people over the phone.
What are the key issues and concerns you are hearing from New Hampshire voters?
Zeleny: The economy is a chief concern, along with protecting Social Security. Immigration and securing the border is also top of mind for many voters, particularly Republicans. But perhaps above any individual issue, the personal qualities of Donald Trump and Joe Biden – and the respective baggage they carry – is often mentioned far more often and louder than specific issues.
Jimenez: There are two major sides I’ve heard. One is voters just don’t want to return to the age of Trump and are voting for Haley. The other is some believe things have gotten too out of control in the world under Biden and that things under Trump were better for either their business, family, or peace of mind. That said, I had an interesting conversation with two reluctant Trump voters who plan to support him again, but just “wish he would keep his mouth shut.” On the Haley side, as much as some of her voters dislike Trump, some have told me in a general election if it were Trump and Biden, they would still go Trump, but for now they’re hoping for an “adult in the room” in Haley. So what’s clear, despite any disagreements in the primary stage, is the general election will be an entirely different story with many different considerations these voters will be faced with.
What are the commonalities or differences you find between supporters of each candidate?
Zeleny: The disdain of Donald Trump unites Democrats just as much as the dislike of Joe Biden unifies Republicans. It’s often that simple.
Jimenez: The people I talk to want what’s best for their family and for what they believe is best for the country. They feel the stakes of this primary and election – in some ways they believe it’s existential and their candidate is the one that can fix it. Both voting groups do not seem to particularly like Joe Biden. One difference with Haley supporters in New Hampshire though is many of them are independents, or “undeclared” as they’re known officially in the state, a bloc that has supported Biden in the past. They also believe Trump and Biden are too old and that it’s time for a new generation. A line that seems to always get cheers at Haley’s rallies is when she mentions term limits for Congress and how it’s become the most “privileged nursing home” in America. Another major difference is while some Haley voters are choosing her because she comes with less “drama,” many Trump voters don’t give much credence to the various indictments, investigations he faces and the potential convictions he may face. They also believe he’s going to steamroll his way to the nomination, whereas some Haley voters concede Trump may win New Hampshire, they think she’s going to be a serious threat to the former president.
What will the results of the New Hampshire primary tell us about the race ahead?
Zeleny: The outcome of the GOP primary – and the margin of victory – will show whether Donald Trump is vulnerable or on an unstoppable march to the Republican nomination. I’ve covered seven presidential elections. None have moved this quickly, with the prospect of a general election match effectively starting in late January. Nikki Haley pledges to fight on toward the South Carolina primary on Feb. 24, but the outcome of New Hampshire will determine the state of her candidacy.
Jimenez: It sends a major statement about whether the Haley support is real or if Trump’s march to the GOP nomination is inevitable. Her campaign has touted as “close second” as being among their markers for success, but a distant second in an early primary state like New Hampshire is something else entirely. All that said, Haley has maintained she is going to fight through the South Carolina primary (which is next month), that Super Tuesday is among her best bets to accrue voters, that they’re “not going anywhere.” But also, Chris Christie told me he’s “not going anywhere” and about a month later he suspended his campaign, then Ron DeSantis’ campaign maintained he was in it for the “long haul” so…we’ll see.
