A Republican strategist intensified concerns on Tuesday night as former President Donald Trump’s campaign faced backlash following a volunteer’s claim that New Hampshire is no longer considered a “battleground state” by Trump’s team. Despite the campaign’s quick dismissal of the volunteer and strong denial of the claim, tensions continue to simmer behind the scenes.
CNN correspondent Steve Contorno discussed the controversy with Erin Burnett on “OutFront,” pointing out that some Republicans in New Hampshire have reached the conclusion that the Trump campaign is shifting focus away from the Granite State. “New Hampshire, they thought they could win it. They really thought they had it at one point for the Trump campaign. How have the tides turned?” Burnett asked.
Contorno noted that New Hampshire has a history of unpredictability and a strong independent streak. Although it hasn’t backed a Republican for president since 2000, Trump came within 3,000 votes of winning the state in 2016. However, the situation appears to have changed, told The Hill.
According to Contorno, “A top volunteer to his campaign in the area put out an email recently that said … it’s his understanding that the campaign has all but given up on New Hampshire, noting that it has no more surrogates coming there, it doesn’t have any advertising, and internal polling suggests that Trump could actually lose the state by more than he did in 2020.”
While the Trump campaign has insisted that the volunteer spoke out of turn and that they are still operating “robustly” in the state, some Republican insiders see the situation differently. Contorno mentioned that after speaking to other Republican operatives in New Hampshire, the volunteer’s account aligns with what many believe is happening.
One notable voice on this issue is veteran GOP strategist Mike Dennehy. According to Contorno, Dennehy commented, “If the election were held today, Trump would lose by six to eight points. He’s got to win the race. So you have to shift resources, and I can absolutely understand that point of view.”
Despite the uncertainty, Dennehy and others recognize that there are still two months left in the race, leaving room for momentum shifts. However, as Contorno warned, Trump is running out of time, and significantly, the campaign has yet to reserve advertising for the fall in New Hampshire. The controversy over New Hampshire reflects the broader struggles facing Trump’s campaign as it battles on multiple fronts with just weeks remaining before the election.