“‘FAKE NEW HAMPSHIRE POLL WAS RELEASED ON BIRDBRAIN. JUST ANOTHER SCAM!’”
That line came in a social-media post Friday from former President Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential primary’s front-runner, as he reacted to a new poll focused on the key state of New Hampshire.
Trump’s criticism of the American Research Group survey came after it showed GOP rival Nikki Haley getting her best support so far in New Hampshire, scoring 29%, compared with Trump’s 33%.
The poll offers a fresh sign of momentum for Haley, a former South Carolina governor and ex-ambassador to the United Nations, in reference to whom Trump has used the derogatory epithet “birdbrain.” A separate New Hampshire survey earlier this week also had Haley gaining on Trump, although she was still 15 points behind him, and an Iowa poll suggested that her standing is improving in that key state as well.
In the new American Research Group survey, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie scored 13% support, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got 6% and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was at 5%.
New Hampshire’s Republican presidential primary is scheduled for Jan. 23, eight days after Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.