Posted on 12/31/2015 8:20:53 AM PST by GonzoII
ROCHESTER, N.H. -- There are few titles in American democracy as privileged as "undeclared New Hampshire voter."
Presidential candidates obsess over them. Operatives tailor advertisements to their whims. And in an election season more volatile than any campaign is likely to have imagined, the state's electoral free agents here are beginning to grapple with how to exercise their unusual power to control the fates of candidates in either party.
About 40 percent of the New Hampshire electorate is independent (officially called undeclared) -- a greater voter share than either party can claim -- and is allowed to participate in either primary.
And their choices could be decisive for two very different candidates, Donald J. Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders, who are counting on independent support to win the state.
snip... Many independents like Mr. Trump: In a CNN/WMUR poll this month, 34 percent of undeclared voters who plan to vote in the Republican primary said they supported Mr. Trump, compared with 16 percent for Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and 7 percent each for Jeb Bush, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Mr. Kasich. Some political analysts attributed Mr. Trump's high numbers to his well-known name, because these voters tend not to think about politics or their candidate options until closer to the primary.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Sounds like NH is Trump’s to lose. If he wins big, it will be hard to stop him.
I loathe the fact some liberal east coast rathole like NH has so much power in the primary int he first place.
Honestly I think a national primary would be better some days.
I live in Colorado, by the time we come up in the primary schedule 9 out of 10 times the candidate is already picked and our decision barely matters at all.
I think the South Carolina Primary will be the determining primary where candidates drop out after that primary. I think that is historically true.
New Hampshire Independents cannot decide whether to go with their heart and vote for Sanders, or whether to screw up the conservatives best chance to capture the presidency by voting for Trump.
Trump is very popular in SC too.
If Cruz wins IA, surely the momentum will sweep through NH.
Right?
A tight race between Clinton and Sanders (two communists) could dampen the number of democrats crossing over in this ‘open primary’ to vote for the designated GOPe candidate...
As you said, suddenly freepers are Ok with pernicious open primaries.
If Trump keeps his 25% lead over the pack, he WILL NOT NEED either New Hampshire or Iowa, as they’re only 1.4% of the delegates (combined).
The others DO NEED to do well in at least one of these states, as they are critical for getting continued funding.
“New Hampshire Independents cannot decide whether to go with their heart and vote for Sanders, or whether to screw up the conservatives best chance to capture the presidency by voting for Trump.”
We Americans that want SECURE BORDERS and DEPORTATIONS will take any help that Independents want to give Trump.
trump is the pope of conversative teachings. he defines conservatism. important: all trump homilies have expiration dates. all rights come from trump. error has no rights.
+1
"It's where New Hampshire can make the most difference this year," she said, ticking off the names of some moderate Republicans she might support, including Gov. John R. Kasich of Ohio and Jeb Bush. "Anything to stop Trump."
#UJD
Ted Cruz has a problem, no cross over votes = unelectable. But against Hillary or Sanders maybe.
One would hope, but the Libs could perform an operation chaos, too. They surely wouldn’t care that Trump was in bed with the Clintons for many years. Why would they? It’d suit their anti-traditionalist worldview.
Would you exclude anyone from supporting you?
A lot of libs detest Trump. Did you see that quote from the lib woman who said she’d vote for anyone with a chance of stopping Trump?
No, but I can imagine that for them Trump is what Clinton was to us. That is, he was always changing his position and slick without principles. So I think I get it.
Liberals have posted a welter of comments and columns on why they hate Trump. Your characterization is not among the issues they iterate.
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