The Republican Party’s youngest presidential hopeful is gaining popularity among those who are not registered Republicans and among younger likely voters
Our Bureau
Durham, NH
An Indian-origin entrepreneur and the Republican Party’s youngest presidential hopeful, Vivek Ramaswamy, is now in the second spot in the Republican presidential race.
Donald Trump continues to be the first choice of 39% of likely GOP primary voters in the first-in-the-nation primary state, according to a new University of New Hampshire poll.
For the second place, it is a close contest among four candidates seeking to gain traction as an alternative to the front-runner; Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, and Ron DeSantis.
Ramaswamy is next in line to Trump with 13% support, closely followed by Haley at 12% and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie at 11%. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was once Trump’s chief rival in the last UNH survey on the New Hampshire race in July, has lost 13 points since then to 10% support.
As per the poll, Ramaswamy’s increase is concentrated more among those who are not registered Republicans and among younger likely voters (he’s up 28 points among those younger than 35 and 11 points among those in the 35-49 age group while holding about even among those aged 50 or above).
Those likely primary voters who are not backing Trump broadly say they prioritize the economy as the top issue in making their decision about whom to support, with far fewer pointing to immigration.
As per the poll, a sizable share of voters is open to changing their minds between now and the primary.
