New Hampshire burnout: Anger, anxiety drive voters in first GOP primary with 2024 race in the balance

Frenetic malaise marks one of the strangest presidential primaries in modern history

NASHUA, N.H. _ As the clock ran down on the first in the nation Republican primary and possibly the last contest in the 2024 Republican race, the top campaign aides to Donald Trump worked a band of reporters packed into the hotel bar at the Sheraton hotel in Nashua. 

The mood inside the castle-esque resort, where the Trump campaign is set up for its victory party, was ebullient. Longtime advisers and top brass on Trump’s third White House bid, worked the lobby with big smiles. 

Trump appears to be en route to a route of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the only question bandied about before the polls closed was how much Trump would win by. 

“If we win tonight, it’s almost over,” Eric Trump told 24sight as he rallied supporters with his wife, Lara, outside a polling station at Nashua High School South. Asked about what margin of victory is needed to declare the race absolutely over, Eric Trump replied, “It's always kind of a wicked question, because if you win by 15, they say you should have won by 20. If you won by 25, you should have won by more.” 

Eric Trump shakes hands with supporters in Nashua, N.H. during Tuesday’s primary. (Photo by Tom LoBianco -24sight)

The results will likely put a cap on one of the most bizarre presidential primaries in modern history — a former president, under indictment for multiple crimes, many stemming from his effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, running as a semi-incumbent seeking the Republican nomination. And the rest of the Republicans ran in an almost entirely separate primary, debating among themselves. 

Trump’s rallies in New Hampshire were curated by advance teams for small spaces filled with energetic supporters, but nothing close to the energy he created in 2016. As former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley shook hands with voters in Bedford, a suburban town she needs to turn out in force to win or come close to Trump, one heckler yelled “Trump!” and her supporters chanted back, “Nikki! Nikki!”

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu rally supporters in Bedford, N.H. Tuesday, January 23, 2024. (Photo by Tom LoBianco - 24sight.)

Yet in spite of a seemingly pre-determined outcome, New Hampshire’s secretary of state was expecting a record turnout among voters Tuesday.

That amped-up malaise was reflected among the voters of New Hampshire Tuesday, famous for their civic engagement and sharp eye in whittling down any presidential field to only the most serious of candidates. 

Christine Koellmer, 77, a retired church secretary from Bedford, filled in the bubble for Haley. She’s not happy about the prospect of having to choose between Trump and Biden in November. 

“I would not vote for Trump, and I don’t care to vote for Biden. And probably, for the first time in our lives, we may not vote,” Koellmer said. “We would feel really sad if that happened.” 

Aaron Hill, 65, a semi-retired electrician from Bedford, voted for Trump Tuesday, he said he’s exhausted and angry at the failures in Washington. 

“I’m this far away from saying it doesn’t matter anymore. I’ll just take care of my family, because I don’t think anybody in Washington - R or D - really cares,” Hill said. “This might be the last ballot that I cast.”

Ron Manseau, 73, a former baseball coach from Bedford, voted for Haley. He voted for Trump in previous elections, he isn’t excited about voting for Trump again in November, but he can’t support a Democrat. 

“You hold your nose and you vote,” he said. “It’s horrible that we have Trump and Biden running to run a country like this.” 

The early vote tally at Bedford High School in Bedford, N.H., Tuesday January 23, 2024. (Photo by Tom LoBianco - 24sight.)

The illusion of a competitive Republican race vanished quickly in the week after Trump romped through Iowa. 

Vivek Ramaswamy, the former pharmaceutical executive, who drew support from the same base of voters as Trump, dropped out after a poor showing in Iowa and endorsed Trump. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was once the clearest threat to Trump, dropped out Sunday and endorsed Trump in a video message - capping what was widely panned as one of the worst campaigns in modern history. 

And Sen. Tim Scott, who ended his longshot White House bid months ago, endorsed Trump Saturday then got engaged to his girlfriend, who had been a central storyline months ago. 

But all the theatrics which used to color and pepper the historic “First in the Nation” — prank candidate Vermin Supreme, with a large black rubber boot atop his head was omnipresent — did little to distract from the heightened anxiety felt by voters. 

Gloria Chong, 58, a school cook from Bedford, crossed lines after years of voting for Democrats to support Haley against Trump Tuesday. Chong said it’s clear Trump is a threat. 

“I didn't care for the fact that he called him Georgia and asked them to find votes,” Chong said. “Even though what he did is freedom of speech saying, ‘Oh, go march’. He actually was an accessory to the crime of breaking into Congress. And that's a home to all Americans and I don't know how he can say that was a peaceful riot.”