2024 New Hampshire Primaries | NBC News NOW

SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY, A NIGHT THAT COULD SHAPE REPUBLICAN POLITICS FOR YEARS TO COME. THE POLLS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE OPEN FOR JUST THREE MORE HOURS IN THE COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR THOSE CRITICAL RESULTS. VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE BEEN COMING TO PULL LOCATION SINCE THIS MORNING WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS IN FOR SURPRISES. UP FOR GRABS, THE GRANITE STATES 22 DELEGATES BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, A MAKE OR BREAK MOMENT IN THE 2024 CAMPAIGN. IT WAS CROWDED REPUBLICAN FIELD NARROWED DOWN TO AN OLD- FASHIONED HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUP. CONFORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP RIDE THE MOMENTUM OF HIS WIN IN IOWA AND CEMENT HIS STATUS AS A CANDIDATE WHO CANNOT BE BEAT, OR WILL FORMER U.N. AMBASSADOR NIKKI HEALY SURPASS EXPECTATIONS AND POLL WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE? IF YOU CAN'T, IS THIS HER LAST STAND? TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AND MOMENT WE HAVE THE FIRST WAVE OF EXIT POLLS THAT'S A FIRST GLANCE INTO THE MINDS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS. AT 8:00, PULL ACROSS THE STATE WILL CLOSE AND THAT'S THE ONLY TIME FOR A PROJECTED WINNER IN THIS RACE. WE ARE FANNED OUT ACROSS THE STATE AT POLLING SITES AND AT CAMPING WORD HEADQUARTERS AND WATCH PARTIES. LET'S GET THE HALLIE JACKSON IN BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. READY TO GO! WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? >> WE ARE GETTING TRAFFIC. WE CANNOT BLOCK THIS LINE OF VOTERS AND LET ME TELL YOU, WHAT A LINE IT IS. A LOT OF FOLKS, AT AFTER THE WORK DAY, THE TRAFFIC WAS A CRAWL BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT FOR THIS FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY, A CRITICAL DAY, AND WE'VE SEEN HERE IN BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE EXPECTATION THAT MAYBE 9000 PEOPLE WILL BE HERE. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE, MY CAMERAMAN DAVID IS TRYING NOT TO BACK IN, WE WILL SWING IN. THIS IS WHERE THE ACTION IS HAPPENING, RIGHT? THIS IS A SCENE THAT'S PLAYING OUT OVER AND OVER IN 309 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS PARTICULAR ONE, LEADING AS FAR AS REGISTRATIONS BUT LEADING WITH AN -- INDEPENDENT VOTERS. WHY DOES THAT MATTER? YOU KNOW WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT AND BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE VOTERS THAT NIKKI HALEY WOULD NEED TO WIN OVER AND WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY HER LAST AND BEST CHANCE IN THIS RACE. THAT THAT'S BEING PERCEIVED. NIKKI HALEY IN HER CAMPAIGN ARE TALKING ABOUT TAKING THIS TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND SUPER TUESDAY AND BEYOND, SHE'S INSISTING SHE WON'T DROP OUT IF SHE LOSES. HER ALLIES ARE SUGGESTING A SECOND-PLACE SHOWING, IF STRONG, IS IN MANY WAYS A WIN FOR HER AS SHE IS CASTING HER EYES TO HER HOME STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. SOUTH CAROLINA DOES NOT VOTE FOR ANOTHER MONTH. PEOPLE ARE QUEUING UP. THIS WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE TOO YOUNG TO VOTE, BUT AS YOU SEE EVERYBODY, WE ARE GETTING EXIT POLLS IN JUST AS WE SPEAK AS WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE WHO IS ACTUALLY TURNING OUT. THERE'S A QUESTION OF UNDECLARED AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS. EXIT POLLS SHOW JUST UNDER HALF OF VOTERS WHO'VE TURNED OUT OUR UNDECLARED, INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHICH IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO HOW NIKKI HALEY MAY DO. WE CAN'T READ INTO HAT TOO MUC BUT IT'S CRITICAL. LET'S GET TO CHUCK TODD WHO IS IN STUDIO. TALK US THROUGH IT, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT YOU WERE SEEING AS THE DATA IS ROLLING IN. >> LOOK, TO ME, THE BALL GAME TONIGHT IS, WHAT IS THE SPLIT BETWEEN REPUBLICANS? I HAVE 2016 YEAR FOR A REASON. THIS IS THE FIRST PRIMARY TRUMP WAS IN. HE WON, AND BERNIE SANDERS WAS THE GUY WINNING THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, WHICH MEANT HE WAS DRAGGING OVER A LOT OF LIBERAL AND PROGRESSIVE VOTERS. I WANT TO CIRCLE A NUMBER, 3% IN 2016, 2% OF PRIMARY VOTERS CALL THEMSELVES DEMOCRATS. EVERY OTHER PRIMARY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WE'VE EXIT POLLED, THAT NUMBER IS DOUBLE DIGIT. IN 2016, TRUMP WON BECAUSE THE INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC NUMBERS DID NOT GET TO 50%. TONIGHT, THIS IS THE BALL GAME. HIS NUMBER AND THIS NUMBER HAS TO ADD UP TO MORE THAN 50 FOR NIKKI HALEY TO HAVE A CHANCE. IF THE REPUBLICANS OUTNUMBER INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS, TRUMP WINS, AND HE MAY. IF THIS IS 50-50 OR A MAJORITY NON-REPUBLICAN, THAT'S THE PATH FOR NIKKI HALEY. FOR HER TO WIN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY, AND IF SHE DOES WITHOUT WINNING THE REPUBLICAN REGISTERED REPUBLICANS, SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO WIN IT REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WITHOUT WINNING A MAJORITY OF ACTUAL REPUBLICAN VOTERS. >> REMIND PEOPLE OF THE PROCESS. AS WE WATCH PEOPLE COME IN, THEY CHEER FOR FIRST-TIME VOTERS HERE, PEOPLE CAN PICK UP A BALLOT, UNDECLARED AND CHOOSE WHICH BALLOT THEY WANT TO PICK UP. EXPLAIN THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S CRITICAL. >> IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT TODAY, YOU COULD NOT SHOW UP AND VOTE. YOU HAD TO CHANGE TO INDEPENDENT OR REPUBLICAN AS A DEMOCRAT, BUT IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED INDEPENDENT, YOU CAN WALK IN RIGHT NOW AND PICK AND ESSENTIALLY BECOME A MEMBER OF THAT PARTY. WHAT MANY OF THESE INDEPENDENT VOTERS DO, THE SECOND YOU ARE DONE VOTING, IF YOU WANT TO REREGISTER AS AN INDEPENDENT, YOU CAN DO THE PROCESS RIGHT THERE. AT THE POLLING PLACE. THIS IS WHY SO MANY INDEPENDENT VOTERS LOVE PARTICIPATING. IT'S AN OPEN PROCESS FOR THEM, THEY GO, THEY PICK THEIR BALLOT, THEY ARE A REPUBLICAN FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN THE REREGISTER. >> WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF VOTERS HERE, AS WE BEEN DRIVING AROUND, AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS HEARING THE INDEPENDENCE, PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDECLARED, THE RATIONALE FOR CASTING THOSE BALLOTS. YOU HEAR SOME CONTINGENT OF INDEPENDENT, UNDECLARED SECTOR SAY THAT THEY ARE NEVER TRUMP, THEY COULD NOT CAST ABOUT FOR TRUMP SO THEY ARE CHOOSING INNOCENCE WITH NIKKI HALEY. OF COURSE, SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY ARE BACKING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER FACTOR. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE NUMBERS? I SPOKE WITH HIM EARLIER, AND I HAPPENED TO SEE THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND I SAID WHAT A GOOD NIGHT FOR YOU, HE WOULDN'T GIVE ME A NUMBER, BUT SENATOR TIM SCOTT SAID, 10 POINT IS A GOOD NIGHT, 15 IS GREAT. TELL ME IF YOU CAN GLEAN ANYTHING BASED ON EARLY EXIT POLLS. >> IT LOOKS LIKE A NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY ELECTORATE THAT COMPETITIVE PRIMARIES ARE FOUGHT OVER. IT'S THE FIRST WAVE OF NUMBERS, I WANT TO BE CAREFUL IN HOW WE CHARACTERIZE SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS LOOKS LIKE INDEPENDENT VOTERS SHOWED UP IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS ENOUGH THAT I THINK THAT WE DON'T KNOW YET. I WILL SAY THIS, I THINK EARLY EXITS, SOMETIMES, OVERSTATE THE ANTI-TRUMP VOTE. IT'S A PATTERN WE NOTICED IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, SO WE WILL SEE. I TELL YOU, IF WE DO SEE A MOVEMENT HERE, WHERE NIKKI HALEY IS WITHIN SINGLE DIGITS OR EVEN CLOSE, IT DOES SHOW THAT THERE IS A CONTINGENT OF VOTERS WHO ARE LIKE HEY, DESPITE WHAT THE CONSERVATIVE MEDIA IS SAYING AND WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE RNC IS SAYING, TRYING TO END THE RACE TONIGHT, VOTERS DON'T WANT TO END IT YET. >> I'M WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY, BECAUSE, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS, THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE FIRST DATA WE ARE SEEING, I'M WALKING DOWN THIS HALLWAY BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO MEET SOMEONE WHO IS WITH US AS WE ARE MAKING OUR WAY, THESE ARE ALL VOTERS WHO HAVE VOTED, THE EXIT IS THIS WAY, I WILL STOP AND BRING IN OUR GUEST. GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU KNOW NEW HAMPSHIRE JUST AS WELL AS ANYBODY. >> I AM USING ANY EXIT POLLING. >> LET ME SHOW YOU THE NUMBERS, PARTY I.D., OR 7% REPUBLICAN, 45% INDEPENDENT, 8% DEMOCRAT. GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND OW YOU SEE IT PLAYING OUT WITH THE ELECTORATE? >> IS A LOT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS COMING OUT, AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR NIKKI HALEY. IS IT ENOUGH? MANY OF THOSE ARE STILL GOING TO VOTE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY. >> NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS SEEN SURPRISES BEFORE. >> IT HAS, IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD MORE COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS WHERE WE HAD SOMEONE WHO WAS A QUASI-INCUMBENT. A LOT OF THE OTHER CANDIDATE DON'T HAVE TO MOVE FROM A GROUNDED PREVIOUS ELECTION, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S ONE-ON-ONE AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE PROBLEMATIC FOR HALEY. >> THAT'S THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND HERE IN BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. BACK TO THE YOU IN THE STUDIO. >> LOOK, WE WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT. EXIT POLL DATA IS LITERALLY JUST COMING IN. I'M TELLING YOU TO PUT IT ON THE BOARD, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TOP LINE WHICH IS THE PERCENTAGE OF INDEPENDENT IN THIS RACE. TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS AND THE IMPACT RIGHT NOW. >> 45 IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER SHE NEEDED TO MAKE IT COMPETITIVE. WE KNOW DEMOCRATS ARE VOTING. IN 2016, IT WAS AN ALL-TIME LOW AND THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH BERNIE SANDERS. IF ALL YOU NEED IS MORE THAN 5% OF DEMOCRATS AND 50% OF THE SELECTOR IS NOT REPUBLICAN, THAT'S THE RECIPE FOR NIKKI HALEY. I WOULD JUST CAUTION FOLKS THAT EARLY WAVES, AT TIMES, OVERSTATE ANTI-TRUMP VOTES. >> NIKKI HALEY EVEN GOT UNDECLARED TURNOUTS, SHED A WIN, BUT IS GRAPPLING WHAT, 30% OF REPUBLICANS? >> DEPENDING, SHE'S WINNING THIS. BY THE 30 MARGIN. I BELIEVE WE HAVE PARTY IDENTIFICATION, SO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF THE MAKEUP AND THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT. 53. IF THIS IS WHAT THIS ELECTORATE LOOKS LIKE, 53% NOT REPUBLICAN, YOU CAN HEAR WHAT THEY'LL SAY. DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENT ARE INVADING THE PRIMARY. MY GOODNESS, LESS THAN 50% REPUBLICAN FOR TRUMP. THIS IS A FLASHING YELLOW FIRST WAVE AND IT MEANS THAT THIS IS NOT A RACE WE ARE CALLING YET. >> WE ARE PUTTING THIS BANNER UP , 56% SAID THEY WOULD BE SATISFIED IF TRUMP WAS A NOMINEE, 55% SAID THEY BE SATISFIED WITH NIKKI HALEY. WHAT DOES THAT TELL US? >> IT'S A DIFFERENT MAKEUP. THE INDIAN -- THE INDEPENDENT VOTER IS MORE PRONE NIKKI HALEY. THEY'RE SORT OF EXHAUSTED, SO YOU HAVE THAT ISSUE. THERE ARE PLENTY OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS FOR TRUMP. THEY DON'T LIKE THE SYSTEM AND TRUMP, HE DID WELL WITH INDEPENDENT VOTERS. HE HAS MADE THOSE INDEPENDENT VOTERS REPUBLICANS. >> WHILE WE FEED THE BEAST, I'M GOING TO TALK OVER -- WALK OVER TO KRISTEN WELKER. SEEN FIRST WAVE DATA, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE THIS DATA CAME OUT. POLLS ARE STILL OPEN. THEY SAID IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE SETTING THAT STATEMENT. LET'S SUPPORT THE NOMINEE. >> THAT STATEMENT WAS UNITY, AND SHE TALKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT AS YOU POINT OUT, TIM SCOTT, RON DESANTIS, HAVE BASICALLY RALLIED AROUND TRUMP. IT'S A NOT-SO-SUBTLE WAY OF SENDING A MESS WHICH NIKKI HALEY THAT IF SHE DOES NOT WIN TONIGHT, SHE SHOULD THINK ABOUT DROPPING OUT. I HAD A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW WITH THEIR CAMPAIGN TO GET THEIR REACTION AND IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT THEY WERE UNDETERRED AND SAID LOOK, SHE'S ALWAYS RUN AS AN OUTSIDER. HONESTLY, SHE SERVED WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT THEY WERE NOT PERSUADED BY THE ARGUMENT. LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK. THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT TO PUT OUT ON ELECTION DAY, BEFORE THE POLLS AND EVEN CLOSE. WE GOT MORE INFORMATION, FROM EXIT POLLING, CANDIDATES WHO SHARE THEIR VALUES MATTER. WHEN IT COMES TO THESE QUALITIES, THEY HAD SIMILAR PRIORITIES TO IOWA. ONE THIRD SAID THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A CANDIDATE WHO SHARES THEIR VALUES WHEN DECIDING WHOM TO SUPPORT. WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT IS THAT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW IN IOWA, WERE TRUMP DID HAVE THAT BIG WIN. >> IT'S STILL EARLY, AND THIS FIRST WAVE DATA SOMETIMES, NOT ALWAYS, CAN BE NOT AS TRUMP FRIENDLY. YOU JUST GOT BACK FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY ARE PROJECTING, PREDICTING, RECORD TURNOUT. DID YOU GET THAT SENSE? >> IT'S INTERESTING, YES, THEY WERE, BUT A LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO LIVE THERE SAID THAT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AN OPEN PRIMARY, BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE IN THIS RACE, THEY DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT HAD THE SAME ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT AS THE SEEN IN THE PAST THE OTHER BIG TAKE AWAY IS THAT A LOT OF NIKKI HALEY SUPPORTERS SAID BOY, THEY LOVE HER CLOSING MESSAGE, THEY WISH THAT THEY HAD SEEN THAT FIRE FROM HER WEEKS AGO. >> RIGHT. >> THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT STATE, WHICH IS UNIQUELY TAILORED FOR A NIKKI HALEY WIN, THAT SHE MAY NOT HAVE GIVEN IT THE AMOUNT OF FIRE SHE NEEDED. >> THANK YOU . WILL CHECK INTO THE NIGHT. I WILL COME TO OUR BOARD OF SUPPORTERS, CORRESPONDENCE, POLITICAL ANALYST, ACROSS THE GRANITE STATE. YOU CAN SEE OUR WALL OF FAME, IF YOU WILL, OF GREAT CORRESPONDENCE. ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THERE'S ONE PERSON THAT STICKS OUT BECAUSE OF THE HAIR, JUMPING OFF THE SCREEN, JACOB, TALKING TO VOTERS IN DERRY, NEW HAMPSHIRE. YOUR HAIR IS GREAT. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT LEVEL, YOU'VE BEEN -- >> I NEED SOME OF YOUR PRODUCT. >> TALK TO US ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM VOTERS? YOU ARE JUST SOUTH OF MANCHESTER. TELL US WHAT YOU ARE FINDING. >> FIRST THING IS THAT WE ARE AT EGERTON ACADEMY. THIS MIGHT BE, I CAN'T CONFIRM, BUT LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY THIS COULD BE THE LARGEST POLLING PLACE NOT JUST IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, BUT IN THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE 20,000 OR SO NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS REGISTERED AND ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PLACE. EXCITEMENT IS OFF THE CHARTS. THERE'S BEEN 7000 PEOPLE. WHEN IT COMES THE PROCESS, LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE NEW HAMPSHIRE DOES IT DIFFERENTLY THAN MANY OTHER PLACES. STARTING HERE, WHEN YOU SHOW UP, SORRY, WE ARE SWIMMING UPSTREAM, THESE ARE POLL PAD. YOU SHOW UP, PRESENT YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE, YOUR I.D., THEY GIVE YOU A BALLOT, YOU GO IN. IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, IT'S ANALOG, BUT REALLY COOL. YOU COME TO THIS AREA AND IN THE ELECTION WORKER HELPS YOU, THEY GRAB THIS, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS? >> A CAMERA? >> IT'S A POLAROID CAMERA. TAKE A POLAROID PICTURE AND THEY GIVE YOU A PHOTO AFFIDAVIT. IT'S A VOTER AFFIDAVIT FOR BEING A CHALLENGE VOTER AND WHAT THEY DO IS ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR CHALLENGE VOTER AFFIDAVIT, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS, YOU BRING IT , YOU COULD BE UNDECLARED, A DEMOCRAT, A REPUBLICAN, BACK ALL THE WAY HERE, AND IT GOT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY MAN. TELL ME YOUR NAME. >> SERGEANT TYLER DANIEL. >> SERGEANT DANIEL IS TAKI THE BALLOT TONIGHT. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE AND SOUND. WHERE DO THEY GO, TOWNHALL? I WON'T SPILL THE BEANS, BUT THANK YOU, SERGEANT. YOU COME HERE AND YOU COME TO THE POLL PAD WITH YOUR AFFIDAVIT, YOU DO THE VOTING PROCESS, AND IF YOU ARE UNAFFILIATED, IF YOU ARE MORE UNAFFILIATED IN THIS DATE, YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR PARTY PREFERENCE TO ONE OF THOSE AND WHEN YOU ARE DONE, COME OVER HERE, TAKE A LOOK. THAT'S THE CHANGE BACK STATION. THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN LINE. THEY'VE GONE FROM UNAFFILIATED TO A POLITICAL PARTY PREFERENCE AND ARE GOING BACK BEFORE THEY WALK OUT THE DOOR, BACK TO BEING AN UNAFFILIATED VOTER. HOW IMPORTANT ARE THOSE PEOPLE? THEY COME IN UNAFFILIATED AND BY THE TIME MANY WALK OUT THE DOOR, THEY HAVE THAT BY THE TIME THEY GO HOME AFTER CASTING THEIR BALLOT. >> YOU SPENT TIME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BEFORE, IT'S NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO. ANYTHING STANDING OUT THIS TIME AROUND? >> WE MIGHT HAVE LOST JACOB. DERRY, TRANSLATED GREAT REPORTING. WE WILL GET BACK TO CHUCK TODD WHO HAS SECOND WAVE DATA, EXIT POLL INFORMATION. WE HAVE BIG DATA POINTS COMING IN, ONE ON ISSUES. >> LET ME GIVE YOU THE ISSUES, BECAUSE IT, HANG ON, WE KEEP PUTTING THEM IN SO QUICKLY. WE ARE LOSING THEM, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE, ECONOMY TRUMPS IMMIGRATION. IN IOWA, IMMIGRATION WAS A LITTLE HEAVIER. IT'S NOT SURPRISING, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ALWAYS A BIT MORE ECONOMIC CENTERED. THAT IS SOMEWHAT TELLING YOU IT'S A MORE MODERATE ELECTORATE AND YOU USUALLY HAVE MORE OF THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE. BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT, IF DONALD TRUMP IS CONVICTED, IS HE FIT TO BE PRESIDENT? IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, 50% SAID YES, 47% SAID NO. IN IOWA, THESE NUMBERS WERE 65, RIGHT? HERE, 31. IF YOU NEED TO KNOW THE IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCE IN WHAT TYPE OF VOTER SHOWING UP IN THE PRIMARY, THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD DISTINCTION. WHAT WE ARE SEEING SHOWS YOU THIS IS A MUCH ORE MODERATE ELECTORATE, A MUCH MORE INDEPENDENT ELECTORATE AND MUCH MORE FAVORABLE TO NIKKI HALEY. >> 49 TO 47, REGISTERED REPUBLICAN VERSUS INDEPENDENCE OR UNDECLARED. STILL A GOOD NUMBER FOR NIKKI HALEY. >> ABSOLUTELY. BY THE WAY, AND GOT A FEW OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE THE, DO YOU THINK BIDEN WON LEGITIMATELY? LOOK AT THIS SPLIT IN A SUPPOSEDLY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, JUST TO REMIND YOU, THAT IN IOWA, THE NUMBERS WERE 66, WHO THOUGHT TRUMP WON VERSUS 31. SO, THIS IS A MUCH DIFFERENT ELECTORATE, A MUCH DIFFERENT SET OF VOTERS AND LOOK. THIS IS NIKKI HALEY'S ELECTORATE. SHE NEEDED A CHANCE. >> WE ARE STILL WATCHING AND WAITING, WE ARE JOINED BY OUR ALL-STAR PANEL. WE HAVE A SENIOR ADVISER TO THE LINCOLN PROJECT AND A CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL ANALYST. THANK YOU. YOU GOT THAT DATA, THE SECOND LOOK WAVE OF EXIT POLLS. THAT COULD BE A GOOD NIGHT FOR NIKKI HALEY. WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FROM THAT? >> THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO BE HEARING FROM HER CAMPAIGN. IT DOESN'T MEAN SHE'S GOING TO BE ON TOP, BUT OF ALL THE POSSIBILITIES, THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE HOPING FOR. WE HAD A REPORTER FROM DISPATCH SPENDING TIME WITH THOSE TRYING TO WRANGLE INDEPENDENT VOTERS ON BEHALF OF HER. THE ASSUMPTION, AT THAT POINT WAS THAT IF, IN THE BEST CASE SCENARIO, SHE COULD GET IN SINGLE DIGITS, THIS SEEMS TO BE GREATER THAN THAT FOR THOSE WHO WANT NIKKI HALEY TO WIN, TRYING TO GET INDEPENDENT VOTERS. >> DO THINK THAT TRUMP MIGHT BE NERVOUS GOING INTO TONIGHT? HE HAD A SPEECH WHERE HE SAID IF WE WIN, WE GOT TO WRAP IT UP, IT'S OVER. HE WAS HOPING REPUBLICAN VOTERS WOULD COME OUT. DO YOU THINK HE'S NERVOUS? I HAVEN'T SPOKEN WITH HIM BUT I'M SURE THEY'RE CONFIDENT. I SPOKE TO SOMEONE ON THE GROUND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS BEEN A POLITICAL EXPERT THERE FOR DECADES AND HE SAID HE STILL SEES THE NUMBERS AROUND 13% FOR A TRUMP WIN. IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO. TRUMP IS RIGHT. IF HE DOES GO ON TO SUCCEED, HE WILL BE 2-0 AND HE WILL WIN NEVADA AND THEN SOUTH CAROLINA. >> WHAT DO YOU HOPE HAPPENS? >> I THINK THAT TRUMP WILL BE THE NOMINEE, BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH AND SEE WHETHER THE ELECTORATE WOULD ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH VOTING FOR SOMEONE LIKE NIKKI HALEY. I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED IT'S COME DOWN TO JUST NIKKI HALEY AND DONALD TRUMP AT THIS POINT, THAT THE PARTIES COALESCED SO MUCH AROUND DONALD TRUMP. WHAT I HOPE HAPPENS, I MEAN, IF NIKKI HALEY OVERTOOK DONALD TRUMP AND WON, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE -- >> TO HAVE HOPE? >> WELL, I MEAN, FOR THIS PURPOSE, I THINK THAT IT WOULD ADD TO THE DRAMA AND IT WOULD BE DRAWING OUT THE INEVITABLE BECAUSE FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, THERE IS NOT A PATH FOR HER COME SUPER TUESDAY AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BASICALLY MADE SURE THAT DONALD TRUMP TAKES EVERYTHING, I SUPER TUESDAY, BECAUSE THEY BEEN CHANGING THE RULES TO WINNER TAKE ALL. IT WOULD BE A GREAT POLITICAL STORY, BUT THE INEVITABILITY IS SET IN STONE BASED ON THE CALENDAR. >> SO IF YOU TALK TO NIKKI HALEY'S CAMPAIGN, THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE HEADED THERE NEXT, SHE WAS GOVERNOR, EVEN IF SHE LOSES TONIGHT, SHE'S GOING TO SUPER TUESDAY. >> EVERYONE WHO HAS LOOKED AT THE RESULTS OR THE POLLS THAT SUGGEST THAT DONALD TRUMP'S SUPPORT IS WANING OR THAT HE IS FINISHED, HOW MANY TIMES IF YOU HEARD THAT? TAKE ALL OF THIS WITH CAUTION. EVEN IF SHE WINS BY A COUPLE POINTS, IF YOU ARE NIKKI HALEY, YOUR ARGUMENT IS, WE'VE WAITED A LONG TIME TO HAVE DONALD TRUMP FACE ONE OTHER PERSON. THIS IS THE TIME. THERE IS SOFTNESS IN PARTY SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP, EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS ABOUT IOWA AND THE REPUBLICANS IN IOWA WHO THINK THAT TRUMP IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT IF CONVICTED OF A FELONY, 31% IS A BIG NUMBER. YOU LOSE ELECTIONS IF YOU DON'T HAVE 31% OF THE PUBLICAN PARTY BEAUTY YOU LOSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A THIRD OF THAT NUMBER. THERE ARE REASONS FOR THE NON- TRUMPER'S -- >> GOOD POINT. I'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE. IF YOU PERCENT OF IOWA REPUBLICANS, RED STATE, CHOSE NOT TO VOTE FOR TRUMP. DOES HE REALLY HAVE THE PARTY BEHIND HIM? >> 100%. HE'S UP TO FIVE POINTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. WE TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT ENDORSEMENTS THAT RON DESANTIS HAS IN IOWA, WITH GOVERNOR REYNOLDS, OTHER EVANGELICAL LEADERS, AND HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NIKKI HALEY 50 NOTICES ON STAGE WITH DONALD TRUMP? STATEWIDE OFFICEHOLDERS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, INCLUDING SENATOR TIM SCOTT, WHO NIKKI HALEY PUT IN THAT POSITION. PEOPLE WHO KNOW NIKKI HALEY BEST DON'T SUPPORT HER AND FOR THE TALK THAT SHE'S THE FRESH FACE -- >> THEY FEAR TRUMP. >> REGARDLESS, THEY STANDING BEHIND TRUMP. WHATEVER MOTIVATED THEM, THEY ARE THERE. FOR THIS TALK ABOUT FRESH FACE AND NEW IDEAS, SHE WAS GOVERNOR 15 YEARS AGO. IF ANYTHING, SHE'S THE OLD VOICE IN THE SPACE AND TRUMP IS STILL THE NEW VOICE AND I THINK SHE HAS A DIFFICULT CHANCE TO WIN. >> HOLD THAT THOUGHT. WE WILL TAKE A QUICK BREAK. VOTERS ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE I STILL CASTING BALLOTS. WE ARE SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE STATE AND WE WILL CHECK IN AND GET A LOOK AT MORE EXIT POLLING YOU ARE WATCHING OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARIES . >>> WE ARE LIVE, TONIGHT. >> YOU WERE SEEING PEOPLE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES? >> HUNDREDS HAVE GATHERED TO DEMONSTRATE. >> WHAT DO THEY NEED MOST? >> THEY HAVE FOUND COMMON GROUND. >> YOUR NEWS PLAYLIST. "TOP STORY" WEEKNIGHTS AT 7:00 ON NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME BACK TO OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. CHUCK TODD IS HERE AT THE BIG BOARD, WE HAVE A SECOND WAVE OF EXIT POLL DATA AND THERE'S A BIG DATA POINT BECAUSE IT COULD TELL A LOT ABOUT WHERE THE RACE MIGHT BE HEADING. >> IT IS SIMPLY, WHO VOTED TODAY? SO FAR, WE HAVE BASICALLY A 50 50 ELECTORATE, 50%, IDENTIFYING AS REPUBLICAN, MORE THAN HALF IDENTIFYING AS INDEPENDENT OR DEMOCRATIC. THIS IS THE SPLIT. THIS IS THE RECIPE FOR NIKKI HALEY. TO GIVE YOU MORE OF A REMINDER OF HOW LESS REPUBLICAN THIS IS, HERE'S THE QUESTION. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, PEOPLE -- >> PEOPLE RIGHT MADE THAT 46%. IN IOWA, THAT NUMBER WAS ABOUT THE SAME. I DON'T KNOW, THIS IS ABIDED ELECTRIC -- A DIVIDED ELECTORATE. THIS IS WHY I WAS SO HESITANT. EVEN THOUGH YOU DID NOT FEEL IT ON THE GROUND, THE MORE NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS CAN REACT, THE MORE INEVITABILITY IS THROWN IN THEIR FACE. IT IS WHY THESE INDEPENDENT VOTERS -- >> SIMILAR STORY LINES, THE ENDORSEMENTS. >> THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO OBAMA AND CLINTON IN 2008. THE RACE IS OVER, OBAMA IS WRAPPING IT UP, AND THEN HAMPSHIRE VOTERS SAID, WAIT A MINUTE. I ACCEPT THE PREMISE THAT THIS IS, I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE SHE IS GOING TO WIN, BUT FOLLOW THE RULES. HE HELPED TO CHANGE THE RULES IN SOME OF THESE PLACES, BUT THERE ARE STATES LIKE MICHIGAN AND SOUTH CAROLINA WERE INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS CAN CHANGE THE REGISTRATION. SHE HAS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO START TO PEARSON. >> LET'S TAKE A WALK, IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE, LET'S GET YOU UP TO SPEED. SOME POLLS ARE CLOSING AT 7:00, SOME 8:00. WE STILL HAVE 2.5 HOURS TO GO. THIS IS THE BOARD OF CORRESPONDENCE, PEOPLE VOTING, CAMERAS HIDDEN INSIDE THE STUDIO , LET'S GO OVER, THE HALLIE JACKSON. TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THE SECOND WAVE OF EXIT POLL DATA, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR NIKKI HALEY. >> LISTEN, IT'S EXACTLY WHAT HER CAMPAIGN WOULD WANT TO SEE AND OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO SEE ACTUAL NUMBER AND DATA. LIKE HERE, YOU CAN SEE THE LINE BEHIND ME. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE ALLOWED TO STAND AT THIS POINT BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED THE SPACE TO GET OUT AND CAST THEIR BALLOT. THE ARGUMENT FROM THE NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGN, SINCE THIS BECAME A ONE-ON-ONE RACE, WAS THAT SHE COULD POTENTIALLY PICK UP MOMENTUM AND CARRY THAT INTO SOUTH CAROLINA WHICH WILL VOTE IN ABOUT A MONTH AND POTENTIALLY SHE COULD BE IN INTO SUPER TUESDAY AND THAT IS WHAT HER CAMPAIGN HAS LAID OUT, DESCRIBING THE STRATEGY. THAT RELIES ON THE CRITICAL BLOCK OF UNDECLARED VOTERS. FOR TRUMP, IT'S A DIFFERENT CALCULATION. IT'S ABOUT MOTIVATING THE REPUBLICAN BASE. WE'VE SEEN HIM TRY TO CONSOLIDATE THE FIELD BEHIND HIM. HE AND HIS ALLIES ARE HOPING FOR A GOP SHOW OF FORCE. HE'S BEEN APPEARING WITH FORMER RIVALS, LIKE RAMASWAMY AND TIM SCOTT. I CAUGHT UP WITH TIM SCOTT AND ASKED HIM, WHAT DOES A GOOD NIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN? I ALSO ASKED TRUMP, BUT SENATOR SCOTT SUGGESTED THAT 10 POINTS IS A GOOD NIGHT, 15 POINT MIGHT BE GREAT. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WITH MOTIVATING SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS WE'VE SEEN IN THE ELECTORATE, AND THAT IS MULTIPLE INDICTMENTS OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. THE IDEA THAT THESE REPUBLICANS HAVE RALLIED AROUND HIM, RON DESANTIS TODAY, WHO HAS ENDORSED PRESIDENT TRUMP, IS BLAMING HIS OWN CAMPAIGN DISSOLUTION ON THE FACT THAT MANY REPUBLICANS RALLIED AROUND THE FORMER PRESIDENT AFTER HIS FIRST INDICTMENT IN MARCH AND THAT THAT WAS A FACTOR IN SEEING THE ENERGY MOVED TO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. I ASKED THE FORMER PRESIDENT ABOUT THAT IN LONDONDERRY NOT LONG AGO. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PROPELLING HER CAMPAIGN? >> I CAN TELL YOU, YOU KNOW I DID GREAT HERE. THERE IS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IN TERMS OF ENTHUSIASM BUT WOULDN'T YOU AGREE? >> AND NOW YOU LIKE IS BETTER, RIGHT? >> SO, HE'S OBVIOUSLY TALKING TO SUPPORTERS WHO WOULD COME OUT FOR THIS SURPRISE STOP AT THAT LOCATION, REALLY, FOCUSING ON ENTHUSIASM, THAT TURNOUT, AS TRUMP IS LOOKING TO CAST AND I TOWARD NOVEMBER AND THE ENERAL ELECTION AND LOOKING PAST IT. IS THAT EVEN GOING TO BE POSSIBLE? IF MICHAELA PULLED OFF AN UPSET AND HAS A STRONGER-THAN- EXPECTED SHOWING. THE ALLIES AROUND NIKKI HALEY, THAT WE'VE SPOKEN WITH, THEY ARE NOT SAYING SHE HAS TO WIN. THE EXPECTATION IS A STRONG SECOND PLACE. >> EXPECTATIONS HAVE CHANGED SLIGHTLY, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. THANK YOU. >>> AS WE LOOK UP LIVE, LET'S LOOK TO SHAQUILLE BREWSTER. HE'S TALKING TO VOTERS. WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING FROM VOTERS YOU'RE TALKING TO? >> WELL, WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH VOTERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE. WE ARE AN HOUR AND A HALF NORT . THESE ARE BELLWETHER TOWNS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THE RESULTS MIRRORED WHAT YOU SAW OUT OF THE ENTIRE STATE. YOU HEAR A MIX OF OPINIONS. MANY PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY DID NOT MAKE A DECISION UNTIL THE PAST COUPLE DAYS. HEARD SOME SAY OH, IT WAS BECAUSE OF ENDORSEMENTS BY CANDIDATES WHO DROPPED OUT, OR, LITERALLY, PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH NIKKI HALEY IN THAT AREA, AND THEN THERE'S ACTION ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE AND LET'S BRING IN SOMEONE WE JUST MET WHO JUST CAST A BALLO . THE PROCESS IS OVER FOR YOU, WHICH PRIMARY DID YOU VOTE IN? >> DEMOCRATIC. >> WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR?'S >> PHILLIPS. >> WHY? >> I FELT LIKE BIDEN HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AT A TIME TO SHOW THAT IT'S TIME FOR FRESH PEOPLE TO COME IN WITH NEW PERCENT IS TO TAKE OVER AND HELP US LEAD. >> HOW MUCH OF THAT HAD TO DO, HOW MUCH OF YOUR VOTE HAD TO DO WITH A BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN THE DNC AND TRYING TO CHANGE THE POSITION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND BIDEN NOT EVEN APPEARING ON YOUR BALLOT? >> NOT A TON. BEING A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT, I KNEW THAT WE ARE TRADITIONALLY, MORE REPUBLICAN AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEEDED MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE WILLING TO BE OPEN-MINDED AND REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO BE. >> YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T DECIDE UNTIL THIS WEEKEND, HOW COMMON IS THAT, AND WHAT WENT INTO YOUR DECISION? MAC I'M NOT SURE HOW COMMON IT IS. A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE PRETTY SET IN THEIR WAYS, BUT FOR ME, IT WAS CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS ABOUT THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND PRIOR TO THAT, WHAT WE THOUGHT THAT THE COUNTRY AND HER FRIENDS AND HEY, HAVE YOU SEEN PHILLIPS? HE DID A GREAT AD AND IT WAS LIKE OH, OKAY. THEN I JUST WENT AND KIND OF LOOKED THROUGH HIS WEBSITE AND WHAT HE STANDS FOR, WHAT HIS THOUGHT PROCESS WAS, AND IT SWAYED ME TO SAY OKAY, JOE'S DONE GREAT, BUT IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON. >> IF YOU LOOK AT POLLING, NOW, YOU MAY YOUR VOTE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD BE HEADING TOWARD ANOTHER BIDEN VERSUS TRUMP REMATCH, AND THAT'S BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS ARE DOING. IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? WHAT'S GOING TO YOUR HEAD AND HEART? >> DEFINITELY BIDEN. IF THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW. I CAN'T SUPPORT TRUMP. HE'S NOT RESPECTFUL TO ANYONE WHO'S NOT ON HIS SIDE AND TO ME, THE FOUR YEARS WHERE WE WERE JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH HIS ADMINISTRATION AND THEN GOING INTO THE 2020 PRIMARY, IT WAS THE TIME I THOUGHT THE MOST. AS OF EVER FELT IN MY LIFE. I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK THERE. I FEEL SAFE AND RESPECTED WITH PEOPLE IN MY COUNTRY THAT I KNOW ARE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, I FEEL SAFER RESPECTED HERE IN THIS TOWN. >> THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD ONE. >> AND THAT THE SIGN OF AGAIN, YOU HAVE TWO PRIMARIES, A LOT OF ACTIVITY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE BUT DEMOCRATIC VOTERS ALSO COMING OUT LOOKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. >> A GOOD REMINDER THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES ARE HAPPENING. LET'S GO RIGHT NEXT DOOR, FURTHER SOUTH TO NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE'VE BEEN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL COVERING DESANTIS FROM THE GET GO, AND THAT SURPRISE DROP OUT THIS WEEKEND HAS SHAKEN UP THE RACE A LITTLE BIT. WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE VOTES ARE IN, BUT WHAT ARE YOU HEARING TONIGHT? DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT DESANTIS VOTERS ARE ALL GOING TO TRUMP? >> A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO TRUMP BECAUSE DISSENT IS PAID CAMPAIGN FOR A DIFFERENT VOTER BASE THAN NIKKI HALEY. WITH HIS POLICIES AND HIS APPROACH TO VOTERS, HE WAS NOT TRYING TO COURT MODERATES AND INDEPENDENTS WERE NIKKI HALEY IS THAT HE WAS TRYING TO CHIP AWAY AT THE TRUMP BASE. NOT SURPRISINGLY, OUR DATA SHOWS THIS, THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING DESANTIS ARE MOSTLY FLOCKING TO TRUMP WHICH CREATES A STEEPER HILL FOR NIKKI HALEY, BUT TODAY, WE'VE BEEN SEEING FASCINATING TRENDS THAT REFLECT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SHOWING IN THE EXIT POLLING. HERE'S WHAT FASCINATING. I WANT MY CAMERAMAN TO JUST SHOW YOU THE PICTURE BEHIND US, BECAUSE DEMOCRACY IS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK. YOU SEE THE POLLING BOOTH THAT ARE OLD-SCHOOL, TRADITIONAL CURTAINS WITH THE STRIPES THAT I LOVE, THE TRADITIONAL NEW HAMPSHIRE VIBE . THE FOLKS EVEN SPEAKING TO OUR TRUMP VOTERS, NIKKI HALEY VOTERS, AND I RUN INTO A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO WRITE IN JOE BIDEN'S NAME ON THE BALLOT. THAT MAKES ME WONDER, WHEN WE ARE SEEING THAT 53% OF UNDECLARED OR INDEPENDENT VOTERS, AND A PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS, WHO ARE THEY VOTING FOR? IT MIGHT BE NIKKI HALEY OR TRUMP AND THAT IS WERE NIKKI HALEY FINDS HER STRENGTH, BUT ARE SOME SHOWING UP TO VOTE FOR BIDEN BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN A MAJOR CAMPAIGN FROM DEMOCRAT, AND WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS DOING THAT. WE ARE ALSO HEARING, REFLECTING THE LANGUAGE THEY'VE HEARD FROM CANDIDATES, PEOPLE VOTING FOR MICHAELA TALKING BUT THE CHAOS TRUMP BRINGS, WHICH IS SOMETHING SHE SAYS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. PEOPLE VOTING FOR RUMP ARE CALLING GALEA GLOBALIST, WHICH TRUMP HAS BEEN SAYING. YOU ARE REALLY SEEING THE AIRWAVES REFLECTED IN REALITY, BUT IT'S A SURPRISING SPREAD AS WE'VE BEEN GOING AROUND POLLING LOCATIONS. THESE ARE THE PLACES WHERE NIKKI HALEY HAS OPPORTUNITY, WHERE SHE NEEDS TO RUN UP NUMBERS. NASHUA, SHE'S GOING TO WANT 50% OR SO. THE QUESTION IS, HOW MANY OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY COMING IN AND WRITING IN JOE BIDEN INSTEAD? >> FROM NASHUA, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THANK YOU. OUR COVERAGE CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. POLLS ARE STILL OPEN AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK TO BREAK DOWN HOW OUR ELECTIONS TEAM PREPARES FOR A NIGHT LIKE THIS AND HOW THEY KNOW WHEN TO MAKE A WINNER PROJECTION. STAY WITH US. >>> THE FIRE HAS GROWN, LEAPS AND BOUNDS. >> HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> PRETTY BAD. >>> WELCOME BACK TO OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. THE COUNTDOWN IS TICKING CLOSER TO THE 8:00 CLOSING TIME. TWO MAJOR CANDIDATES ARE LEFT IN THIS RACE, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH HIS FIRST BIG WIN IN IOWA, LOOKING TO ADD TO HIS LEAD . IT'S DO OR DIE, FOR NIKKI HALEY. SHE HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S GOVERNOR, WAS VERY POPULAR IN THE STATE, BUT IS IT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE NEEDLE? LET'S BRING IN EXPERTS TO BREAK DOWN WHAT WE KNOW. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. FROM THE EXIT POLL DATA THAT YOU SEEN SO FAR, WHAT IS STANDING OUT TO YOU, AND ARE YOU SEEING SIGNS THAT THIS CAN BE A GOOD NIGHT FOR NIKKI HALEY WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IT IS STILL EARLY? >> WELL, IT IS STILL VERY EARLY. WE CONDUCT THE POLLING HERE AND I'LL BE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT IF YOU TRY TO PREDICT WHAT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS ARE GOING TO DO, IT'S A FOOLS ERRAND. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT SOME OF THAT EXIT POLLING CAN BE SKEWED BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS A CERTAIN OPINION GOES TO WORK EARLY AND THEY GET EXIT POLLS, SO WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS BEEN SENDING OUT MORE REPUBLICAN BALLOTS TO SOME OF THE TOWNS THAT HAVE RUN OUT WHICH SHOWS GREAT INTEREST IN THIS ELECTION AND VOTER TURNOUT LEVELS MIGHT BE EXCEEDED. WE DO KNOW -- >> CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? >> SO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S BEEN SENDING OUT BALLOTS TO MORE TOWNS, REPUBLICAN BALLOTS, WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU EXPECTED A CERTAIN NUMBER, IT'S A CERTAIN NUMBER PLUS ANOTHER. THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY POINT TO ONE CANDIDATE OR ANOTHER BUT SHOWS THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS ARE ENGAGED IN THE SELECTION AND ARE COMING OUT TO THE POLLS. >> HIGHER TURNOUT, DOES THAT TELL US ANYTHING? >> IT MEANS THAT POTENTIALLY, A LOT OF UNDECLARED VOTERS ARE GOING TO THE POLLS, BECAUSE YOU'D BE GOING AND DECLARING AS A REPUBLICAN AND THE POLLING SITE WAS NOT NECESSARILY READY FOR THAT NUMBER COMING IN. IT COULD SHOW THAT MORE UNDECLARED VOTERS ARE COMING IN AND MORE ARE MOTIVATED TO GO TO THE POLLS. >> WE ARE PULLING WHATEVER DATA POINTS WE CAN AND THE VOTES MATTER AT THE END AND WE WILL REPORT THAT AND PROJECT THAT. THE POLLS, GOING INTO THIS TONIGHT, THEY WERE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME? >> I DON'T. I SEE IT IS A STRONG NIGHT FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAVING RECORD BREAKING TURNOUT. PROBABLY 75,000 MORE VOTES THAN BEFORE. IF VOTERS ARE ENGAGED, I THINK IT'S A GREAT NIGHT FOR DONALD TRUMP, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT UNDECLARED VOTERS ARE DOING. I THINK THEY ARE HYPER EXCITED ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN AND THERE ARE TWO PRIMARIES IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BECAUSE TRUMP IS SO STRONG FOR NIKKI HALEY HAS STRENGTHENED UNDECLARED VOTERS. IT COMES DOWN TO HOW MANY ARE SHOWING UP TO VOTE AND ARE THEY SHOWING UP FOR NIKKI HALEY WITH LARGE ENOUGH NUMBERS TO OVERCOME DONALD TRUMP'S STRENGTH AMONG REPUBLICAN VOTERS? >> DID NIKKI HALEY DO ANYTHING WRONG IN THE LEAD UP TO THE SELECTION? COULD SHE HAVE DONE MORE IN THE PRIMARY STATE? >> SHE COULD HAVE DONE MORE. SHE SHOULD HAVE OPENED HERSELF UP MORE TO INDEPENDENT VOTERS. SHE SUCCESSFULLY AT TOWN HALL MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE LAST 10 MONTHS. SHE STOPPED ABOUT 14 DAYS AGO. SHE SHOULD'VE CONTINUED AND HAD DEBATES WITH RON DESANTIS. I DON'T THINK SHE EVER TOOK THE MANTLE OF THE INSURGENT CANDIDATE THE WAY SHE SHOULD HAVE. YOU HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND THAT MEANS TOWN HALL MEETINGS, DEBATE, OPENING YOURSELF UP TO THE MEDIA, REGULAR PRESS CONFERENCES, USING THE MEDIA AS A RESOURCE TO REACH INDEPENDENT VOTERS. THAT'S WHAT SHE COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB OF. >> BEFORE WE GO, TALK TO SOME OF THE COUNTIES YOU'RE WATCHING IN THE LEAD UP TO POLLS CLOSING. ARE YOU WATCHING FOR AN UPSET? >> THE FIRST POLLS TO CLOSE WILL BE CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OUR CAPITAL CITY. THOSE CLOSE AT 7:00, BUT IT'S MORE OF A LIBERAL AREA. IT COULD BE THAT NIKKI HALEY SHOWS UP WELL IN THE EARLY DATA, BUT I WOULD WATCH THAT, GOING FORWARD. >> I'M SURE WE WILL CHECK IN LATER. >>> THE POLLS ARE STILL OPEN AND OUR DECISION DESK IS WORKING HARD. WE HAVE CORRESPONDENCE ACROSS THE GRANITE STATE. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN OUR ENTIRE ELECTION NIGHT IS THIS GUY, RIGHT HERE. THEY HELP US TO UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHEN TO CALL A WINNER. EXPLAIN HOW WE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO PROJECT WINNERS. JOHN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? >> YEAH, WELL, LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY, BEFORE WE MAKE ANY PROJECTION, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE CONFIDENT. WE HAVE A STANDARD. WE CAN'T BE WRONG, SO IT'S BEEN HIGHER THAN THAT. WE ARE POURING THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DATA. WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE ARE DOING EXIT POLLING, AND WE'VE INTERVIEWED OVER 2000 PEOPLE. WE WILL PROBABLY GET OVER 3000, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. WE WILL REPORT OUT MORE ON IT, BUT IN REALITY, WHEN WE ARE MAKING THESE PROJECTIONS, WE USE STATISTICAL MODELS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CONFIDENT AND IF THERE'S A HUGE THREAT, IN REALITY, WE USE DATA AND ARE POURING OVER THAT. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS INSTANCES OF HOW QUICKLY WE CAN CALL A RACE BEING DEPENDENT ON HOW CLOSE A RACE IS. WE ARE ABLE TO CALL IT, AND MORE IMPORTANT, WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT DATA, WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE DATA FROM ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PLACES. WE WANT DATA FROM PLACES THAT ARE HIGH REPUBLICAN, HIGH DEMOCRAT, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE HISTORIC DATA THAT'S OUT THERE. WE ARE MAKING COMPARISONS TO PAST ELECTIONS AND WE PUT INTO DOZENS OF DIFFERENT STATISTICAL MODELS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT MODEL AFTER MODEL. WHEN WE ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AGREES, THAT'S WHEN WE PUT THAT CHECK MARK IN. YOU ARE SEEING MY DECISION, THERE'S A LOT OF DEEP KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE THOSE PROJECTIONS. >> WE ARE PREDICTING A RECORD TURNOUT, UPWARDS OF 330,000. HOW DOES THAT AFFECT WHEN YOU CAN MAKE A PROJECTION CALL? >> IT'S NOT HOW MANY PEOPLE VOTED, HOW MANY OF THOSE WE ACTUALLY GET IN, AND EVEN THOUGH WE USE MODELS TO FIGURE OUT THAT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLY BUT I CAN CONFIRM FROM STATISTICAL MODELS THAT WE ARE RUNNING, THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME OF THAT TURNOUT. >> JOHN, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND WE WILL CHECK BACK IN THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. POLLS ARE CLOSING IN ABOUT AN HOUR. OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE CONTINUES, RIGHT AFTER THIS. >>> INSIDE IRAN. >> INSIDE ISRAEL. >> THIS IS WHAT A COUNTRY AT WAR LOOKS LIKE. >> WHAT IS IT LIKE? >> COUNTLESS NEIGHBORHOODS DESTROYED, ACROSS THE REGION. >> EVERYBODY GOOD? >>> WELCOME BACK. WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS. MIKE MEMOLI JOINS US NOW WITH A SHAKEUP IN THE BIDEN RE-ELECT CAMPAIGN TEAM. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? >> ACCORDING TO TWO SOURCES FAMILIAR, JEN O'MALLEY, PART OF THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, IS MOVING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND TO THE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO WHAT ONE SOURCE TELLS US IS THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICAN RACE HAS ENDED SO QUICKLY. THEY ARE NOW TAKING THESE STEPS AT IN EARLIER STAGE. I'M TOLD THAT RODRIGUEZ IS THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER STILL, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SHE WAS BIDEN'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER IN THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION AND HAS BEEN COORDINATING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STRATEGY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. THIS SPEAKS TO THE KIND OF ADVICE THAT FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS GIVING TO PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE THE SENIOR ADVISERS, IN WILMINGTON, AT CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE MORE QUICKLY AND SEAMLESSLY. IT IS A SHAKEUP OF THE CAMPAIGN AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CRITICISM OF THE BIDEN TEAM FOR NOT NECESSARILY SHOWING THE KIND OF URGENCY IN THEIR PLANNING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION THAT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS FEEL ABOUT THIS RACE >>> CERTAINLY AN INDICATION OF THE CONCERNS THAT ARE HELD AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN HIMSELF. >> MIKE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING. FORMER OBAMA AND BIDEN CAMPAIGN MANAGER DAVID FLUFF JOINS US NOW. HOW CAN WE INTERPRET THIS? WE HEARD MIKE'S REPORTING. IS THIS A CONCERN FOR THE BIDEN TEAM YOU NEED TO SHAKE THINGS UP AND START TO GET SERIOUS AS WE APPROACH NOVEMBER >> I THINK THAT MEANS THAT WE'VE GOT TO ACCELERATE THE PLAN. IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY CLOSE RACE, A POINT OR TWO OR THREE IN SIX OR SEVEN STATES. JAN IS ONE OF THE BEST OPERATIVES, SO I'M PERSONALLY THRILLED SHE'S MAKING THE SACRIFICE. SHE'S GOT A YOUNG FAMILY. WASHINGTON IS NOT THAT FAR FROM WILMINGTON, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I THINK ALL OF US THAT ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T GET ANOTHER TERM IN THE OVAL OFFICE, IT'S GOOD NEWS. >> MIKE WAS REPORTING ON CRITICISM THE BIDEN REELECT TEAM HAD GOTTEN IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THIS MOMENT. IF YOU WERE ADVISING PRESIDENT BIDEN, WOULD YOU HAVE TOLD HIM TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS? >> WHAT I DON'T THINK WORKS IN POLITICS IS LIKE IN BASEBALL. YOU CAN'T HAVE THREE SHORTSTOPS. EVEN TALENTED PEOPLE IN THE WRONG ROLE DOES NOT WORK. AS LONG AS THEY'RE BEING INSURED WHO THEY ARE ABOUT THE ROLE THEY ARE GOING TO PLAY AND I'M SURE SHE'S NOT THE LAST ONE WHO COMES TO WILMINGTON BECAUSE YOU WANT A CAMPAIGN TO BE FULLY EMPOWERED TO MAKE 90 TO 95% OF THE DECISIONS. >> THIS RACE WILL TAKE SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS. LAST WEEK THE CONVERSATION WAS IF THE PRESIDENT COULD WIN THIS ELECTION AND A NEW POLL COMES OUT, THE CONSUMER SENTIMENT AND IT CAME UP A LOT FROM DECEMBER. HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THOSE ECONOMIC NUMBERS WILL PLAY INTO THE PRESIDENT'S FAVOR AS WE MOVE CLOSER TO NOVEMBER AND IF THE ECONOMY GETS ON BETTER FOOTING, WILL HIS POLL NUMBERS SLOWLY CREEP UP? >> OF COURSE, IT'S HELPFUL, BUT I ENCOURAGE FULL PATIENCE. WE HAVE ABOUT A THOUSAND LIFETIMES BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN PEOPLE START VOTING IN EARLY TO MID-OCTOBER. YEAH. THERE'S SOME SENSE -- I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S HAPPENED AND THE QUESTION IS CAN THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN CAPITALIZE ON IT -- YOU SAW A GOOD NUMBER OF IOWA CAUCUSSERS NOT CHOOSING THE PRESIDENT AND I THINK YOU'LL BE NORTH OF 45% TONIGHT. THAT'S A TARGET RICH ENVIRONMENT TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU CAN PULL NOT MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE. MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE COME HOME TO TRUMP. STATISTICS DON'T MATTER IN THE ECONOMY. THE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE MIGHT BE AN OUTLIER, HOW PEOPLE FEEL. IF THEY FEEL MORE SECURE, BUT, OF COURSE, ONE OF TRUMP'S GREAT STRENGTHS IS PEOPLE REMEMBER '19, PRECOVID, THEY FELT PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE ECONOMY. JOE BIDEN HAS TO AT LEAST GET TO EVEN ON QUESTIONS OF THE ECONOMY AND QUESTIONS LIKE DEMOCRACY CHOICE ARE ADDITIONAL ISSUES WHERE THEY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE. >> THE ECONOMY AND IMMIGRATION, IS THERE ENOUGH TIME FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF VICTORY WHEN IT COMES TO THE BORDER OR HAS THAT BATTLE BEEN LOST? >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DEAL WITH REAL MATH AND REAL FACTS. OVER THE LAST DECADES BORDER CROSSINGS HAVE INCREASED AND THERE'S VERY SOPHISTICATED MODELING TO SHOW WHAT WE CAN EXPECT, SO THAT PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE. HIGHER UNDER TRUMP THAN OBAMA, HIGHER NOW. I THINK THE QUESTION IS WILL REPUBLICANS ON THE HILL MEET JOE BIDEN AND CREATE A DEAL? IF NOT, I THINK THEY'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME EXECUTIVE ORDERS. I THINK THE BORDER IS BOTH A REAL PROBLEM AND POLITICAL PROBLEM, NO QUESTION. >> YOU HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC MAYORS IN MAJOR CITIES CALLING OUT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE WHITE HOUSE, TRYING TO GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO GET MORE FUNDING. DO YOU THINK THOSE PROBLEMS AND DISCUSSIONS GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY GET ON THE SAME PAGE OR IS THAT GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE PRESIDENT? >> NO. I THINK IF THOSE MAYORS BELIEVE REAL EFFORT IS BEING PUT FORTH TO SLOW THE INFLUX INTO THE CITY AND GIVING EXPEDITED WORK PERMITS TO GET PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU THINK OF THE SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF MILWAUKEE, OUTSIDE OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, IN MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA, THAT IS UPSTATE ON THE BORDER. I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY VOTES WILL BE DRIVEN BECAUSE AGAIN, I'VE SPENT ENOUGH TIME IN POLITICS AND HAD A MILLION REPORTERS ASK ME THAT'S A POLITICAL PROBLEM AND MY ANSWER IS IF SOMEBODY IS GOING TO VOTE DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY WERE GOING TO VOTE, THAT'S A POLITICAL PROBLEM. I THINK THE ECONOMY IS A MUCH MORE SALIENT ISSUE. >> WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NBC'S GARRETT HAAKE JOINS US FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS IN NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHERE TEAM TRUMP IS AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THIS SECOND WAVE EVENT AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS LOOKING PROMISING FOR NIKKI HALEY. IT'S VERY EARLY. >> Reporter: YEAH. I HEARD TRUMP STICK HIS HEAD INTO THE BALLROOM A MINUTE AGO, THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ASKING US IF WE HAD HEARD, BUT IT'S ALWAYS A BIT OF A GUESSING GAME. EARLY DATA IS NOTORIOUSLY UNRELIABLE. IT'S LIKE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A PUZZLE AND YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THE PICTURE. ALL YOU HAVE IS THE PIECES. YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO KNOWS WHAT AND WHEN. THE TRUMP TEAM IS LOOKING AT A SIMILARLY MODELED PICTURE AS WE ARE. DONALD TRUMP WAS VERY CONFIDENT TODAY WHEN HE TALKED TO OUR REPORTERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, EARLIER TODAY OUTSIDE A POLLING PLACE AND WE TALKED A BIT ABOUT THE GENERAL ELECTION. I'VE BEEN STRUCK LISTENING TO SOME OF THESE COMMENTS HERE, CHANGES ON THE BIDEN TEAM ABOUT THE WAY THESE CAMPAIGNS ARE POSTURING NOW TOWARDS NOVEMBER. I'VE BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON THESE VOTERS WHO I KEEP TALKING TO IN IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE WHO ARE TRUMP VOTERS IN '16 AND IN '20 BUT SAY THEY CANNOT BE TRUMP VOTERS AGAIN. EITHER THEY'RE DEAD COMMITTED TO NOT VOTING FOR TRUMP OR THEY'RE SORT OF ON THE FENCE. THEY MIGHT LEAVE THE TOP LINE BLANK IF IT'S TRUMP AND BIDEN. I ASKED THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHAT'S YOUR STRATEGY TO GET THEM BACK. LET'S LISTENO THAT EXCHANGE. >> Reporter: YOU TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO UNIFY THE PARTY. HOW DO YOU BRING NIKKI HALEY VOTERS, SOME OF WHO VOTED FOR YOU IN 2020, HOW DO YOU BRING THEM BACK IN THE TENT? >> THEY'RE GOING TO ALL VOTE FOR ME AGAIN, EVERYBODY. I'M NOT SURE WE NEED TOO MANY. BIDEN IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY, BUT THEY'RE ALL COMING BACK AND I THINK YOU SEE THAT HERE. >> Reporter: HE BASICALLY SAID THREE THINGS THERE, ONE THEY'RE ALL GOING TO VOTE FOR ME. I DON'T THINK ANY DATA SUPPORTS THAT. THE SECOND IS THE IDEA IT'S ABOUT JOE BIDEN ND THE IDEA BIDEN WOULD BE THE MOTIVATING FACTOR TO BRING THESE REPUBLICANS BACK INTO THE TENT AND THE THIRD IN HIS MIND IS THE TRUTH HE DOESN'T THINK HE NEEDS THESE VOTERS. WITH DONALD TRUMP IT'S PROBABLY TO A LESSER DEGREE THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN BELIEVES THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO STRATEGY THAT HAS ALWAYS WORKED FOR THEM IN PRIMARIES AND ONCE IN A GENERAL ELECTION, WHICH IS TO MAXIMALLY JUICE THE TURNOUT OF HIS MOST COMMITTED FOLLOWERS, PERHAPS TO THE DETRIMENT OF EVERY OTHER SORT OF GROUP OF VOTERS AND THAT COULD BE ENOUGH TO PUSH THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. IN THE CONTEXT OF EVERYTHING WE'RE SEEING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ABOUT JOE BIDEN APPARENTLY CHANGING VIEWS HERE TO PREPARE FOR NOVEMBER. I THINK IT'S A VERY TELLING ANSWER FROM THE FORMER PRESIDENT. >> I WANT YOUR TAKE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REPORTING THE TRUMP TEAM HAS SORT OF PRESSURED REPUBLICANS OR PUT THE HEAT ON THEM TO SORT OF COALESCE AND COME AROUND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE WIN IN IOWA. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COME AROUND, ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS, FORMER RIVALS AND WE HAD THIS STATEMENT FROM THE RNC CHAIR BEFORE WE CAME ON THE AIR ESSENTIALLY SAYING IF TRUMP WINS TONIGHT, THE PARTY IS TO RALLY AROUND HIM AND SUPPORT HIM AND ONLY TWO STATES HAVE VOTED. WHAT HAPPENED TO OTHER RESOURCES IN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN? IS THIS SOMETHING YOU'VE SEEN A HUSHED CAMPAIGN THAT'S GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER, ALMOST A SHOUTING CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE REPUBLICANS GET BEHIND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP? >> Reporter: OH, YEAH, TOM. THERE'S NOTHING HUSHED ABOUT IT NOW. I THINK THIS STARTED IN THE LEADUP TO IOWA, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN MAKING IT CLEAR TO LAWMAKERS ON THE FENCE THAT THE TIME WAS NOW AND TRUMP WILL REMEMBER WHO WAS WITH HIM AND WHO WASN'T WITH HIM. DONALD TRUMP IS SOMEBODY WHO CARRIES AROUND A LOT OF THOSE MEMORIES AND GRUDGES OF PEOPLE HE THINKS HAVE BEEN EITHER DISLOYAL, UNSATISFACTORILY PUBLICLY DEFENDING HIM OR PUBLICLY LOYAL AND HIS CAMPAIGN UPPED THAT PRESSURE IN PUBLIC AND CERTAINLY IN PRIVATE. THEY TRIED TO AMPLIFY THEIR ENDORSEMENTS FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES WHO GOT OUT OF THIS RACE LIKE DOUG BURGUM AND TIM SCOTT, VIVEK RAMASWAMY WHO HAS BECOME A PRETTY ENERGETIC SURROGATE FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT. THE RONNA RNC IS AT SOME POINT GOING TO BECOME VERY TIGHTLY CONNECTED WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. YOU'RE NOT LONG OFF FROM A JOINT FUNDRAISING AGREEMENT AND FROM THE TIME IN WHICH THE CANDIDATE, DE FACTO NOMINEE DEPENDING WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS BECOMES ENMESHED WITH THE RNC IN A SERIOUS WAY. I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT CAN'T BE PART OF RONNA McDANIELS' STATEMENT TONIGHT SAYING LOOK, WE'RE ALL MOVING THIS DIRECTION, EVEN HER. >> EVEN SHE COULD BE SURPRISED TONIGHT. ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING. >>> WE JUST PASSED THE 6:00 P.M. HOUR ON THE EAST COAST. WE ARE LESS THAN TWO HOURS FROM FINAL POLL CLOSINGS AND POSSIBLY A PROJECTION AND OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE RESULTS. POLL LOCATIONS ARE PACKED WITH THE CRITICAL AFTER WORK AS PEOPLE RUSH TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD BEFORE POLLS CLOSE. WILL THE VOTERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE DELIVER AN UPSET VICTORY TO AN UNDERDOG CANDIDATE OR CHOOSE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP YET AGAIN? FORMER U.N. AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY, THE LAST CHALLENGER STANDING, BUT A LOSS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE EARLY STATE WHERE SHE HAS THE STRONGEST CHANCE OF WINNING, COULD BE LETHAL FOR HER CAMPAIGN. THE FORMER PRESIDENT ON THE TRAIL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SAYING HE'S READY TO WRAP THIS UP AND MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION. WHAT'S AT STAKE TONIGHT, NEW HAMPSHIRE'S 22 DELEGATES AND MOMENTUM. OUR REPORTERS ARE ACROSS THE STATE TALKING TO VOTERS AND AT BOTH CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS FOR THE WATCH PARTIES. ONE OF THEM WILL BE WITH A VICTORY WATCH PARTY. CHUCK TODD IS AT THE BIG BOARD STANDING BY TO BREAK DOWN RESULTS AS THEY COME IN, BUT FIRST I WANT TO GET BACK TO OUR HALLIE JACKSON AT A POLLING SITE IN BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE'VE BEEN TALKING OVER THE LAST HOUR AND TEN MINUTES. WE HAVE SOME EXIT POLL DATA, BUT IT'S STILL EARLY. YOU SPENT SOME TIME WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHAT WERE YOU PICKING UP ON? >> Reporter: THE QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS REALLY CRITICAL BLOCK OF UNDECLARED VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. IN BEDFORD YOU CAN SEE IT, ABOUT 50 MINUTES LEFT BEFORE POLLS CLOSE AT THIS SITE. IT HAS BEEN PACKED ALL DAY, A STEADY STREAM OF PEOPLE. I WANT TO BRING YOU INSIDE. AS WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THE EXIT POLLING, IT SUGGESTS A MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN LEANING VOTERS HERE ARE LOOKING TO SEE ONE OF THEM IN THE WHITE HOUSE ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE. THIS IS THE LINE WHERE PEOPLE QUEUE UP AND CAST THEIR BALLOT. WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD HERE AND WHAT I'VE HEARD TALKING TO VOTERS, IT OBVIOUSLY DEPENDS ON WHICH. NIKKI HALEY VOTERS TELL ME IN MANY INSTANCES THEY SIMPLY CANNOT COST A BALLOT FOR DONALD TRUMP. I'VE ALSO HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHE IS YOUNGER, THE GENERATIONAL CHANGE ARGUMENT THAT HALEY HAS BEEN MAKING, THAT SHE SEEMS TO HAVE MORE ENERGY. THAT IS ANOTHER FACTOR. AS FOR SUPPORTERS OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU'LL HEAR FROM ONE IN A SECOND. IT TENDS TO BE ABOUT WANTING TO GET HIM BACK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE. THEY LIKED WHAT HE DID IN 2016 AND WANT TO SEE THAT AGAIN NOW. I'M BRINGING YOU OVER TO THE WHITE BOARD. ABOUT 7,000 PEOPLE HAVE TURNED OUT TO VOTE AT THIS LOCATION SO FAR. THE MAJORITY OF THEM, OF COURSE, REPUBLICAN. THIS IS A RED LEANING TOWN HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. OUT OF ABOUT 15,000 REGISTERED VOTERS IN ALL, SO ROUGHLY MAYBE A 50% TURNOUT HERE OR THERE WITH AGAIN 50 MINUTES UNTIL POLLS CLOSE. IT'S UNDECLARED VOTERS THAT HAVE THE EDGE IN VOTER REGISTRATION HERE. THIS IS ONE OF THE INTERESTING TOWNS TO LOOK AT TO SEE HOW IS NIKKI HALEY DOING HERE? I'M GOING TO WALK BACK OUTSIDE. IS SHE ABLE TO GET A MAJORITY OF VOTERS OR WILL IT BE PEOPLE CASTING BALLOTS FOR DONALD TRUMP, PEOPLE LIKE JEN. YOU JUST VOTED. >> YES, I DID. >> Reporter: ARE YOU REGISTERED? >> I'M A REPUBLICAN. >> Reporter: WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR TODAY? >> DONALD TRUMP. >> Reporter: WHY? >> BECAUSE I THINK HE HAS A GOOD TRACK RECORD. I THINK HE'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT PRESIDENT AND I'M HOPING HE CAN GET THE BORDER CRISIS UNDER CONTROL AGAIN. >> Reporter: DID YOU ENTERTAIN ANY OTHER CANDIDATES? DID YOU EVER CONSIDER ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS BEEN IN THIS RACE? >> I DID CONSIDER NIKKI HALEY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I DECIDED TO GO WITH TRUMP. >> Reporter: BECAUSE OF THE REASONS YOU LAID OUT? >> YES AND JUST BECAUSE I WASN'T TOO FAMILIAR WITH NIKKI HALEY'S TRACK RECORD. >> Reporter: WHO DO YOU WANT TO SEE IF, IN FACT, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT? >> MAYBE NIKKI HALEY. >> Reporter: WILL YOU BE BEHIND THAT? >> I THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY COOL, FEMALE VICE PRESIDENT. >> Reporter: JEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR CHATTING WITH US. I'LL LET YOU GET ON YOUR WAY. YOU'VE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS GOING DOWN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE LEDGER BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE CONTESTED SITUATION IS, TOM. YOU HEARD IT THERE. THIS IS A SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND AS YOU HEARD GARRETT LAY OUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FEELING HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC. WE'LL SEE. >> WE'RE BACK AT THE BIG BOARD WITH NBC NEWS CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST CHUCK TODD, WHO JOINS US NOW. YOU'VE BEEN TELLING ME THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. THE VOTERS IN IOWA AND VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VOTERS. TALK TO US ABOUT THE BIGGEST SPLIT. >> HOW ABOUT EVANGELICALS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, ONE OF THE LEAST SORT OF RELIGIOUS STATES IN THE UNION. 81% OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS DO NOT IDENTIFY AS EVANGELICAL. 19 DO. IN IOWA THE YES WAS 55 AND THE NOT EVANGELICAL WAS 45. SO THERE'S ONE MASSIVE DIFFERENCE IN HOW THIS IS, BUT IT ISN'T JUST IN EVANGELICALS. WE CAN GO TO THE MAGA MOVEMENT, FOR INSTANCE. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 64% SAID THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT. IN IOWA IT WAS 50% THAT SAID NO. AGAIN, YOU SEE A MUCH MORE MODERATE ELECTORATE, A LESS TRUMP ELECTORATE, WHICH IS THE RECIPE SHE NEEDS TO PULL THIS OFF. OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER THING WE'VE LOOKED AT IS THINGS LIKE THIS. IF TRUMP IS CONVICTED, IS HE FIT TO BE PRESIDENT? 50% SAID YES. IN IOWA THAT NUMBER WAS 65. REMEMBER THE BASIC SPREAD IN IOWA. >> RIG 52. >> HALEY WAS IN THE MID-20s. >> IT'S A SINGLE DIGIT SPLIT. >> THERE WAS DATA COMING IN BASICALLY ABOUT IDEOLOGY AMONGST THE GOP PRIMARY VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHEN WE FIRST GOT IN DATA, THIS IS EXIT POLL DATA SECOND WAVE AND IT SHOWED THAT SIX IN TEN NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICANS IDENTIFY AS CONSERVATIVE. YOU WERE SAYING THERE'S A CAVEAT HERE. >> THERE IS. LOOK, WHEN SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE OUTNUMBERS VERY CONSERVATIVE IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, THAT'S USUALLY ADVANTAGE MODERATE, ADVANTAGE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WING, WHICHEVER YOU WANT TO SAY. FOR INSTANCE, IN IOWA THE VERY CONSERVATIVE NUMBER WAS 51, VERY CONSERVATIVE NUMBER. SO YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ELECTORATE. >> THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT'S GOING TO TRUMP IF SOMEONE IS CONSERVATIVE. >> EXACTLY. EITHER ONE SHE'S GOT TO WIN BY DOUBLE DIGITS AND OBVIOUSLY THOSE SELF-DESCRIBED LIBERALS ARE SO -- IDEOLOGICALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I WANT TO CAUTION I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THOSE INDEPENDENT VOTERS. THEY'RE SO HARD TO POLL. THE FORMULA IS SO -- I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN PAT BUCHANAN WAS BEATING GEORGE H.W. BUSH AND GEORGE H.W. BUSH WON BY DOUBLE DIGITS. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH AS MUCH AS THIS DATA CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE A COMPETITIVE RACE, YOU ALWAYS GOT TO BE A LITTLE EXTRA CAREFUL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> THE POLLSTER OUT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SAID A LOT OF THE EARLY EXIT POLL DATA MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE LATER EXIT POLL, PEOPLE GETTING OFF WORK, COMING IN LATE. >> THERE USED TO BE A THEORY THAT THE PERSON THAT COULDN'T VOTE UNTIL AFTER WORK WAS MORE LIKELY A WORKING CLASS VOTER, OKAY? WHO'S THE WORKING CLASS VOTING CANDIDATE? IN THIS CASE THAT WOULD BE DONALD TRUMP. IN THEORY, HE'S GETTING THE LATE DECIDERS. THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC VOTER IS USUALLY THE FIRST ONE AT THE POLLS. THERE IS WHY SOMETIMES YOU SEE THIS OVERSTATEMENT IN EXITS. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO GOT THERE EARLY. THE VOTER AFTER 5:00 IS SOMEBODY OUR EXITS HAVEN'T CAPTURED YET. >> YOU HAVE SOME DATA ON THE MAGA VOTE. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT? >> I THINK WE JUST DID. WE SHOWED THAT EARLIER. IT IS A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE. 64% ARE NOT A MEMBER OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT. >> THESE ARE GOP VOTERS. >> THESE ARE NEW HAMPSHIRE GOP VOTERS, TOM. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTORATE IS THE SINGLE LEAST CONSERVATIVE ELECTORATE WE WILL SEE ALL YEAR LONG, BUT FOR MAYBE VIRGINIA. >> THE POLLING EN MASSE ON DONALD TRUMP WE TALKED ABOUT IN IOWA, DONALD TRUMP ALWAYS POLLS BETTER THAN MAGA BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY I'M FOR DONALD TRUMP BUT NOT MAGA. >> THIS DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE SPLIT HERE AND HE DOES WELL WITH TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS. IN 2016 HE WASN'T. HE'S THE CANDIDATE BOTH OF TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS, WE WERE SHOWING YOU THAT BEFORE, TED CRUZ. HE HAS UNITED THE MORE TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS AND MARRIED THEM WITH HIS POPULOUS WORKING CLASS BASE AND THIS IS HIS VERSION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. HALEY IS TRYING TO USE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WING PLUS THE MODERATES AND DISAPPOINTED LEFT LEANING INDEPENDENTS. IT'S NOT A WAY TO WIN A NOMINATION, BUT IT'S A WAY TO WIN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. >> CHUCK, WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU. WE'LL TAKE A SHORT WALK HERE AND CHECK IN ON OUR PANEL MAKING SURE THEY'RE WORKING. YOU GUYS WORKING? >> ALWAYS WORKING. WE'LL COME OVER HERE TO TALK TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY, CHRIS EGGER, WHO JOINS US LIVE HERE ON OUR SPECIAL. MR. SHERMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. I WANT YOUR REACTION TO THIS QUOTE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. SHE PUT THIS OUT BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. I WANTED YOUR TAKE ON IT. THIS IS RNC CHAIRWOMAN RONNA McDANIEL WHO SAID IF PRESIDENT TRUMP COMES OUT STRONG TONIGHT, THAT'S A CLEAR MESSAGE SENT FROM ALL PRIMARY VOTERS AND SAYS REPUBLICANS KNOW THAT IF WE'RE NOT UNITED AS A PARTY BEHIND OUR NOMINEE, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO BEAT BIDEN. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS? ESSENTIALLY IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE WAS TRYING TO POSSIBLY INFLUENCE THE VOTE EVEN BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> WELL, THE POLLS DON'T CLOSE UNTIL 7:00 HERE, THE REST OF THEM AT 8:00. WE'VE GOT TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE UNTIL THEN. I DON'T THINK SHE WAS TRYING TO PUT HER TOE ON THE SCALE AT ALL. IT'S JUST KIND OF FACTUAL THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A VERY FRIENDLY STATE FOR SOMEONE LIKE NIKKI HALEY TO MOUNT A VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN AND SO IF SHE CAN DO WELL HERE, THEN GAME ON FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AND SUPER TUESDAY. IF NOT, THEN PERHAPS A CAMPAIGN WOULD REASSESS IF THEY CAN'T WIN HERE IN A VERY FAVORABLE LOCATION, MAYBE THEY SHOULD REASSESS. SO I THINK WE'VE GOT TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE AND HEN AFTER THAT EACH CAMPAIGN CAN ASSESS WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. >> I WANT YOUR TAKE AND A SOLID ANSWER ON IF YOU WERE UPSET SHE DID THIS BECAUSE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS TALKED ABOUT THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED, A CORRUPT SYSTEM, AND IT SOUNDED LIKE HERE THERE WAS ALMOST SOMEBODY TRYING TO SORT OF PUT THEIR HAND ON THE SCALE A BIT IN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FAVOR AND THAT'S NOT WHAT NEW HAMPSHIRE SAYS THEY'RE ABOUT. CORRECT? >> OH, YEAH. PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY LITTLE INFLUENCED BY WHAT PEOPLE SAY, ESPECIALLY OUT OF STATE. OUR GOVERNOR HAS BEEN PROMOTING NIKKI HALEY WHICH HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DO IN HIS POSITION, ABOUT BUT IT'S REALLY THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR POSITION THAT AFFECT THE VOTERS HERE. THE ELECTORATE MAKES UP THEIR OWN MIND BASED ON WHAT THEY SEE FROM THEIR CANDIDATES. I DON'T THINK THE VOTERS PUT ANY STOCK IN HER COMMENTS WHATSOEVER. I DON'T THINK SHE WAS TRYING TO PUT HER TOE ON THE SCALE. SHE KNOWS NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS AND THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT COULD IMPACT ANY VOTERS AT ALL. >> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE YOU NOTICE BETWEEN 2016 AND 2024 AS FAR AS PRIMARY VOTERS AND THE GOP ARE CONCERNED? FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WON THAT PRIMARY BY A LARGE AMOUNT BEATING JOHN KASICH AND EVERYONE ELSE STILL LEFT IN THE FIELD. WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND? >> I THINK THIS TIME WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS HE HAD A TRACK RECORD OF WHAT HE DID WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE. SO WE KNOW WHAT HE'LL DO WHILE HE'S IN OFFICE, GOOD, BAD, INDIFFERENT. WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. THE SECOND THING IS WE SAW THE BORDER AND THE POLICIES THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD ELIMINATED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP PUT IN PLACE AND THE IMPACT OF THOSE. SO WE KNOW THAT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID WORKED AND PRESIDENT BIDEN REVERSED IT. SO THERE'S A VERY, VERY BIG MOTIVATION TO RETIRE JOE BIDEN AND LET HIM RETIRE OUT HIS LAST SENIOR YEARS, NOT IN THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT ENJOYING HIMSELF. SO THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO GET RID OF JOE BIDEN. THEY KNOW WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ALL ABOUT AND NIKKI HALEY, THEY'RE GETTING TO LEARN WHAT SHE'S ABOUT. SO WE'VE GOT A GREAT CHOICE BETWEEN TWO REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES AND MAY THE BEST PERSON WIN AND AFTER THAT REASSESS THE CAMPAIGN, FIGURE OUT WHO WE'LL GET BEHIND AS TIME GOES ON AND WIN IN NOVEMBER. NUMBER ONE CRITERIA FOR THE ELECTORATE HERE, WE NEED TO WIN IN NOVEMBER TO RESTORE SOME SANITY IN ASHINGTON AND THE WHITE HOUSE. >> YOU DID MENTION THE CURRENT PRESIDENT'S AGE. I DO HAVE TO ASK YOU NIKKI HALEY HAS BEEN ATTACKING THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S AGE AS BEING TOO OLD. IS THAT AN ATTACK POINT YOU THINK WILL RESONATE WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS? >> Reporter: I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE SATURDAY AT A RALLY PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTRIC. HE STOOD FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES, DIDN'T TAKE A SIP OF WATER, DIDN'T MISS A BEAT, NOT A SINGLE FLUB. PRESIDENT BIDEN CAN'T GET PAST TWO SENTENCES WITHOUT A FLUB. HE WENT AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES, ENGAGED WITH THE CROWD. HE LOOKED VERY, VERY HEALTHY. WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE ON AGE. IT'S ABOUT THEIR CAPABILITY AND PRESIDENT TRUMP LOOKED VERY, VERY FIT AND AGAIN, SO DOES NIKKI HALEY. SHE'S EXTREMELY FIT. SO WE'VE GOT TWO GOOD CANDIDATES. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR BEING ON OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. SPEAKING OF AGE, SPEAKING OF FLUBS, I WANT TO TALK TO OUR PANEL AND BRING UP SOME THINGS THAT DID HAPPEN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOME MAJOR FLUBS. HOGAN, THE FORMER PRESIDENT GOT A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION, NOT GREAT ATTENTION, WHEN HE CONFUSED COMPLETELY NIKKI HALEY'S NAME AND NANCY PELOSI'S NAME OVER AND OVER AGAIN OVER A FEW SENTENCES. HE GOT A LOT OF FLACK FOR THIS. WAS THAT FAIR OR A STUMBLE? >> SOME WOULD ARGUE THEY'RE NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT, BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION ALTOGETHER. NO. I JUST THINK THOSE THINGS ARE KIND OF THROW-AWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO THROW AT HIM BECAUSE BIDEN MAKES SO MANY MISTAKES ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE HE CAN'T WALK, HE CAN'T TALK, HE HAS THE QUESTIONS IN FRONT OF HIM, KNOWS WHAT REPORTERS TO CALL ON, HAS THE ANSWERS IN FRONT OF HIM. I THINK THE LEFT SAYS LOOK AT THIS. LOOK AT THIS. THIS GUY MADE A MISTAKE, TOO. I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS AT THIS POINT. BIDEN HAS A PRETTY HEFTY BODY OF WORK MAKING MISTAKES ON THE STUMP. >> I SHOULD INTRODUCE OUR PANEL GUESTS. TARA MATTHEWS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE. DO YOU THINK THE ATTACK LINE NIKKI HALEY HONED IN ON THE LAST TWO DAYS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BASICALLY SAYING TRUMP AND BIDEN ARE AROUND THE SAME AGE. WE NEED TO PUSH THE OLDER GENTLEMEN OUT AND MAKE ROOM FOR NEWER, YOUNGER BLOOD. >> YEAH. I THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAKING THAT ARGUMENT FOR A WHILE NOW. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN AGE ARGUMENT. YOU'VE GOT SOME DEMOCRATS LOOKING AT JOE BIDEN AND REALLY CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO BIDEN. YOU'VE GOT A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY THAT LOOK AT THIS POTENTIAL COMPETITION BETWEEN THESE TWO MEN AND SAY HOW IS THIS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY? ISN'T THE COUNTRY BETTER THAN THIS? SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH AGE, BUT A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO THAT DONALD TRUMP SAYS WHEN HE'S AT HIS MOST COHERENT SAYING, "I NEED I COMMUNITY SO I CAN COMMIT ALL THE CRIMES." THAT'S NOT SOMETHING HE SAID BY ACCIDENT, BUT IT'S SCARIER IF HE SAID IT ON PURPOSE. YOU LOOK AT JOE BIDEN, GETTING ACROSS THE STAGE, NOT KNOWING WHERE HE'S GOING WITH HIS RHETORIC SOMETIMES. THE COUNTRY LOOKS AT THE CONTEST AND IS DEPRESSED AND DISCOURAGED. LAST WEEK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WE TALKED TO VOTER AFTER VOTER AFTER VOTER WHO SAID HOW DID WE END UP WITH THIS AS OUR POTENTIAL CHOICE? >> SARAH MATTHEWS, YOU WORKED IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LIKE HOGAN DID. HAVE YOU NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP THAN WHEN YOU WORKED UNDER HIM? IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE HE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PARTY CALLING HIM ELECTRIC, DOES HE HAVE THE SAME ENERGY LEVEL SINCE YOU WORKED WITH HIM? >> I ACTUALLY WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT. I THINK HE'S KIND OF LOST HIS FASTBALL. WE HAVEN'T SEEN HIM ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL NEARLY AS MUCH, PARTLY BECAUSE HE HAS TO DEAL WITH ALL OF HIS TRIALS AND COURT CASES AND THEY'RE TRYING TO CONSERVE MONEY AND NOT HOLD AS MANY RALLIES, BUT I ALSO DO THINK HE DOESN'T HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH ENERGY AND DOES SEEM TO BE CONFUSED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THAT INSTANCE WITH HIM CONFUSING NIKKI HALEY AND NANCY PELOSI, THAT WAS NOT A SINGULAR INSTANCE OF HIM BEING CONFUSED. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE HE'S HAD MULTIPLE GAFFES LIKE THIS. HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST OBAMA. THAT NEVER HAPPENED OBVIOUSLY. HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HOW WE NEEDED TO STOP WORLD WAR II FROM HAPPENING, CONFUSING IT WITH THE POTENTIAL WORLD WAR III. THIS SHOWS THERE IS MAYBE SOME CONCERN WITH HIS MENTAL ACUTE. NIKKI HALEY SEEMS TO HAVE WAITED A LITTLE BIT TO FIRE THIS ATTACK AND BE AS AGGRESSIVE WITH IT UNTIL THE FINAL DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. IT WAS SOMETHING I WISH SHE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT UP SOONER. IT DOES APPEAR TRUMP HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY CONFUSED ON THE TRAIL. >> HOGAN, ON THE PART OF WORKING HARD ENOUGH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, DID HE WORK HARD ENOUGH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, DO YOU THINK? >> DONALD TRUMP? >> YEAH. >> LOOK, DONALD TRUMP WAS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND DOES HAVE A BODY OF WORK AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YES, HE HAS OTHER THINGS, TOO, WITH THE ONSLAUGHT OF THE WEAPONIZATION OF FREE LETTER AGENCIES AND HIS STAFF AND HAS TO FIGHT MULTIPLE WARS ON MULTIPLE FRONTS. HE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND SUCCEED IN SPITE OF IT. THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE AS A FORMER PRESIDENT, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THE SAME THINGS SOMEONE LIKE A RON DeSANTIS WOULD HAVE TO DO, ALL 99 COUNTIES OR SOMEONE LIKE A NIKKI HALEY WOULD HAVE TO DO, PLANT HER FLAG IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS HIM ALREADY. IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC FOR HIM. >> HAVE YOU BEEN SURPRISED WITH THE AMOUNT OF REPUBLICANS, EVEN ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS THAT WOULD NEVER CALL THEMSELVES THAT, ELECTED U.S. REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORS, GOVERNORS, WHO HAVE COME OUT AND SUPPORTED FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THOSE WHO WENT AGAINST HIM AND HAVE NOT ENDORSED OR SUPPORTED HIS RIVALS, CHRIS CHRISTIE, MIKE PENCE, OTHERS WHO STAYED QUIET AND NOT MAYBE HELP THEM, DO YOU THINK THOSE ENDORSEMENTS OF CHRISTIE OR PENCE WOULD HAVE HURT NIKKI HALEY AND WERE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT ALL THE OTHER REPUBLICANS COMING AROUND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AFTER JUST ONE CONTEST? >> NO. I THINK ENDORSEMENTS FROM THOSE CANDIDATES WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY HELPED HER. SHE'S MADE CLEAR SHE'S RUNNING AS THE TRUMP ALTERNATIVE. I THINK IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HELPED COALESCE THE TRUMP ALTERNATIVE. I AM A LITTLE SURPRISED AT SOME OF THE ELECTED REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO ENDORSE PRESIDENT TRUMP, IN PART BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD THEM BE SO CRITICAL OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT ON JANUARY 6th AND THE DAYS FOLLOWING JANUARY 6th , SOME OF THEM CALLING FOR HIM TO BE PROSECUTED. YOU HAD PEOPLE LIKE MARCO RUBIO, MIKE LEE VERY CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT AND HIS ROLE THERE AND IN HIS ROLE IN THE WEEKS BEFORE JANUARY 6th , WHERE HE PRETENDED THAT HE WON AN ELECTION HE LOST, THAT HIS STAFF ALL UNDERSTOOD THAT HE LOST. YOU HAVE TO ASK THOSE PEOPLE ARE YOU COMFORTABLE ENDORSING AND CAMPAIGNING FOR SOMEBODY WHO YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SAID LIED ABOUT WINNING AN ELECTION AND WAS WILLING TO TRIGGER VIOLENCE IN ORDER TO REMAIN IN OFFICE? APPARENTLY THEY ARE. THAT DOES SURPRISE ME. >> TALKING ABOUT MAYBE IN PRESSUREAMPAIGN, IT WAS NO LONGER A WHISPER CAMPAIGN AND BASICALLY TELLING PEOPLE YOU SHOULD BACK FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. THAT PRESSURE CAMPAIGN IS REAL AND YOU KNOW LOYALTY IS IMPORTANT TO HIM AND HE'LL REMEMBER WHO WAS THERE FOR ME BEFORE IOWA, AFTER IOWA, BEFORE NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SO ON. >> YEAH. I THINK A LOT OF THESE POLITICIANS ARE MAKING THESE POLITICAL CALCULATIONS. THEY SEE IT LOOKS INEVITABLE IT'S DONALD TRUMP AS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE. THEY WANT TO ENDORSE HELP. I THINK IT IS DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE IF WE ACTUALLY AS A PARTY CARED ABOUT WINNING, I WISH THOSE REPUBLICANS WOULD ENDORSE NIKKI HALEY WHO IN POLL AFTER POLL SHOWS THAT SHE WOULD EASILY BEAT JOE BIDEN IN A GENERAL ELECTION, ONE POLL SHOWING HER UP 17 POINTS AGAINST HIM. THAT POLL WAS CONDUCTED BY TRUMP'S OWN POLLSTER. I WISH THOSE FOLKS WOULD BE LINING UP TO ENDORSE HER. I THINK THEY FEEL IT'S DONALD TRUMP TO LOSE AND THEY ARE THINKING OF POTENTIAL CABINET POSITIONS OR VP SLOTS. THAT'S CERTAINLY A FACTOR. >> HOGAN, BEFORE WE GO? >> JUST REAL QUICKLY. LET'S NOT FORGET KAMALA HARRIS CALLED JOE BIDEN A SEX CRIMINAL FROM THE STAGE. SHE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT. THESE FENCES CAN BE MENDED OVER TIME AND I THINK THE RELEVANCE OF THIS WHEN TRUMP WAS ASKED WOULD YOU CONSIDER DeSANTIS ON YOUR CABINET. WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, MY OWN PERSONAL VENDETTA OR MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION PARTY IN THE WHITE HOUSE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>> YOU'RE WATCHING SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY AND COUNTDOWN TO THE CRITICAL RESULTS IS ON. WE'RE BREAKING DOWN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO BRING ELECTION ALERTS AS THEY COME IN. STAY RIGHT THERE. ♪ ♪ >>> KRISTEN WELKER HOSTS "MEET THE PRESS" EVERY SUNDAY ON NBC. >>> WELCOME BACK TO OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY RIGHT HERE ON "NBC NEWS NOW." YOU CAN SEE THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK BEHIND ME. WE'VE GOT A LITTLE LESS THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSE. ALL THESE POLLING SITES WE'VE BEEN MONITORING ACROSS THE GREAT GRANITE STATE WILL BE CLOSED. OUR DECISION DESK WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THE FIRST CHARACTERIZATION OF THIS RACE AROUND THAT TIME. IF IT'S TOO CLOSE TO CALL, WE'LL WAIT. WE WANT TO BE AROUND 99.5% SURE WHEN WE MAKE A PROJECTION. THE CHOICE FOR VOTERS IS BETWEEN THE LAST TWO CANDIDATES STANDING, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS FORMER U.N. AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY, HALEY INSISTING A LOT TONIGHT WILL NOT MEAN THE END OF HER CAMPAIGN STATING STATING SHE'LL COMPETE IN THE STATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE SHE SERVED AS GOVERNOR. RNC CHAIRWOMAN RONNA McDANIELS SAYING, "IF PRESIDENT TRUMP COMES OUT STRONG, THAT'S A CLEAR MESSAGE SENT FROM OUR PRIMARY VOTERS." WHENEVER THIS REPORTING FROM JOHN ALLEN HIT OUR INBOX, EVERYONE SAID THE SAME THING LIKE WOW, THIS IS A BIG STATEMENT FROM THE RNC CHAIR. HOW DOES THE HALEY CAMPAIGN TAKE IT? >> Reporter: LOOK, IT'S A BIG STATEMENT FROM THE RNC CHAIR BECAUSE SHED THAT QUOTE AND ALSO SAID THE OTHER MESSAGE VOTERS IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WERE SENDING IS BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE TIM SCOTT AND RON DeSANTIS AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY ARE SUPPORTING THE FORMER PRESIDENT, THEY ARE ASKING FOR UNITY AND UNITY DOESN'T HAPPEN AS LONG AS NIKKI HALEY IS IN THE RACE. OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS THE BEST WORD I CAN USE TO DESCRIBE THE TONE AND TENOR OF THE HALEY CAMPAIGN IS DEFIANT. THEY RELEASED A MEMO TODAY SAYING THEY WERE STAYING IN THIS RACE NOT JUST THROUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE AND HER HOMESTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT THROUGH SUPER TUESDAY. HER CAMPAIGN MANAGER MADE AN ASSESSMENT THE BEST STATES FOR HER KIND OF LOOK LIKE WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE ONES WITH SEMI OPEN OR OPEN PRIMARIES, MICHIGAN, TEXAS, VIRGINIA, THAT WILL BE GOOD STATES FOR HALEY DOWN THE LINE. YOU DON'T GET FURTHER DOWN THE CALENDAR UNTIL YOU GET PAST TODAY AND THE RESPONSE THEY'RE GIVING US TO THE RNC STATEMENT SAYS IN PART "THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR REPUBLICANS TO RALLY AROUND THE NOMINEE," WHICH THIS PERSON TOLD ME THEY BELIEVE WILL BE NIKKI HALEY. THE SPOKESPERSON SAID, "WE WILL STAND BY OUR STATEMENT. IT'S NOT A CORONATION." THAT'S SOMETHING HALEY SAID TO ME YESTERDAY. HER SPOKESPERSON SAID ONLY TWO STATES WILL HAVE DECIDED BY THE TIME NEW HAMPSHIRE IS DONE. LET MORE PEOPLE SPEAK. THEY DESERVE A CHOICE. THAT MAKES SENSE WITH WHAT THE HALEY CAMPAIGN SAYS NOW AND JIVES WITH HA HALEY HAS BEEN SAYING TO ME AND VOTERS ACROSS THIS STATE AS SHE HAS BEEN BARNSTORMING THROUGH THIS FINAL SWING TO ELECTION DAY. YOU'VE BEEN ON THESE RISERS SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, TOM, AND THIS IS A ROOM THAT'S EMPTY, BUT YOU'RE STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT MOVE IN AS WE SEE STAFF AND TOP ADVISERS. YOU'RE TALKING TO THEM AND SENSING THAT DEFIANT TONE AND EXCITEMENT. I THINK THEY ARE SEEING WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE RETURNS AS TO WHAT THE MAKEUP OF THIS ELECTORATE. THEY'RE FEELING THE UNPREDICTABLE AND ALSO THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BANKED ON BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE AT LEAST IN INTERVIEWS NIKKI HALEY IS DOING SHE FEELS SHE'S CONSTANT BY BEATING BACK THE NARRATIVE THAT THIS RACE IS DONE AND THE UNPREDICTABILITY ALLOWS THEM HOPE THAT THAT'S THE OPPOSITE CASE OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH TONIGHT. >> IS IT FAIR TO SAY THERE WAS A CHANGE IN TONE AND THEY WANTED TO SET THE TABLE AND LOWER THE BAR IN CASE THEY LOST TONIGHT? I POINT OUT TWO THINGS, ONE, GOVERNOR SUNUNU WHEN HE ENDORSED NIKKI HALEY SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE A LANDSLIDE AND CLOSER TO VOTING TIME SAYING SHE DOESN'T NEED TO WIN AND THAT MEMO CAME OUT TODAY FROM THE NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGN SAYING WE'RE STAYING IN THIS RACE THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA. WE LOVE SUPER TUESDAY. WE HAVE THE MONEY AND MOMENTUM. THAT TO ME SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE SETTING THE TABLE LOOKING AT THE POLLS COMING INTO NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT SHOWED FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH A VERY BIG LEAD. >> Reporter: OF COURSE, THEY'RE SEEING THOSE POLLS AND, OF COURSE, THEY'RE AWARE ANY POLLS THAT INITIALLY SHOWED HALEY NECK AND NECK WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT ARE NOW SEVERAL WEEKS OLD, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF IOWA AND WATCHING THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S DOMINANT PERFORMANCE. WE'VE WATCHED THE POLLS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOW A MUCH WIDER GAP. IT'S IN PART THE EXPLANATION FOR WHY YOU SEE TOP ALLIES LIKE THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU GO FROM SAYING HALEY WILL WIN THIS STATE IN A LANDSLIDE TO THEN SAYING IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE WON. THE ONLY GOAL WAS TO BETTER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THAN IOWA. I ASKED NIKKI HALEY THE QUESTION MYSELF, ESPECIALLY IN A RACE THAT SHE WANTED IT TO BE, A ONE ON ONE WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. I ASKED HALEY HOW IS COMING IN SECOND ANYTHING BUT A LOSS? AGAIN, SHE CONTINUED TO MOVE THE GOALPOST AND SAY THE EXPECTATION WAS NEVER THAT SHE WAS GOING TO WIN BUT DO BETTER HERE THAN IN IOWA. IT'S EASIER TO COME IN SECOND WHEN THERE'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THE RACE. THERE WERE FAR MORE WHEN WE WERE IN THE HAWKEYE STATE LAST WEEK. STILL HALEY NOT SETTING THE EXPECTATION OF A WIN, BUT THEY ARE MAKING CLEAR A LOSS IS NOT A FATAL BLOW TO THEIR CAMPAIGN. >> FANTASTIC REPORTING FROM THE HALEY WATCH PARTY TONIGHT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. I WANT TO BRING IN SOMEBODY FROM THE SUPERPAC THAT IS SUPPORTING NIKKI HALEY TO GET AN INSIDE OF WHAT THE STRATEGY REALLY IS. JOINING US LIVE VIA ZOOM, I GUESS, IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR NIKKI HALEY'S SUPER PAC STAND FOR AMERICA. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. IF YOU GUYS DON'T WIN, IS THIS A LOSS? IT'S A TWO-PERSON RACE. THERE'S NO SECOND PLACE HERE. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND SECOND OF ALL, THIS IS NOT A LOSS. IT'S WHAT WE WANT. AS WE SAID IN THE PAST, WE WANT TO DO BETTER THAN IN IOWA. WE'LL COME OUT STRONG, BUILD MOMENTUM AND HEAD INTO SOUTH CAROLINA AND SUPER TUESDAY BUILD MORE MOMENTUM BUILDING MORE SUPPORT AND RAISING MORE MONEY. >> WALK ME THROUGH THE STRATEGY. THE POLL NUMBERS AREN'T FAVORABLE AT ALL IN SOUTH CAROLINA. IT'S A MUCH REDDER STATE THAN NEW HAMPSHIRE. IF YOU DON'T WIN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, LET'S SAY THE RACE IS CLOSE, YOU HEAD TO SOUTH CAROLINA. IS THAT A MUST-WIN STATE OR YOU THINK YOU CAN KEEP RAISING MONEY AND LOSE STATE AFTER STATE AND HEAD INTO SUPER TUESDAY AND SOMEHOW THIS RACE TURNS? >> LOOK, WE ARE WELL FUNDED AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS ABOUT ELECTABILITY AND NIKKI HALEY IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO BEATS JOE BIDEN HANDILY IN EVERY MATCH-UP DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION. AMERICANS WANT A CHOICE. 87% OF AMERICAN REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T EVEN VOTED YET. YOU HAVE 50% OF IOWA REPUBLICANS WHO SAID LAST WEEK THEY AREN'T INTERESTED IN A TRUMP REDO AGAIN. YOU HAVE 75% OF AMERICANS WHO SAID THEY DON'T WANT A REPEAT OF THE 2020 ELECTION. THEY DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN OR DONALD TRUMP. AMERICANS DESERVE A CHOICE. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THIS ISN'T SEASON ONE OF "THE CROWN." WE HAVEN'T CROWNED DONALD TRUMP THE KING OF THE GOP PRIMARY. AMERICANS WANT A CHOICE. NIKKI HALEY HAS WHITTLED THIS RACE DOWN TO A TWO-PERSON RACE AND DESERVES TO GIVE THEM A CHOICE. >> WHY DID SORT OF THE MESSAGING CHANGE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE? IT WENT FROM WINNING NEW HAMPSHIRE TO SAYING WELL, WE LOSE, WE CAN GO ON FROM THERE? IS IT THE POLLING OR THE REALITY MAYBE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS MORE POPULAR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE? THERE'S STILL OVER AN HOUR BEFORE VOTING ENDS. YOU COULD STILL SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT WHY DID THE MESSAGING CHANGE? >> THE MESSAGE NEVER CHANGED AT ALL. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS NIKKI ALWAYS WANTED TO BUILD MOMENTUM AND THAT'S WHAT SHE HAS DONE. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TELLING NIKKI AND EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HALEY CAMPAIGN AND SUPER PAC SHE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT MONTHS AGO TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP. SHE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT TO SUPPORT RON DeSANTIS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS NIKKI HALEY IS NOT GIVING UP WITHOUT A FIGHT. SHE ALWAYS SAID SHE WANTS TO BUILD MOMENTUM. IF WE HAD TOLD YOU TWO MONTHS AGO SHE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN 20% IN IOWA, KNOCKED OUT RON DeSANTIS AND BE IN A TWO-PERSON RACE WITH DONALD TRUMP, YOU ALL WOULD HAVE LAUGHED US OUT OF THE ROOM. THE FACT THAT THE D.C. ESTABLISHMENT WANTS TO BULLY US OUT OF THIS RACE, IT'S NOT FAIR TO AMERICANS AND WE'RE NOT GIVING UP WITHOUT A FIGHT. >> SPOKESPERSON FOR NIKKI HALEY'S SUPER PAC, THANK YOU. >>> I WANT TO TURN TO THE OTHER NEWS ABOUT THE SHAKE-UP IN THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN. TOP ADVISER JENNIFER O'MALLEY IS EXPECTED TO LEAVE THE CAMPAIGN. HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THIS MOVE? >> Reporter: IT WAS EXPECTED A WHILE. THERE WERE RUMORS ABOUT DAVID FLUFF AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE RUN CAMPAIGNS BEFORE. THEY WANT MORE URGENCY AND MOMENTUM. SHE RAN THE CAMPAIGN IN 2020, SO THERE IS CONFIDENCE IN NOT JUST HER ABILITY TO RUN A CAMPAIGN, BUT ALSO HER KNOWLEDGE OF FIELD ORGANIZING, THE KIND OF COUNTY BY COUNTY, STATE BY STATE OPERATION THAT A LOT OF HIS SUPPORTERS WANT TO SEE PICKING UP. IT'S A REFLECTION OF THAT. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY CHANGES OR PEOPLE DEPARTING. I'M SURE PEOPLE WILL BE REPORTING ON THAT. THIS IS MORE OF AN ADDITION PUTTING SOMEBODY AT THE HELM IN A SENIOR POSITION WHO WILL GIVE PEOPLE CONFIDENCE ABOUT THEIR PLAN MOVING FORWARD. >> AS SOMEBODY WHO WORKED IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND ON CAMPAIGNS, WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAMPAIGN? WERE THERE THINGS THAT WEREN'T GOING RIGHT AT THIS POINT? I KNOW IT'S STILL EARLY. >> YEAH. IT'S VERY EARLY. I'M NOT WORKING ON THE CAMPAIGN. I SPENT SOME TIME WITH THEM ABOUT TWO AGO. I THINK THERE IS SUCH A FEAR AMONG DEMOCRATS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE PRESIDENT ABOUT A REELECTION OR ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP. WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE OUT THERE IS MORE AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGNING, MORE AGGRESSIVE MESSAGING, MORE AGGRESSIVE SETTING UP OF OPERATIONS IN STATES. TO BE FAIR TO THE CAMPAIGN, IT'S STILL TEN MONTHS OUT FROM THE ELECTION. THERE IS TIME. WHAT THEY ARE EAGER TO DO AND THIS IS WHAT I TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IS REALLY MAKE THIS CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A RACE BETWEEN JOE BIDEN AND DONALD TRUMP. THERE IS A PRIMARY HAPPENING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. PEOPLE ARE STILL VOTING. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE. AS IT RELATES TO THE VIEW OF THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PREPARING FOR AND WHAT A CHALLENGE FOR THEM NOW IS PEOPLE HAVE NOT SETTLED INTO THIS, NOT JUST DEMOCRATS, BUT INDEPENDENTS AND NEVER TRUMPERS WHO THINK THERE COULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE. THEY'RE EAGER TO RUN THAT RACE. I THINK A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO ARE SUPPORTERS WANT TO SEE MORE URGENCY AND ACTION ON THE TRAIL. THAT WAS IN PLANNING, BUT I THINK JEN O'MALLEY DILLON WILL GIVE THEM MORE CONFIDENCE. >> WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE PRESIDENT DO A LOT OF SITDOWN INTERVIEWS. YOU MENTIONED THE PHRASE AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGNING. HOW DOES SOMEONE IN THEIR 80s DO AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGNING? I'M WONDERING HOW THE CAMPAIGN CAN SORT OF GENERATE MAYBE THAT ENERGY HAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS TO BEAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IF HE'S THE NOMINEE? HOW CAN JOE BIDEN SORT OF MANIFEST THAT? >> I THINK WHAT IS A SIGNAL HERE, TOM, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO MOVING FORWARD, ARE THE TWO DEMOCRACY SPEECHES THE PRESIDENT GAVE A FEW WEEKS AGO. THAT WAS REALLY IN SOME WAYS THE LAUNCH OF HIS GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN. YOU SAW HIM OUT TODAY DOING AN EVENT ON ABORTION RIGHTS, AN ISSUE THAT IS UNQUESTIONABLY IN THEIR VIEW GOING TO BE A BIG DRIVER OF GETTING VOTERS OUT TO THE POLLS, EVEN PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE EXCITED RIGHT NOW. THERE'S GOING TO BE BALLOT INITIATIVES ON PERHAPS UP TO A DOZEN STATES OR MORE IN NOVEMBER. THE WAY THEY SEE IT, TOM, IT'S ABOUT ALSO EMPOWERING SOME OF THEIR SUPPORTERS TO BE VALIDATERS, TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS. THAT'S REALLY THE WAY THEY'RE RUNNING THIS CAMPAIGN. SOME OF THAT IS ON DIGITAL, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. THEY'RE USING THAT AS AN ORGANIZING TOOL, BUT A LOT OF IT WILL BE THROUGH FIELD, GROUND, GRASSROOTS OPERATIONS. THAT'S HOW THEY'RE SEEING IT. A CHALLENGE FOR THEM IS WE'RE NOW LIVING THROUGH WHAT IS A HISTORIC LEVEL OF CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS AND LEGAL CASES THAT, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY IN THE MEDIA HAS THE ABILITY TO COVER AGAINST DONALD TRUMP. THAT IS BLOCKING OUT THE SUN OF A LOT OF MEDIA COVERAGE. THEY ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON TARGETED VOTER TO VOTER CAMPAIGNS IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL WAY WHILE ALSO THINKING HOW TO PICK MOMENTS LIKE THOSE DEMOCRACY SPEECHES AND THE ABORTION EVENT TODAY TO REALLY DO BIG EVENTS TO REACH VOTERS. >> WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR ANALYSIS HERE ON "NBC NEWS NOW." THANK YOU. >>> I WANT TO GO TO A BIT OF SOMEWHAT BREAKING NEWS AND BRING IT TO OUR PANEL. IF I CAN ASK OUR CONTROL ROOM TO PUT UP PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWEET ON TRUTH SOCIAL. AS WE READ TEA LEAVES INTO THE NIGHT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS IS TRUMP TWEETING, "SO RIDICULOUS THAT DEMOCRATIC AND INDEPENDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, ESPECIALLY SINCE CROOKED JOE BIDEN HAS ABANDONED NEW HAMPSHIRE, BUT WORD IS WE ARE DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL." I'M GOING TO YOU FIRST. IT SOUNDS LIKE HE COULD POSSIBLY BE A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS. >> NO. HE'S MAKING A DECLARATIVE STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT HE SEES AS A BIG PROBLEM IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE CROSSOVER VOTES. HE'S ALSO ACCENTUATING A POINT HE MADE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS NIKKI HALEY HAS ALLOWED DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT AND TRIED TO POINT OUT THAT AS A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS, SHE'S NOT YOUR PERSON. >> SARAH, HOW DO YOU SEE IT? >> MULTIPLE THINGS I WANT TO HIT REAL QUICK. FIRST OFF, THAT TRUTH SOCIAL POST SINCE ACCURATE. DEMOCRATS ARE NOT VOTING IN THIS PRIMARY. >> RIGHT. >> THEY COULD SWITCH THEIR AFFILIATION, BUT THAT ENDED -- >> IN OCTOBER. >> -- IN OCTOBER, YES. FIRST OFF, THAT'S A LIE. >> YOU DON'T THINK A DEMOCRAT IS VOTING IN THIS PRIMARY? >> THEY ARE NOT VOTING NOW. IF THEY SWITCH THEIR AFFILIATION, THEY COULD HAVE TECHNICALLY, BUT HE'S ACTING LIKE THEY'RE SHOWING UP TO THE POLLS TODAY AND ON TOP OF THAT, TOO, INDEPENDENTS VOTING, IF WE WERE SMART, WE WOULD NOMINATE SOMEONE LIKE NIKKI HALEY WHO HAS BROADER APPEAL BEYOND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE SHE'S BRINGING THOSE INDEPENDENTS BACK INTO THE FOLD. IF TRUMP IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, THEN THIS IS CONCERNING THAT THERE'S THIS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TURNING OUT TO VOTE FOR HER BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE ANTI-TRUMP. HE WOULD NEED TO WIN THEM BACK OVER IN A GENERAL TO ACTUALLY BE COMPETITIVE WITH JOE BIDEN. IF WE WERE A SMART PARTY, WE'D NOMINATE SOMEONE LIKE HER WHO COULD BRING THOSE INDEPENDENTS BACK INTO THE FOLD. >> THERE'S A CHANCE HE'S WATCHING THE COVERAGE, WATCHING THE POLLING AND MIGHT NOT BE TOO HAPPY AND PUTS THIS POST OUT THERE. >> I LISTENED TO HOGAN AND THINK THAT IS TAKE REALLY ADMIRABLE JOB AT SPIN. WHY WOULD THE PRESIDENT PUT THAT OUT AT 6:09 IF HE WASN'T CURRENTLY CONCERNED OR FRUSTRATED BY THIS? YOU SAID HE PUT OUT A DECLARATIVE STATEMENT. THAT'S TRUE, BUT THE TIMING MATTERS A LOT, RIGHT? OF COURSE, HE PUT IT OUT BECAUSE HE'S WATCHING THIS OR GETTING REPORTS ABOUT IT. HE'S CONCERNED. MAYBE HE HAS REASON TO BE CONCERNED. MAYBE HE DOESN'T. IF HE WERE CONFIDENCE HE WAS GOING TO WIN BY DOUBLE DIGITS TONIGHT, THERE'S NO NEED FOR A STATEMENT LIKE THIS TWO HOURS BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSE. >> NOW YOU'RE SAY NOTHING NEED. THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONVERSATION ALTOGETHER. WHETHER HE NEEDED TO POST THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS HE JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING DECLARATIVE. >> NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE SEES. >> I'VE RECEIVED NOTHING FROM THE CAMPAIGN TELLING ME WHAT THEY'RE SEEING, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXIT NUMBERS THAT WOULD TEND TO -- >> EXIT POLLING DATA. >> YES. THAT WOULD TEND TO G SOME HOPE AND SHE CAN'T GET THE SUSPECT OF HER OWN PARTY AND WHILE 50% OF THE PEOPLE IN IOWA VOTED AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, BUT 81% VOTED AGAINST NIKKI HALEY. IT'S DONALD TRUMP'S PARTY. >> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK. YOU'RE WATCHING SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY. WE'RE JUST MINUTES FROM THE FIRST ROUND OF POLL CLOSINGS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THERE'S STILL MUCH MORE AHEAD TONIGHT. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? ♪ >>> NEWS FOR THE GENERATION OF NOW IS "NBC NEWS NOW." >>> BACK TO OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. I WANT TO WELCOME IN NORTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN SENATOR KEVIN KRAMER WHO HAS END FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. MY FIRST QUESTION, YOUR PREDICTIONS HOW THIS END UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE? >> WELL, MY PREDICTION IS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S GOING TO WIN HANDILY REGARDLESS OF ALL THE MANAGEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS. I KNOW IT'S BEEN GOING ON BY BOTH CAMPAIGNS IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT LATELY. I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DECISIVE ENOUGH THAT IT REALLY SHOULD END THE RACE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. I UNDERSTAND THE YOUNGER AMBASSADOR HALEY WANTS TO KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE AND SHE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN HER POWER TO DO THAT, BUT I REALLY THINK AFTER TONIGHT IT COMES DOWN TO PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE. >> ONLY TWO STATES, AROUND 60 DELEGATES ALLOCATED AFTER TONIGHT. THE RACE YOU REALLY WANT IT TO BE OVER, THAT'S BEST FOR THE GOP? >> WELL, THE GOP HAS BENEFITED TREMENDOUSLY FROM HAVING A LARGE STABLE OF CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE NOMINATION. THE PROBLEM IS ALL OF THEM ARE CHASING THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHO I THINK BY ANY MEASURE HAS HAD ALL OF THE MOMENTUM AND CERTAINLY HAS HAD THE LEAD THE ENTIRE TIME. SO WE'VE ALREADY BENEFITED FROM SHOWING OFF A REALLY IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ASPIRE TO BE PRESIDENT IN THIS CYCLE. ANY ONE OF THEM COULD BE A GOOD PRESIDENT IN THE FUTURE CYCLE OR GOOD CANDIDATE. I THINK WE'VE ALREADY BENEFITED FROM THAT. AT THIS POINT I THINK IT IS TIME AT LEAST SOON TO COALESCE AROUND THE NOMINEE AND MAKE THIS RACE ALL ABOUT JOE BIDEN AND LESS ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. >> SENATOR KRAMER, HOW DID YOU COME TO YOUR DECISION THAT YOU WANTED TO ENDORSE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP? >> I WAS ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO SUPPORTED HIM EARLY IN 2016. I THINK THERE WERE FIVE OR SIX OF US. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING ME TO BECOME A SENATE CANDIDATE AND BECOME A SENATOR. WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER ON A LOT OF LEGISLATION AND ESPECIALLY REGULATORY ISSUES WHEN HE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND I WAS IN THE HOUSE A COUPLE YEARS AND THEN THE SENATE A COUPLE YEARS. I KNOW HIM WELL. I CONSIDER HIM A FRIEND. I SUPPORTED, OF COURSE, MY GOVERNOR DOUG BURGUM WHILE HE WAS A CANDIDATE, BUT THE DAY DOUG GOT OUT OF THE RACE I CALLED THE PRESIDENT AND SAID, "IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GET ON BOARD." I JUST THINK DONALD TRUMP REPRESENTS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY REPUBLICANS TO MAKE THE TYPES OF CHANGES THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING THEM WANT AND THAT IS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE BUREAUCRACY, OVERREGULATED GOVERNMENT, OBVIOUSLY SECURE THE BORDER, SECURE THE WORLD, GET BACK TO SOME PEACE AND PROSPERITY. HE CARRIES THAT MESSAGE WITH AN AUTHENTICITY AND BELIEVABILITY. HE IS GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE AND I JUST THINK THE SOONER THE BETTER AT THIS POINT. >> YEAH. BESIDES HIM BEING THE NOMINEE AND I KNOW YOU AGREE WITH HIM ON POLICY ISSUES, HOW DID THE ISSUES OF POLICY AND AGREEMENTS THERE OVERSHADOW HIS BEHAVIOR AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION? >> SURE. WELL, AGAIN THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE AND NOT THE PAST. AT LEAST IT IS FOR ME AND I THINK IT IS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND REMEMBERING ONE OF THE FACTORS WHO WE HAVE THIS TIME THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE IN 2020 IS THAT JOE BIDEN HAS DEMONSTRATED HE'S A REALLY BAD PRESIDENT. THEY CAN MAKE ALL OF THE CHANGES IN THE CAMPAIGN THEY WANT TO MAKE. THEY CAN PROFILE PEOPLE AND STRONGER LEADERS INTO THE CAMPAIGN, BUT THEY CAN'T CHANGE JOE BIDEN. THEY CAN'T CHANGE HIS PERSONALITY OR POLICIES. I THINK AT THIS POINT WE ARE DOWN TO A BINARY CHOICE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WHILE NOT EVERYONE IS AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HIM AS I AM, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ON BOARD ONCE WE GET DOWN TO THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE. >> DO YOU THINK HIS BEHAVIOR WILL CHANGE IT ALL IF HE IS ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM? AND SENSE OF WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION? COULD WE SEE THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR AGAIN AND WHAT LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD NOT? IF YOU BELIEVE THAT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU WOULD ENDORSE HIM. >> A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THAT. FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE ALREADY SEEING HIS BEHAVIOR AS A CANDIDATE THIS WEEK. ONCE RON DESANTIS GOT OUT OF THE RACE AND ENDORSED HIM. TIM SCOTT AND DOUG BURGUM, VIVEK RAMASWAMY, WE ALREADY SAW A LIGHTNING OF THE BURDEN IF YOU WILL. HE IS TALKING UNITY AND NOT BEATING UP ON HIS OPPONENTS OR ADVERSARIES. I THINK WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THAT TRANSFORMATION. I KNOW HIM WELL. I KNOW HE IS CAPABLE OF BEING THE MOST CHARMING PERSON IN THE ROOM AND FRANKLY HAS PERSONALITY AS MUCH OF WHAT BROUGHT PEOPLE TO HIM AND DID NOT BRING PEOPLE TO GOVERNOR DESANTIS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. HE IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF THAT. ONE THING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP THAT WE ALL KNOW, HE LIKES TO WIN MORE THAN HE LIKES TO LOSE. HE IS CAPABLE OF DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN. >> SENATOR, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WE ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR COMING ON. OUR COVERAGE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY CONTINUES RIGHT NOW. >>> THANK YOU, NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> I LOVE NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> NEW HAMPSHIRE TONIGHT HAS MADE BILL CLINTON THE COMEBACK KID. >> FINALLY A POLE WITHOUT A MARGIN OF ERROR. >> MOUNT UP, EVERYBODY. >> NEW HAMPSHIRE. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE STARTED GETTING NUMBERS AND AND EVERYONE SAID, HOW COME THEY LIKE TRUMP SO MUCH? >> THIS IS AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL. DECISION 2024: THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. REPORTING TONIGHT, TOM LLAMAS. >> WE ARE IN THE FINAL STRETCH OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. POLLS CLOSING IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. COMING DOWN TO THE FINAL TWO CONTENDERS, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS FORMER U.N. AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY, LOCKED IN A HEAD-TO-HEAD BATTLE FOR THE NOMINATION. FIGHTING FOR THE 22 DELEGATES AT STAKE TONIGHT. TONIGHT IS A MAKE OR BREAK MOMENT FOR HER CAMPAIGN. A MAJOR LOSS COULD BE HARD TO COME BACK FROM, THOUGH HALEY HAS SAID SHE WOULD STAY IN THIS RACE EITHER WAY. HER CAMPAIGN SPENDING $2 MILLION ON ADS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. LESS THAN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND NOTABLY, THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN THE STATE. ON THE GROUND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR 31 DAYS, COMPARED TO JUST 11 FOR TRUMP. A BIG INVESTMENT THAT HAS BOOSTED HALEY IN THE POLLS, BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO PULL OFF AN UPSET? YOU REPORTERS HAVE BEEN SPREAD ACROSS THE STATE TALKING TO VOTERS AND THE CAMPAIGN. I WANT TO GET TO HALLIE JACKSON AT A POLLING SITE IN BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. IS THAT ONE CLOSED OR IS IT ONE OF THE ONES STAYING OPEN UNTIL 8:00? >> Reporter: LITERALLY SECONDS AGO, YOU HEAR THE CHEERING, THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THE POLLS HAVE CLOSED IN BEDFORD. YOU ARE PROBABLY SEEING PEOPLE STILL IN LINE. THESE ARE NEWLY REGISTERED VOTERS. THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO CAST BALLOTS. THEY WILL DO THEIR THING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN IN LINE HERE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN THE FLOOR SPACE IN THIS LOCATION, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN PACKED ALL DAY. ROUGHLY 7000 BALLOTS CAST. THE MAJORITY WAS REPUBLICAN IN THIS RED LEANING TOWN AND THAT IS ABOUT HALF OF THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS THEY HAVE ALTOGETHER. THIS IS IT. THEY WILL START PACKING UP SOME OF THE GEAR HERE, BUT THERE WILL STILL BE COUNTING THAT HAPPENS, OBVIOUSLY. VOTES WILL BE TALLIED AND THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON SOME ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN THE CORNER. THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT LITTLE BIT HAS OTHER POLLING LOCATIONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL STAY OPEN FOR ANOTHER 60 MINUTES. SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THIS PROCESS WELL IS BILL KLEIN, AN ELECTION MONITOR HERE. THIS IS YOUR 40th YEAR DOING A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IN THE STATE. YOU HAVE DONE A LOT. >> AS I HAVE. IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TIMES, ALMOST ALL THE TIMES. IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING AT TIMES WITH THINGS THAT HAPPENED. A FORMER SPORTS OFFICIAL AND AN NCAA FINAL FOUR IN SOCCER. IT WAS THROUGH THAT THAT THEY SAID YOU WOULD PROBABLY DO A GOOD JOB MODERATING QUICK DECISIONS, KNOWING THE RULES. THE WHOLE THING. IT HAS BEEN FUN. >> Reporter: THERE YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY REFEREEING THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IN THE STATE. HAVE YOU NOTICED A CHANGE? >> THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW CHANGES. THE PROCEDURES WERE PRETTY WELL SET DOWN BY FORMER MODERATORS AND WHEN I HAVE HAD TO LEARN HOW TO DO THINGS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR US WHO TRY TO KEEP TEAMS TOGETHER AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, TRYING TO KEEP TEAMS READY. AS WE MOVE, HOPEFULLY IT IS MOVING NOT UPSTAIRS OR DOWNSTAIRS, BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS SELECTION PROCESS WHEN THEY COME IN. THAT IS HOW BEDFORD HAS BEEN. >> Reporter: HOW HAS IT BEEN FINDING NEW ELECTION WORKERS TO COME IN? OR FINDING ELECTION WORKERS AT ALL RIGHT NOW? >> IT IS HUGE. THIS IS TRUE FOR THE ENTIRE STATE AND PROBABLY THE COUNTRY THAT MOST HAVE NOT BEEN UNDER THE AGE OF 60. WHEN COVID HIT, THAT WAS THE GROUP THAT DID NOT WANT TO BE HERE AND JOIN US. IT REQUIRES CERTAIN THINGS, MASKING AND EVERYTHING. WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD, BUT A LOT OF THOSE SAID THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK AND HAVE NOT BEEN BACK. NOW IT IS GETTING NEW PEOPLE. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF I THINK 80 PEOPLE THAT WORK TODAY'S ELECTION, WHICH IS, I DON'T THINK WE ARE HE BIGGEST POLLING PLACE IN THE STATE FOR THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE THE OTHER POLLING PLACES USE ONE SINGLE PLACE. IT CHANGES THE NUMBERS. THE NUMBER OF WORKERS THAT WE HAVE, A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE, HAVE ALREADY WORKED IN ELECTIONS, SO THEY COME WITH EXPERIENCE. WE DO TRAINING EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS. ELECTION LAWS CHANGE. EQUIPMENT CHANGES. >> Reporter: I'M SORRY, YOU MENTIONED SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO FIND ELECTION WORKERS AS WELL. >> IT IS. ON TOP OF THAT, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I HAVE SEEN NEWS ARTICLES AND WE HAVE HAD ELECTION OFFICIALS MISTREATED. THAT IS A TOUGH THING. THESE ARE VOLUNTEER PEOPLE. 95% OF OUR VOLUNTEERS DO NOT GET PAID. THEY COULD GET PAID IF THEY WANTED TO, BUT THEY OPT NOT TO. >> Reporter: THEY ARE DEVOTING THEIR DAYS AND DEVOTING THEIR TIME TO THE VOTING PROCESS AND DEMOCRACY. BILL HAS DONE THAT FOR 40 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE YOU TALKING TO US TONIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE DYNAMIC OF HOW THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER AND AGAIN OVER HERE IS WHERE THEY ARE DOING THE PROCESSING. WE ARE ABLE TO WALK AROUND A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO GO AND FIND OTHER VOTERS AND CHAT WITH FOLKS AS WE START TO SEE SOME OF THE DATA COMING IN. TOM, I WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU. >> BEFORE YOU GO, IS SOMEONE PLAYING SAXOPHONE IN THERE? WHAT IS GOING ON? >> Reporter: TURN OVER HERE. PEOPLE ARE COUNTING AND WE'VE GOT ALL THE GOOD VIBES ON NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY NIGHT. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE DEMOCRACY. HALLIE JACKSON, THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE APPRECIATE IT. I WENT TO GET BACK OVER TO TRUCK AT THE BIG BOARD. AS WE LOOK AT THIS POLL DATA, YOU HAVE SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TURNOUT, RECORD TURNOUT. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? >> THIS IS OUR ESTIMATE WE ARE ABLE TO DO WITH POLLING. THAT WOULD BE AN ALL-TIME RECORD, MOST EVER. NO REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY HAD OVER 300,000. IN THEORY THIS IS THE TYPE OF TURNOUT THAT A CHALLENGER LIKE NIKKI HALEY WOULD NEED. THIS INDICATES THAT WHAT WE REPORTED IN OUR EXIT POLL WHICH INDICATES THIS IS AN ELECTORATE THAT TENDS TO BE INDEPENDENT. 45% OF THE ELECTORATE, BEING ONE OF THE MOST INDEPENDENT ELECTORATES WE'VE HAD. SO YOU LOOK AT AN INDICATION AND THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER THAT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, THAT HIGH TURNOUT MEANS WE HAVE A BUNCH OF INDEPENDENCE. >> IN THE LAST POLL THAT CAME OUT WHEN PEOPLE ASKED HER THEY VOTING FOR NIKKI HALEY OR AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, IT WAS ABOUT EVEN. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED TO COME OUT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP? >> I THINK YOU SEE SOME OF THAT. IT'S NOT CLEAR. EXIT POLLS SEEM TO INDICATE PEOPLE ARE VOTING FOR NIKKI HALEY MORE THAN WE WENT INTO IT ASSUMING TOO MUCH IN THE OTHER WAY. LOOK, THIS IS SIMPLY A DIFFERENT ELECTORATE. WE HAVE WAYS TO COMPARE THIS TO IOWA. LET ME GET IT OVER HERE REAL QUICK. YOU CAN QUICKLY SEE THESE COMPARISONS AND HERE WE GO. SO, PART OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT. 42%. AGAIN, EXIT POLLS, AS YOU NOTE, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF THINGS HERE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DID BIDEN WHEN THE LEAD LEGITIMATELY? ONLY HALF OF THIS ELECTORATE THOUGHT THAT. I THINK THAT IS A PRETTY AT -- PRETTY GOOD INDICATOR OF WHAT THE CORE TRUMP OTE IS, FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH. 49 IS AN INTERESTING NUMBER. WE CAN LOOK HERE. IN IOWA, 31%. HERE, 47%. THAT NUMBER IS A PRETTY HEAVY HALEY NUMBER. >> IT FEELS LIKE NUMBERS WE SHOULD BE WATCHING. >> I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE PROCESS TONIGHT. WE SPOKE WITH OUR DECISION DESK ELECTIONS DIRECTOR IF YOU WILL, WHO WAS WALKING US THROUGH THE NIGHT. FULL DISCLOSURE, MANY PARTS OF THE STATE IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN 7000 RESIDENTS OR SOMETHING THEY GO UNTIL 8:00. >> WE ARE NOT MAKING A CALL THIS HOUR. >> 2016 WE WERE ABLE TO CALL IT 8:00 P.M. EASTERN. WE DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. >> WE DON'T KNOW. WE ARE WATCHING. WE SHOULD GET A LOT OF VOTES COUNTED IN THIS NEXT HOUR AND WE DO OUR OWN SIMPLE. WE HAVE ACTUAL, PHYSICAL PEOPLE AT SPECIFIC PRECINCTS THAT WE WANT TO KNOW EARLY RETURNS ON, AS A WAY TO FIND OUT THE CALL. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IN IOWA. WE HAD PEOPLE ON THE GROUND. YOU HEARD HIM, 97% LIKELIHOOD THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE. I WILL BE SHOCKED IF WE ARE ANYWHERE NEAR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AT 8:00 P.M. >> THE DATA COMING IN RIGHT NOW, 0%. >> WE WATCHED IT. >> IT IS EARLY, IT IS COMING, IT IS GOING. WE WILL BE WATCHING, BUT IT IS JUST BEGINNING. >> CHUCK TODD, WE APPRECIATE IT. I WANT TO BRING IN THE MODERATOR OF MEET THE PRESS. IT IS AN ANCHOR OBSTACLE COURSE OVER HERE. KRISTEN WELKER IS BACK WITH US. YOU COVERED THE WHITE HOUSE AND YOU HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IOWA TRACKING THE PRESIDENTS SUPPORT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE MAGA NUMBERS THAT CHUCK TALKED ABOUT, WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU? >> I THINK THAT GIVES YOU A WINDOW INTO THE POSSIBILITY THAT NIKKI HALEY COULD HAVE A BETTER THAN EXPECTED NIGHT. THE FACT YOU ARE NOT SEEING THE VAST MAJORITY OF VOTERS IDENTIFY AS PART OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT AND AGAIN, IT IS STILL VERY EARLY. BUT THAT IS, I THINK, A SIGNIFICANT DATA POINT FOR SURE. >> WHAT IS THE THINKING AMONGST REPUBLICANS? WHAT TYPE OF NIGHT DOES NIKKI HALEY HAVE TO HAVE? A VICTORY WOULD BE HUGE AND GIVE HER A LOT OF MOMENTUM GOING INTO SOUTH CAROLINA. YOU HAVE ABOUT FOUR WEEKS BEFORE VOTERS THERE GET TO VOTE, BUT IF SHE LOSES IS THERE A MARGIN OR A THRESHOLD WHERE REPUBLICANS SAY OKAY, THIS IS ENOUGH? >> FIRST OF ALL, SHE MIGHT WIN. THERE IS THAT. IF SHE DOESN'T LOSE, HOW MUCH DOES SHE WIN BY? SINGLE DIGITS, 10 POINTS, I THINK SHE WILL ARGUE THAT THAT IS A PRETTY STRONG NIGHT FOR HER AND I THINK SHE WILL BE ABLE TO ARGUE THAT I STILL HAVE A PATH. THE QUESTION COMES IF THE ELECTORATE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS SUITED TO NIKKI HALEY. THE FACT YOU HAVE SO MANY INDEPENDENTS AND MODERATES. CHRIS CHRISTIE VOTERS, LIKELY 60% OF THEM, WILL VOTE FOR HER. YOU DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF ELECTORATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOME OF THE SUPER TUESDAY STATES. OTHER EXIT POLLS THAT CAUGHT MY DECISION. OVER HALF OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY VOTERS, GOP PRIMARY VOTERS, SO THEY WOULD BE SATISFIED IF DONALD TRUMP ONE AND A SIMILAR SHARE SAID THEY WOULD BE HAPPY IF NIKKI HALEY ONE. SO AGAIN, YOU ARE NOT SEEING THIS. WE ARE SEEING DONALD TRUMP TAKING TO HIS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND RAILING ABOUT THE PROCESS. >> YOU'VE COVERED THE WHITE HOUSE -- AND THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN ONE POSTS. DO YOU THINK HE IS WATCHING SOME OF THESE RETURNS THAT COME IN AND MAYBE HEARING FROM HIS OWN CAMPAIGN? >> ABSOLUTELY. I AM SURE HE HAS BEEN TRACKING THIS IN REAL TIME AND HAS BEEN RAILING ABOUT THIS PROCESS EVEN BEFORE VOTES GOT UNDERWAY TODAY. BY THE WAY, HOGAN AND SARAH CAN SPEAK TO THIS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN FROM HIM BEFORE, TO TARGET THE PROCESS BEFORE THE VOTING STARTS. WE ARE SEEING THE FRUSTRATION BOIL OVER, BUT AGAIN, IT IS VERY EARLY. IT IS TOO EARLY TO SEE HOW THIS NIGHT IS GOING TO TURN OUT, BUT THE FACT HE IS RAILING AGAINST INDEPENDENTS BEING ABLE TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION IS A SIGN THAT HE IS WATCHING ALONG WITH US AND HE WOULD LIKE THIS RACE TO BE CALLED, LIKE IOWA. THIS IS HOW EARLY IOWA WAS CALLED. THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE TONIGHT. >> AND IT HAS BEEN HIS ARGUMENT IN LANGUAGE OVER ABORTION. HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT HE WON'T GO TO THE SIX WEEK BAN, BECAUSE HE WANTS TO WIN ELECTIONS. >> WHAT IS FASCINATING ABOUT THAT IS DONALD TRUMP APPOINTED THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE. WHEN I ASKED IN HIS INTERVIEW IF HE WOULD SUPPORT WHAT RON DESANTIS DID SIGN IN HIS STATE OF FLORIDA, HE SAID HE THINKS THAT GOES TOO FAR. THAT ENRAGED A LOT OF EVANGELICALS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO ABORTION. SO, IN A VERY POLITICALLY SAVVY WAY HE SAID TO SOME OF HIS ALLIES, THIS IS GOING TO BE A POLITICAL PROBLEM. THAT IS WHY YOU ARE SEEING HIM MODERATE WITH SOME GROUPS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO ABORTION. >> KRISTEN WELKER, WE LOVE HAVING YOU HERE. I AM SURE YOU WILL BE COMING BACK THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. YOU DISAPPEAR AND YOU GO SOMEWHERE. WHERE DO YOU GO? >> THERE ARE MULTIPLE BROADCASTS HAPPENING. I AM NOT RESTING, TOM. >> I KNOW YOU RE NOT. SO MANY SHOWS, YOU ARE ZIPPING AROUND. >> BUT YOU ARE A PRIORITY. >> MAYBE WE NEED A WELKER CAM, TO FOLLOW YOU AROUND. >> I WANT TO STICK AROUND AND HANG OUT WITH YOU GUYS. >> WE LOVE HAVING YOU. IT IS STILL AN EARLY NIGHT. I DO WANT TO GET NOW TO SHAQ BREWSTER, JOINING US FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE. VOTING IS STILL GOING ON THERE. ANOTHER 45 MINUTES WHERE YOU ARE AT? >> Reporter: YES, VOTING VERY ACTIVE RIGHT NOW. STILL SEEING PEOPLE FILE IN AND REGISTER TO VOTE. ONE THING UNIQUE ABOUT THIS LOCATION IS IT IS THE ONLY POLLING LOCATION IN THE ENTIRE TOWN OF MILFORD, NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE BORDER OF MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. IF YOU GO BACK TO 2016 AND LOOK AT THOSE RESULTS, YOU SAW DONALD TRUMP. YOU SAW PRESIDENT BIDEN WIN BY 34 VOTES. IT WAS ALMOST A BELLWETHER IN 2016 WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRIMARY. I WANT TO BRING IN KEITH. YOU HAVE BEEN HELPING US OUT ALL DAY. THE ELECTION MONITOR HERE. TELL ME, WITH ABOUT 45 MINUTES LEFT OF VOTING, WHAT DID YOU NOTICE? WHAT DID YOU SEE? ARE PEOPLE STILL COMING IN? >> PEOPLE ARE STILL COMING IN. WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE UNTIL 8:00, FOR SURE. >> Reporter: WHAT IS IT LOOKING LIKE RIGHT NOW? >> WE ARE ON TRACK FOR ABOUT 5500 VOTERS. >> Reporter: IN A TOWN OF 9800 REGISTERED VOTERS. >> SO FAR WE ADDED ABOUT 250 NEW VOTERS, APPROXIMATELY. WE HAVEN'T RUN THE NUMBERS YET. >> MY MATH IS NOT ALL THAT GREAT, BUT THAT SOUNDS LIKE OVER 50% OF REGISTERED VOTERS WHO CAST A BALLOT. >> YES. >> Reporter: TALK ABOUT WHY THIS LOCATION IS STILL OPEN FOR ANOTHER 45 MINUTES OR SO. >> MANY YEARS AGO, DECADES AGO, MANY PEOPLE WORK SO THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL :00 AT NIGHT. CATCH THE PEOPLE BEFORE THEY GO TO WORK AND CATCH THE PEOPLE AFTER THEY LEAVE. THE TOWN HAS VOTED THAT WAY EVER SINCE. >> Reporter: ALL RIGHT, IT SEEMS LIKE THINGS ARE GOING WELL SO FAR, TOM. THERE YOU GO. >> SHAQ BREWSTER, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR REPORTING. JOINING US NOW FROM THE TRUMP HEADQUARTERS, VIVEK RAMASWAMY, ONCE A CONTENDER IN THIS RACE AND AFTER SUSPENDING HIS CAMPAIGN HE ENDORSED FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. YOU MADE THE ENDORSEMENT IN THE SAME SPEECH THAT YOU DROPPED OUT. WHY WAS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU TO GET BEHIND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP? >> THERE WERE TWO AMERICA FIRST CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE FROM THE BEGINNING, DONALD TRUMP AND MYSELF. I KNEW THAT WE NEEDED AN OUTSIDER, A BUSINESSMAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE TO LEAD AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE. THE PEOPLE OF IOWA SPOKE LOUD AND CLEAR. I GOT A PERSON OF THE VOTE. I THINK IT WOULD BE THE SAME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. I WANTED TO SEND THAT VOTE DONALD TRUMP'S DIRECTION BECAUSE WE NEED IN AMERICA FIRST LEADER. I'M GLAD RON DESANTIS MADE THE DECISION HE DID. I THINK IT IS TIME FOR THE PRIMARY TO BE OVERRAN TO GO TO A GENERAL, DECISIVE ELECTION VICTORY THAT WILL BE REQUIRED TO REUNITE THIS COUNTRY. I FELT LIKE I WAS DOING MY DUTY AND MY PART AND I HOPE THAT CANDIDATES DO THEIRS. >> I'VE GOT TO THINK, YOU ARE A CAPITALIST AND ONE OF THE TENANTS OF CAPITALISM IS COMPETITION. DON'T YOU THINK COMPETITION WOULD MAKE THE PARTY BETTER? WOULD MAKE THE EVENTUAL NOMINEE BETTER? >> I THINK WE HAVE THAT COMPETITION. >> REALLY? >> YES. IT WAS THAT DECISIVE. I THINK NOW AFTER GOING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF RESOURCES. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU LOOK AT IS RESOURCE ALLOCATION. I DON'T THINK IT IS GOOD TO WASTE RESOURCES OF LARGE DONORS AND SMALL DONORS ALIKE FOR SOMETHING THAT I REALLY SEE AS A FAKE RACE FROM HERE ON OUT WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY AND THE PRIMARY BASE OF SPOKEN LOUD AND CLEAR. LET'S CALL THIS FOR WHAT IT IS. NIKKI HALEY AND HER SUPPORTERS ARE PLAYING FOR A SCENARIO THAT NO ONE IN THE GOP AND FRANKLY NO ONE IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE ROOTING FOR. IF DONALD TRUMP IS SOMEHOW WRONGFULLY ELIMINATED FROM THE BALLOT, THAT IS THE ONLY SCENARIO NIKKI HALEY HAS FOR THE NOMINATION AND I THINK IT IS WORTH SEEING THAT WITH OPEN EYES, OUT IN THE OPEN. SO TONIGHT A WIN IS A WIN FOR DONALD TRUMP AND I THINK IT SHOULD END THIS PRIMARY. SO WE CAN FOCUS ON A GENERAL ELECTION WHERE PEOPLE CAN DECIDE WHO THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY ACTUALLY IS, RATHER THAN HAVE RESOURCES SIPHONED INTO THIS PRIMARY. WHERE SOME OF THE LARGEST DEMOCRATIC REPORTERS, LIKE REID HOFFMAN, WHO IS PAYING FOR THE LAWSUIT AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, IS PAYING TO PROP UP NIKKI HALEY WITH HER SUPER PAC. ONE THING YOU NOTICE TONIGHT IF THE REPORTS ARE TO BE BELIEVED, THAT ACTUALLY YOU HAVE MORE INDEPENDENCE AND DEMOCRATS VOTING IN THE REPUBLICAN NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY THAN ACTUAL REGISTERED REPUBLICANS. WHICH MEANS THIS IS A PREVIEW OF WHAT THE GENERAL ELECTION SHOULD LOOK LIKE. I VIEW THIS AS A PRACTICE ROUND FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION AND I'M HOPING NOT JUST FOR A VICTORY FOR DONALD TRUMP IN THE GENERAL, BUT A DECISIVE ENOUGH VICTORY THAT WE CAN REUNITE THE COUNTRY AROUND THAT. THAT IS WHAT I AM HOPEFUL FOR BUT I THINK THE GOP PRIMARY IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO GET THERE. >> I WANT TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE SCREEN FOR OUR VIEWERS WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT WHICH IS A STATEMENT FROM THE RNC CHAIRWOMAN, RONNA McDANIEL. SHE PUT THIS OUT WHILE THE VOTING WAS STILL GOING ON AND SAYS IF PRESIDENT TRUMP COMES OUT STRONG TONIGHT, THAT IS A CLEAR MESSAGE FROM OUR PRIMARY VOTERS. YOU TOOK ISSUE WITH RONNA McDANIEL DURING OUR NBC NEWS DEBATE. ARE YOU SURPRISED YOU ARE NOW ON THE SAME PAGE SO QUICKLY? >> LOOK, JOHN FETTERMAN HAS SAID THINGS ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BORDER AGREE WITH AS WELL, THAT WE NEED TO SEAL THE SOUTHERN BORDER. SO IN MY EYES IT LOOKS LIKE A TRUE STATEMENT. YES, I AGREE WITH HER. THAT IS A CLEAR SIGNAL THAT THE PRIMARY VOTERS MATTER. IT IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE WHETHER WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP. I THINK WE DO. THE RNC HAS NOT BEEN WELL MANNO -- WELL-MANAGED OR RUN. THAT IS A QUESTION FOR ANOTHER NIGHT. THE QUESTION TONIGHT IS WHAT MESSAGE ARE PRIMARY VOTERS SENDING? I THINK THEY ARE SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ACROSS THE BOARD. ACTUAL REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS TONIGHT, WHAT DID THE REGISTERED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS ACTUALLY SAY VERSUS HOW DIFFERENT DOES THE RESULT LOOK WITH INDEPENDENTS OR FORMER REGISTERED DEMOCRATS INCLUDED? I THINK THIS IS MORE A TEST OF WHAT THE GENERAL ELECTION ITSELF COULD LOOK LIKE. SO IF IT COMES TO TRUMP TONIGHT WITH A VICTORY, A VICTORY IS A VICTORY AND A WIN IS A WIN AND I THINK THAT IS A PREDICTION OF WHAT THE GENERAL ELECTION COULD LOOK LIKE. IN SOME WAYS IT COULD BE VERY POSITIVE AND I THINK THAN RIGHT THING FOR NIKKI HALEY TO DO SOON IS TO GET OUT OF THIS RACE SO WE CAN FOCUS ON THE ELECTION. DELIVER A MORAL MANDATE, THAT I THINK COULD BE A LANDSLIDE IN THE SELECTION, AND THAT IS WHERE THE FOCUS SHOULD BE. NOT ON A PRIMARY THAT WE ARE EXTENDING FARTHER THAN THE ELECTORATE THINKS IT SHOULD GO. >> VOTERS IN THOSE STATES THINK THERE IS NOTHING FAKE ABOUT THEIR VOTES. I WANT TO ASK, HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT ABOUT ANY TYPE OF ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION IF HE WINS THE ELECTION? >> WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT MY ROLE IN THE FUTURE WILL BE. TO THE CONTRARY MY FOCUS REMAINS ON THIS COUNTRY. I ENTERED THIS RACE BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL TAKE AN OUTSIDER WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT TAKING ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE, THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND TO DO SO WITHOUT BEING BEHOLDEN TO OUTSIDE FORCES, FINANCIAL OR SPECIAL INTERESTS. THAT IS WHY I WAS IN THE RACE. THE PEOPLE OF IOWA SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE AND IF IT WASN'T GOING TO BE ME, I WENT INTO SUPPORT THE OTHER BUSINESSMAN IN THIS RACE WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT TAKING ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT IS DONALD TRUMP. I THINK MANY OF THE ISSUES HE IS RUNNING ON NOW, HE IS FOCUSED ON TRADITIONAL PARTISAN BOUNDARIES. GROWING THE ECONOMY, SEALING THE BORDER. REVIVING NATIONAL PRIDE IN THE NEXT GENERATION. THESE ARE NOT BLACK AND WHITE ISSUES AND NOT REALLY EVEN DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN ISSUES. THESE ARE AMERICAN ISSUES, SO I THINK THIS AMERICA FIRST MOVEMENT THAT WE LEAD, THAT DONALD TRUMP IS LEADING FROM THE FRONT, IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY UNITES AMERICANS ACROSS BOUNDARIES AND I THINK THAT WILL BE THE MAIN SURPRISE IN THE SECOND TERM, NOT ONLY HOW DECISIVE THE ELECTION RESULT IS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW WE ARE ABLE TO REUNITE THIS COUNTRY. THAT STARTS WITH FIRST REUNITING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE HEALTHY AT THIS POINT, NOT TWO MONTHS AGO, BUT AT THIS POINT AFTER THE FIRST TWO PRIMARY STATES OF DELIVERED A LEAR, DECISIVE RESULT, TO FOCUS ON WHAT THE PARTY ACCOMPLISHES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A DECISIVE GENERAL ELECTION RESULT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT WE REUNITE THIS OUNTRY AFTERWARDS. >> VIVEK RAMASWAMY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FROM TRUMPET QUARTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. UNITING THE PARTY IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WITH OUR PANEL. WE ARE JOINED NOW BY TO BE BLUE SERVED IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. RICH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO, UNITING THE PARTY, YOU HAVE VIVEK RAMASWAMY ON THE SAME PAGE AS RONNA McDANIEL, ESSENTIALLY SAYING IF TRUMP WINS THIS RACE, IT IS OVER. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VOTING OUT THAT THERE ARE STILL REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO MAY WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YOU THINK THIS PROCESS SHOULD CONTINUE OR IF TRUMP HAS A DECISIVE VICTORY IS IT OVER? >> IT IS PROBABLY EFFECTIVELY OVER. A MORAL VICTORY I DON'T THINK IT'S ENOUGH FOR NIKKI HALEY HERE. A LITTLE BIT LIKE DESANTIS. HE WAS NOT GOING TO GET THE SITTING GOVERNOR TO ENDORSE HIM, TO CAMPAIGN WITH HIM. THE PRIME ACTIVIST IN THE STATE AND HE GOT 21%. HE'S GOING TO DO BETTER THAN THAT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, BUT WHERE ELSE WILL IT BE BETTER FOR HER? THIS IS A MODERATE ELECTORATE WITH COLLEGE-EDUCATED VOTERS. INDEPENDENTS PLAY A BIG ROLE AND THERE ARE OTHER STATES WHERE INDEPENDENTS CAN VOTE IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES. HE MAY HAVE CAMPAIGNED HARDER THAN NIKKI HALEY. HE PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE. I WOULD EXPRESS A KIND OF DESANTIS RUNDOWN WHERE YOU DON'T REALLY GET OUT. YOU THINK ABOUT IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN REALITY SETS IN AND YOU GET OUT. >> DO YOU THINK THE FORMER PRESIDENT, THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING TRUMP, DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH THAT IF NIKKI HALEY LOSES TONIGHT THEY WILL FORCE HER TO STOP RUNNING? >> NIKKI HALEY'S CAMPAIGN HAS MADE CLEAR THAT THEY INTEND ON STICKING IT OUT THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA. THEY SAID THEY HAD $4 MILLION IN ADS THEY ARE GOING TO PURCHASE AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING TURNOUT BE HIGH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THAT IS A GOOD SIGN FOR HER AND HER CAMPAIGN. IF SHE CAN DEFY EXPECTATIONS AND GET IT CLOSE ENOUGH IN THE SINGLE DIGITS WITH DONALD TRUMP, PARTICULARLY I THINK SHE WOULD NEED LESS THAN 5%, SINGLE DIGITS, TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE CASE FOR WHY SHE SHOULD STAY AND THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA. THEN MAYBE SHE COULD GET AN INFLUX OF DONORS SUPPORTING HER, HELPING HER TO GET BACK TO STAY IN THE RACE. THERE IS A MONTH IN BETWEEN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTH CAROLINA. IT IS NOT A LIFETIME IN POLITICS, SO IT MIGHT BE TOUGH FOR HER TO STAY IN. >> INFORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WINS NEW HAMPSHIRE BIGOTS CLOBBERED BY THE INDEPENDENT VOTE, WHAT IS THE LOGIC AND IT WILL ALWAYS COME DOWN TO THE INDEPENDENCE? >> IT DOES IN SOME DEGREE, BUT BASE SELECTIONS CAPTURED BARACK OBAMA'S VICTORY IN A BIG WAY. MOBILIZING THAT BASE. DONALD TRUMP GOT MILLIONS MORE VOTES IN THE SECOND ELECTION. OBVIOUSLY IT DID NOT TURN OUT THE WAY HE WANTED, BUT THE EXPECTATION FROM NIKKI HALEY IS A WIN. THEY WERE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS AND ONLY BEFORE THE ELECTION DID THEY SAY HOLD ON, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS DO REALLY WELL. THAT MONTH BETWEEN THE END OF THE ELECTION TONIGHT AND SOUTH CAROLINA IS AN ETERNITY. I'M WITH SOUTH CAROLINA. I KNOW WHERE THEIR HEARTS ARE. IT IS NOT WITH THEIR GOVERNOR WHO WAS ELECTED TWICE, IT IS WITH DONALD TRUMP. SO REGARDLESS OF THE VICTORY TONIGHT ON THE SPREAD, FIVE POINTS, 15 POINTS, ONE POINT, DONALD TRUMP WILL BE 2-0. HE IS WINNING NEVADA BECAUSE HE IS NOT PLAYING THERE AND HE WILL WIN SOUTH CAROLINA. I DO NOT SEE A SCENARIO PLAUSIBLE, POSSIBLE, PROBABLE, WHERE NIKKI HALEY DECIDES TO STAY IN THE RACE ONLY TO LOSE HER HOME STATE BY 35 POINTS. I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. >> I DID HEAR FROM REPUBLICANS WHO SAY LISTEN, I DON'T LIKE TRUMP. I'M STILL REPUBLICAN. I REALLY DISLIKE BIDEN. I FEEL LIKE A STRANGER IN MY OWN PARTY. YOU COVERED REPUBLICAN POLITICS FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES. YOU GOT INTO IT WITH DONALD TRUMP AS A CANDIDATE AND YOU HAVE WRITTEN SUPPORTING HIS POLICIES. DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE A MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY AT TIMES? I WONDER. >> WELL, I'VE GOTTEN USED TO IT. LOOK, THE PARTY NEVER REALLY QUIT ON HIM. AFTER THE 2022 MIDTERMS, THEY DENIED DAYS >> AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION, TOO. >> HE LOST TO JOE BIDEN NARROWLY. HE LOSES THE INDEPENDENCE IN 2020, BUT REPUBLICANS THINK HE IS THE MOST DELECTABLE THIS TIME AROUND. THEY THINK HE DELIVERED ON THE PROMISES THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO IN 2016. THEY THINK HE IS STRONGER THAN ANYONE ELSE AND THINK HE HAS THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME IN A COMPETITIVE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY THAT SOMEONE HAS ONE IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE WILL SEE IF HE WINS TONIGHT WHAT THE MARGIN IS TONIGHT, BUT BY A HISTORIC MARGIN IN IOWA AND IT COULD STILL BE DOUBLE DIGITS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE IS NOT GOING TO BE STOPPED, THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE, AND MOST OF THE PARTY IS GOING TO RALLY AROUND HIM. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. SOMEONE BECOMES THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE AND THAT IS THE NORMAL THING. >> HOW DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO WITNESSED EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION, HOW DO THEY TALK THEMSELVES AND VOTING FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IF THEY THINK HE TRIED TO STEAL THE ELECTION? HE IS ACCUSED IN GEORGIA AND BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL. HOW DO THOSE REPUBLICAN VOTERS SAY I AM GOING TO GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT, EVEN THOUGH HE TRIED TO -- >> IT IS THE OPPOSITE. >> WALK US THROUGH THIS. >> REPUBLICANS THINK HE WAS DONE DIRTY AT SOME LEVEL. >> EVEN IF IT WERE LEGAL. >> THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS FOREMOST VULNERABILITY. HE LOST TO JOE BIDEN. HE LIED IT AWAY AND MOST REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH IT OR ACTIVELY BELIEVE IT. THAT IS THE KEY THING. THE FACTORS THAT HURT RON DESANTIS AND NIKKI HALEY BESIDES HOW TERRIBLE THE DESANTIS CAMPAIGN WAS, OBVIOUSLY THE INDICTMENTS, BUT THE ELECTABILITY ARGUMENT WENT AWAY. LOOK AT THE 2020 POLLING. HE NEVER LED AGAINST BIDEN. HE WAS NEVER THE STRONG IN NATIONAL POLLS EVER. I THINK IT IS ACTUALLY A SIGN OF WEAKNESS THAT HE IS NOT HOW YOUR AGAINST BIDEN, BECAUSE I THINK BIDEN IS IN SUCH A WEAK STATE. YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT ARGUMENT. YOU CAN'T SAY I'M LOSING BY 20 POINTS RIGHT NOW TO TRUMP AND YOU ARE BEATING BIDEN BY MORE THAN I AM, BUT I MORE ELECTABLE. I THINK THAT IS TRUE, BUT THE ARGUMENT DOESN'T WORK. >> I KNOW WE HAVE POLLING ON THIS, BUT WHEN YOU TALK TO REPUBLICANS DO YOU THINK THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE TRIED TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION OR DO YOU THINK THEY DON'T CARE? >> I THINK THEY BELIEVE HIS LIES THAT IT WAS STOLEN FROM HIM. THEY VIEW SOMEONE LIKE JOE BIDEN AS INCREDIBLY WEAK, SO THEY CAN'T IMAGINE A SCENARIO WHERE JOE BIDEN WOULD PULL OFF THE WIN AGAINST DONALD TRUMP. THE SAME REPUBLICANS WHO BELIEVE THAT, WE ARE HEARING NOW THE GUILTY PLEAS THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE TRUMP CO- CONSPIRATORS IN GEORGIA, WHERE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY KNEW THE TRUMP LAW STAND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FRAUD. DONALD TRUMP HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PROVE THOSE CLAIMS. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HAD THEIR LIES -- HAD THEIR MINDS POISONED BY THESE LIES. THEY STILL THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP IS MORE ELECTABLE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN. IT IS PERPLEXING WHY YOU WOULD BACK THE GUY, BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU BELIEVE IT WAS RIGGED, WHY WOULD YOU BACK THE GUY WHO LOST TO JOE BIDEN ONES? >> JACOB SOBOROFF IS AT A POLLING LOCATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, TALKING TO VOTERS AND GETTING A SENSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THE CAMPAIGN. WHAT ARE VOTERS TELLING YOU THEY CARE ABOUT MOST? ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION? DO YOU HEAR THE THREAT TO DEMOCRACY EVER? >> Reporter: IT IS ALL OF IT. OF COURSE YOU DO, TOM. I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT, BUT THERE IS ACTUALLY IMPORTANT NEWS HAPPENING HERE AS I TALK TO YOU FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE. YOU ARE ACTUALLY THE ONLY LL TIME OFFICIAL -- THE ONLY FULL TIME ELECTED OFFICIAL. YOU ARE ON THE VERGE OF, AND IT IS NOT HAPPENING FOR SURE AND YOU SEEM TO BE CONFIDENT THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT YOU COULD RUN OUT OF BALLOTS. YOU HAVE LESS THAN 1000 BALLOTS LEFT AND ALMOST 9000 PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED TONIGHT. IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES IT IS. WE WERE RUNNING LOW, SO WE CALLED THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THEY DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING EXTRA FOR US, BUT WE DID HAVE ABSENTEES THAT WE DID NOT USE AND THEY WERE AT TOWNHALL, SO WE WENT TO TOWN HALL AND BROUGHT THEM IN, SO THEY ARE HERE IN THE BUILDING IF WE NEED THEM. OUR TURNOUT HAS KIND OF SLOWED UP, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED THEM, BUT WE DO HAVE THEM. >> Reporter: YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY JURISDICTION, TOWN OR CITY, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT IS FACED WITH THIS ISSUE. I HEARD FROM OUR COLLEAGUES STEVE KORNACKI THAT THIS IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS ABLE TO GET THEM, CORRECT ME IF THIS ISN'T RIGHT, HE IS ABLE TO GET BALLOTS TO SOME OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE. IS THAT RIGHT? >> THEY TOLD US THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY PRINT OVERRUNS. THAT'S OKAY, WE HAVE THE ABSENTEES, SO WE ARE ALL SET. >> Reporter: WITH THOSE ABSENTEES, YOU FEEL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RUN OUT THE REST OF THE CLOCK HERE WITH 26 MINUTES TO GO AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE? >> WE WOULD MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE IF WE HAD TO MAKE A PHOTOCOPY AND I HAD TO SIGN EVERY SINGLE ONE AND WHILE THOSE THINGS, WE WOULD DO THEM. >> Reporter: THAT IS WHY WE LOVE OUR ELECTION WORKERS. THAT IS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU. YOU HEARD IT HERE. THE TURNOUT IS HIGH. THEY SAY ALMOST 9000. THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 50% TURNOUT AT THE BIGGEST POLLING LOCATIONS IF NOT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. WHICH WAY THOSE VOTERS GO, WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE POLLS CLOSE AND THE RESULTS ARE TABULATED. TOM. >> FROM THE REPORTING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, 10 COMMUNITIES HAVE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL BALLOTS. I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THOSE PEOPLE THE BALLOTS THEY NEED SO THEY CAN VOTE. JACOB, WE APPRECIATE YOU. YOU ARE WATCHING OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARIES. BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK WE ARE GETTING OUR FIRST RESULTS IN. ONLY 5%. A VERY CLOSE RACE. ACTUALLY 6%. 52% FOR DONALD TRUMP AND 47% FOR NIKKI HALEY. VERY CLOSE AND WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE WHEN WE COME BACK AFTER THIS BREAK. STAY WITH US. >>> NOW IS RAW. >> OUR HOUSE IS NO LONGER HERE, BUT WE ARE HERE. >> NOW IS REAL. NEWS FOR THE ENERATION OF NOW IS NBC NEWS NOW. >>> FIRE HAS GROWN LEAPS AND BOUNDS. WHAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS TYPICAL. HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> PRETTY, PRETTY BAD. >>> THIS IS A DECISION 2024 ELECTION ALERT. HERE IS TOM LLAMAS. >> WELCOME BACK. WE HAVE AN ELECTION ALERT. OUR FIRST RESULTS ARE COMING IN. A REMINDER, NOT ALL POLLS HAVE CLOSED ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE. WITH 6% OF THE VOTE COMING AND IT IS A CLOSE RACE. 52% FOR DONALD TRUMP. AS WE MENTIONED, ONLY 8% OF VOTES COUNTED SO FAR. AS SOON AS WE CAN PROJECT A WINNER IN THIS RACE WE WILL LET YOU KNOW, BUT IF IT IS A CLOSE RACE IT WILL TAKE LONGER. DASHA BURNS HAS BEEN WORKING NEW HAMPSHIRE EVER SINCE SHE LEFT IOWA ON AN OVERNIGHT FLIGHT AND HAS AN UPDATE FOR US. TELL US WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING THERE AND HEARING FROM VOTERS. >> Reporter: LET ME SHOW YOU AROUND HERE, BECAUSE NASHUA IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE. IN 2016 THE MARGINS WERE VERY SIMILAR TO THE STATEWIDE MARGINS, SO IT IS A BELLWETHER. IT WAS NOT HARD-CORE MAGA COUNTRY AND THE POLLS HERE ARE CLOSING IN 20 MINUTES OR SO. YOU SEE FOLKS GETTING THE BALLOTS HERE. THIS IS THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF THIS POLLING LOCATION BEING OPEN. NOW I WANT TO SHOW YOU OVER HERE, WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING PEOPLE COME TO THIS TABLE, WHICH IS THE NEW VOTER REGISTRATION TABLE. GRACE HAS BEEN REGISTERING VOTERS HERE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. TELL US HOW MANY, ABOUT HOW MANY NEW VOTERS DID YOU GET TODAY? >> DEFINITELY MORE THAN 100. >> Reporter: MORE THAN 100 NEW VOTERS. CAN YOU GRAB THAT SHEET OF PAPER? WE'VE GOT A COUNT RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE JUST UNDER 7000 REGISTERED VOTERS IN THIS AREA AND KATHY HAS BEEN HELPING US KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY BALLOTS HAVE BEEN TURNED IN, SO WHAT ARE THE LATEST NUMBERS? >> 3263. >> Reporter: O, MAIL-IN BALLOTS. OF COURSE. YOU CAN'T FORGET THE MAIL IN BALLOTS. MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND IN-PERSON BALLOTS. MORE THAN 50% AT THIS POINT. OUT HERE WE HAVE A TABLE THAT REMINDS YOU HOW DISTINCT NEW HAMPSHIRE IS. THIS IS WHERE UNDECLARED VOTERS COME AND REGISTER AS UNDECLARED. YOU CAN CHOOSE A DEMOCRATIC OR A REPUBLICAN BALLOT AND ON THE WAY OUT AS THEY GO TO BEING UNDECLARED THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND DO SO. THIS IS THE KIND OF AREA THAT NIKKI HALEY NEEDS TO RACK UP HER MARGIN, BECAUSE IN 2016 A LOT OF FOLKS WENT FOR MODERATE CANDIDATES. THIS IS AN AREA WHERE SHE REALLY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY. AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE BEEN MEETING A LOT OF UNDECLARED VOTERS AND DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE BEEN WRITING IN JOE BIDEN, BECAUSE THAT IS THE OTHER FACTOR WE ARE DEALING WITH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT WE WEREN'T DEALING WITH IN IOWA. YOU HAVE TRUMP AND ALSO THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN PUSHING A WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN FOR BIDEN, BECAUSE HE IS NOT OFFICIALLY ON THE BALLOT, BUT THEY ANT TO SHOW SUPPORT IN ALL OF THIS. SO WE ARE SEEING ALL OF THESE DYNAMICS AT PLAY AS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO VOTERS AND WATCHING THE PROCESS UNFOLD HERE. TOM. >> DASHA BURNS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING. WE WANT TO GET BACK OVER TO CHUCK TODD BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING EXIT POLL DATA WHEN IT COMES TO THE ISSUE OF ABORTION. TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS ARE TELLING OUR PEOPLE. >> Reporter: REMEMBER, THIS IS A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, BUT WE TOLD YOU THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ELECTORATE IS NOT LIKE MOST REPUBLICAN ELECTORATES. LOOK AT THIS, A FEDERAL BAN ON ABORTION NATIONWIDE. 67% OF THIS ELECTORATE OPPOSES THAT. REMEMBER, GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU IS A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND HE IS CONSIDERED PRO-CHOICE OR ABORTION-RIGHTS. LET ME SHOW YOU THIS TO SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE. THE SAME QUESTION WE ASKED IN IOWA. 61% FAVORED A BAN. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A HUGE DIFFERENCE. >> BUT TRUMP HAS BEEN OUT THERE. >> Reporter: I WAS GOING TO SAY, TRUMP AND HALEY HAVE BOTH SORT OF TRIED REALLY HARD TO MAKE YOU THINK THEY AGREE WITH YOU ON ABORTION. WHATEVER YOUR POSITION. THEY ARE BOTH KIND OF ELUSIVE ON IT. OBVIOUSLY TRUMP BECAUSE HE APPOINTED THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES CAN'T FULLY GET AWAY FROM SOME OF THESE ABORTION QUESTIONS. HALEY, YOU KNOW, HALEY HAS BEEN SOUNDING MORE PRO-ABORTION RIGHTS THAN I EVER HEARD HER BEFORE, PREVIOUSLY IN THIS CAMPAIGN. SOME OF IT MAY BE IN RESPONSE TO DOBBS, AS SHE POINTED OUT. HER HOME STATE HAS GONE REALLY RADICAL ON THIS. THERE HAS BEEN STATE LEGISLATION PROMOTING ALL SORTS OF THINGS. AGAIN, THIS GOES BACK TO WHY WAS NEW HAMPSHIRE SUCH A FAVORABLE PLACE? IT IS BECAUSE THIS IS AN ELECTORATE UNLIKE ANY OTHER. REMEMBER, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A SWING STATE. THESE NUMBERS TELL ME DONALD TRUMP CANNOT CARRY NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE AS THE VOTES COME IN. I WANT TO TALK TO OMEBODY WHO KNOWS NEW HAMPSHIRE VERY WELL. HE IS A POLITICAL REPORTER WITH THE BOSTON GLOBE. JAMES, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU SO FAR AS WE GET EXIT POLLING DATA IN. WE ARE PROJECTING A RECORD TURNOUT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AS WELL. >> Reporter: FIRST OF ALL, THESE ARE IMPRESSIVE VOTING NUMBERS FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS, BUT I WILL SAY NEW HAMPSHIRE ACTUALLY DOES TURNOUT. IN SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY WHERE NIKKI HALEY NEEDS TO DO WELL. IN CONCORD, FOR EXAMPLE. THIS IS WHERE WE WERE IN 2016. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE FEWER CANDIDATES AND LOWER ENTHUSIASM, BUT THIS WHOLE THING WILL HINGE ON TWO COUNTIES. THIS IS ALONG THE MASSACHUSETTS BORDER. AND HILLSBORO COUNTY WHERE I AM IN MANCHESTER AND YOU CAN SEE REPORTERS IN MILFORD AND OBVIOUSLY WHERE DOSHA IS AT IN NASHUA. 55% OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BASE -- IT IS NOW TWO-THIRDS. SO THE BOSTON SUBURBS, THE BOSTON MEDIA MARKET. THAT IS WHERE THIS RACE WILL BE DECIDED. I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING. YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THESE MARGINS WHERE NIKKI HALEY NEEDS TO DO ESPECIALLY WELL. SHE IS WINNING. SHE IS PROBABLY NOT WINNING BY THE TYPE OF MARGIN SHE WOULD NEED TO SUSTAIN IN RURAL INGREDIENT -- RURAL COMMUNITIES. AROUND THE WESTERN SIDE. 60 OR 70% OF THE VOTE. THAT WILL MAKE IT REALLY CHALLENGING FOR THIS. BUT FINISHING AT 8:00, THAT IS NIKKI HALEY TERRITORY. WE WON'T KNOW WHERE SHE STANDS UNTIL LATER TONIGHT. >> DO WE KNOW WHERE THE TURNOUT IS HIGHER THAN NORMAL OR DO WE -- OR ARE WE NOT SURE? >> Reporter: WE DO. TWO COUNTIES AND ONE IN PARTICULAR IS WHAT I AM OBSESSED WITH WHEN THERE IS A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY. WHENEVER IT IS GOVERNOR OR PRESIDENT. THIS TENDS TO HAVE A MIX OF PEOPLE IN THE TRADES. A LOT OF IT IS BEDROOM COMMUNITIES FOR BOSTON THAT ARE WHITE-COLLAR AND COLLEGE EDUCATED. THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT DID SEEK MORE AND MORE BALLOTS, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WE HAVE SEEN ANECDOTALLY MORE TURNOUT. I KNOW THAT MSNBC HAD A LIVE CAM. DONALD TRUMP VISITED THERE. THAT IS A COMMUNITY I AM WATCHING. THOSE DID COME IN VERY LATE. THEY HAVE HAD VOTING PROBLEMS IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF VOTER TURNOUT IN EACH OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND IT IS REALLY HIGH. THAT COULD BE REALLY GOOD FOR NIKKI HALEY IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. >> I DON'T THINK WE SPENT ENOUGH TIME TALKING ABOUT GOVERNOR SUNUNU AND HIS IMPACT ON THIS RACE. WE TALKED ABOUT HOW INDEPENDENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS ARE. THEY DON'T CARE HOW IOWA VOTED, THEY WANT THEIR OWN VOTE. DO THEY CARE WHO THE GOVERNOR WANTS AND WHO HE LIKES? >> Reporter: IT IS A GOOD QUESTION AND ONLY ONE THIRD OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS SAID THEY WOULD EVEN CONSIDER WHAT HE SAID. TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW. DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE IS THE SON OF A GOVERNOR AND FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF AND A FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND U.S. SENATOR, CHRIS SUNUNU DOES NOT HAVE MUCH OF A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THE LAST WEEKEND IN PARTICULAR, HE HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART IN CREATING SOME EXCITEMENT ABOUT HER CAMPAIGN. PROBABLY EVEN MORE. HER LAST RALLY INCLUDED 34 MINUTES OF TALKING AND NO QUESTIONS. HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING TO CARE ABOUT AND TO VOTE AGAINST TRUMP. IN FACT, I SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS AT POLLING PLACES AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THERE ARE THREE CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE, IN THIS ORDER. ONE, THEY LOVE TRUMP. SECOND, DON'T LIKE TRUMP OR I AM OVER TRUMP WHERE HE IS TOO OLD. THIRD, I THINK I LIKE NIKKI HALEY OR SHE IS A WOMAN AND I AM A WOMAN AND I AM SORT OF INTO THAT. THOSE ARE THE THREE BUCKETS AND THAT SECOND BUCKET, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT CHRIS SUNUNU HELP TO DRIVE THAT TURNOUT. >> WE APPRECIATE IT. IF YOU WANT TO GET THAT ROCKINGHAM TATTOO, I WILL PAY FOR IT. YOU CLEARLY LOVE THAT COUNTY. I DO WANT TO GO TO GARRETT HAAKE AT THE TRUMP WATCH PARTY RIGHT NOW. MY FIRST QUESTION HAS TO BE ABOUT THE REACTION WE ARE SEEING FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. WE ARE SURMISING THAT HE IS POSSIBLY WATCHING THE RETURN COMING IN AND WATCHING THE COVERAGE. HIS FIRST SORT OF ELECTION TONIGHT TWEET, BEING KIND OF UPSET THAT INDEPENDENCE WERE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION. >> Reporter: YEAH, TOM, IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, THE PUBLIC STANDS AND WHAT THE CANDIDATE HIMSELF IS THINKING, WHICH HE ALMOST ALWAYS SHARES WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THAT IS TRUE TONIGHT WHERE THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SO BOASTFUL TODAY OF HOW WELL THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD DO. HOW THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD CLOSE THIS RACE OUT. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE ROOM BEHIND ME ON THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE PARTY THEY ARE THROWING TONIGHT WITH AN OPEN BAR AND EVERYONE HERE IN ATTENDING. THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE CELEBRATING TONIGHT. THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS POSTING ON TRUTH SOCIAL, ABOUT THE WAY THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE RUNS THIS PRIMARY. THE IDEA THAT DEMOCRATS OR UNAFFILIATED VOTERS CAN JOIN IN THIS PROCESS. IT CLEARLY FRUSTRATES HIM. EARLIER TODAY HE LAID THAT AT THE FEET OF THE GOVERNOR, BASICALLY SAYING THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FIX AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE IDEA THAT THIS IS HOW REPUBLICANS SELECT THEIR NOMINEES. IT IS A DIRECT CONTRAST WITH NIKKI HALEY. THE BIGGER THE TENT, THE MORE PEOPLE YOU ARE BRINGING INTO VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN IN THE FALL. DONALD TRUMP DOES NOT SEE IT THAT WAY AND HE IS CLEARLY FRUSTRATED WITH THE IDEA THAT INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS IF NOT RUINING, AT LEAST ARE CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THE CELEBRATION THEY HOPE TO HAVE TONIGHT. I CAN TELL YOU KIND OF THE ULTIMATE CAMPAIGN NIGHT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE TALKING DON'T KNOW AND PEOPLE WHO KNOW ARE NOT TALKING. THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN TEAM IS GOING TO BE WATCHING THESE NUMBERS CLOSELY. THEIR GUY, THEIR CANDIDATE, ALWAYS TIPS HIS HAND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW HE FEELS. >> AND TWO VERY DIFFERENT CAMPAIGN MANAGERS AND PEOPLE LEADING THIS CAMPAIGN. I DID WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID. GEORGE SANTOS IS AT THE WATCH PARTY? HOW IS HE BEING RECEIVED? >> Reporter: I SAW HIM MYSELF, TOM, TAKING PICTURES AT THE BAR WITH A LOT OF FANS. HE IS, IN HIS OWN WAY, VERY MUCH A MAGA CELEBRITY AND A CREATURE OF THIS MOMENT. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO HIM MYSELF YET, BUT THE SELFIE LINE WAS LONG AROUND THE FORMER CONGRESSMAN AT THE BAR A FEW MINUTES AGO. >> GARRETT HAAKE FOR US AT THE TRUMP WATCH PARTY TONIGHT. WE WILL CHECK BACK WITH YOU VERY SOON. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ELECTION ALERTS. STEVE KORNACKI WILL SHOW US WHERE NIKKI HALEY IS TO GO TO FIND THE VOTES. TELL US WHERE SHE NEEDS TO GO? >> Reporter: RIGHT HERE I THINK WHAT JUMPS OUT IS THIS. 6% CALL THEMSELVES LIBERAL AND 31% CALL THEMSELVES MODERATE. THAT IS A COMBINED TOTAL OF 37% SAYING MODERATE OR LIBERAL. IN 2016, THE LAST COMPETITIVE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE TOTAL NUMBER WAS 29%. THIS IS 8% HIGHER. IF YOU ARE HAVING FAR MORE NON REPUBLICANS PARTICIPATE, IT MIGHT FOLLOW THAT THE IDEOLOGY WOULD MOVE A LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SEEING. AGAIN, IS THIS A RED HERRING OR ARE THE NUMBERS GOING TO REMAIN LIKE THIS? OTHER THINGS WE CAN SHOW YOU. WE TALKED SO MUCH IN IOWA LAST WEEK ABOUT THE ROLE OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS. 55%. IT WENT OVERWHELMINGLY FOR DONALD TRUMP. THEY WERE THE BACKBONE OF THE IOWA LANDSLIDE LAST WEEK. LAST YEAR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, IDENTIFYING AS BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN AND EVANGELICALS, 19%. AGAIN, FAR LOWER THAN IOWA. WE KNEW IT WOULD BE LOWER THAN IOWA, BUT ALSO NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ONE OF THE MOST SECULAR REPUBLICAN ELECTORATES ARE GOING TO FIND. EIGHT YEARS AGO IT WAS 25% AND IT IS DOWN FROM THAT. AGAIN, A BROKEN RECORD, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT. OTHER KEY FINDINGS I THINK WE CAN SHOW YOU HERE. I WANT TO SHOW ONE MORE FROM THE SECOND PAGE AND WE ASKED THIS QUESTION IN IOWA AND AGAIN TONIGHT. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF PART OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT? THE ANSWER IN THIS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS 64%, BASICALLY TWO THIRDS, SAY THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THEMSELVES THAT. PART OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT. I AM SEARCHING TO MAKE SURE I GET THE RIGHT NUMBER HERE. IN IOWA LAST WEEK, THE NUMBER WAS 50. SO I JUMPED UP DOUBLE DIGITS. >> STEVE KORNACKI FOR US. HE CAN'T STOP. WE'VE GOT TO GO. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANT TO BRING BACK IN THE PANEL NOW. I WANT TO ASK YOU, WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM REPUBLICANS AND WE'VE HEARD AROUND THE TRUMP WATCH PARTY. PEOPLE LIKE GEORGE SANTOS. SORT OF THESE MAGA CELEBRITIES WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. HOW ARE THEY VIEWED BY ALL REPUBLICANS? WHY IS SOMEONE LIKE DISGRACED FORMER CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS, WHY IS HE EMBRACED BY THE COMMUNITY? >> BECAUSE HE IS FAMOUS. FAMOUS FOR ANYTHING. >> POLITICAL CELEBRITY. >> AND THIS IS ONE THING I THINK THAT IS A TREND IN POLITICS GENERALLY. YOU USED TO COME TO WASHINGTON AND TRY TO LEGISLATE. NOW YOU CAN COMMAND BEYOND SOCIAL MEDIA AND DO CABLE HAD SENT BE A CELEBRITY WITHOUT REALLY DOING ANY WORK OR BEING INTERESTED IN DOING THE WORK OR REACHING OUT TO THE OTHER SIDE OR WHATEVER IT IS. I THINK THAT IS A BROAD TREND IN POLITICS. >> WHY DOES FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WANT PEOPLE LIKE CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS, AS YOU SEE HIM TALKING TO GARRETT HAAKE, WHY DOES HE WANT HIM AT THE PARTY? >> A COUPLE OF THINGS. I AM SURE IF HE WAITS AROUND HE WILL BE HAPPY TO GET A PICTURE WITH GEORGE SANTOS. I AM NOT SURE THAT TRUMP WANTS HIM THERE OR THINKS HE IS GREAT IN ANY FORM OR FASHION. I HAVE NOT TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IN POLITICS NOW BEING CELEBRITIES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN RUN OUT OF OFFICE OR NOT, SO THAT IS A WEIRD BEDFELLOW, IF YOU ASK ME. I WOULD NOT BE TOO KEEN. I'M NOT GOING TO GET A PHOTO WITH GEORGE SANTOS, BUT YOU KNOW, WHATEVER. >> YOUR THOUGHTS AS WE SEE THE VOTES COMING IN. WE STILL HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSE AT 8:00 EASTERN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE HAVE 12% OF THE VOTE. 47% FOR NIKKI HALEY. A LOT CLOSER NOW AT LEAST THEN THE POLES HAD IT BEFORE THE VOTING STARTED. >> I WANT TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT GEORGE SANTOS. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A BAD COMMENTARY THAT SOMEONE LIKE GEORGE SANTOS WAS EVEN ALLOWED IN THE DOOR. DONALD TRUMP IS A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT WITH 91 COUNTS AGAINST HIM. GEORGE SANTOS IS ALSO A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT WITH COUNTS AGAINST HIM. HE WAS JUST THROWN OUT OF CONGRESS IN DISGRACE AND YET HERE HE IS, IN THE TRUMP SHOW, FULLY EMBRACED. THAT DOES NOT HELP THE IMAGE IN A GENERAL ELECTION. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY THE FACT THAT THESE PEOPLE HANG OUT TOGETHER TELLS YOU ABOUT THE INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER OF THIS TYPE OF PERSONALITY COLT GOING ON IN THE GOP. SO THAT IS NOT HELP DONALD TRUMP WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERAL ELECTION. I WANT TO TALK NOW ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE. DONALD TRUMP PUTTING OUT THAT MESSAGE EARLIER ON TRUTH SOCIAL TELLS ME THAT HE IS NERVOUS. YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT WHEN YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IN YOUR POSITION, THERE IS NO NEED TO ATTACK THE PROCESS. HOW DO I KNOW THAT? BECAUSE I SPENT 27 YEARS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND WE USED TO MAKE FUN OF DEMOCRATS WOULD GO AFTER PROCESS COMPLAINTS. SO IT IS CLEAR THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO GET THE BLOWOUT WIN, SO NOW HE IS GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROCESS TO TRY TO BLUNT THE EXPECTATION HERE IN CASE IT IS NOT A 20 OR 30 POINT BLOWOUT LIKE IOWA AND GOD FORBID SINGLE DIGITS OR IF SHE WINS. THAT IS WHAT THAT IS ABOUT. >> DONALD TRUMP HAD 36%. >> BECAUSE THERE WAS A PLURALITY OF THE VOTE. >> THIS IS A GREAT STRATEGIC INSIGHT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU. THIS LINE HERE, I HOPE IT BLOWS YOU AWAY. YOU KNOW, IT IS A FIVE OR SIX POINT MARGIN. IF IT IS, NIKKI HALEY WILL ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE CONSOLIDATION AFTER CHRIS CHRISTIE LEAVES. IT WAS GOOD FOR HER. WITH DESANTIS AND VIVEK STILL IN THEIR SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO OVER THE TOP. >> I HAVE CHUCK SIGNALING ME. I'M GOING TO RUN OVER TO CHUCK TODD AT THE BIG BOARD. >> WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UPDATE OUR EXIT WITH THE REAL DATA, SO WE WAITED IT A LITTLE BIT. THEY ARE SMALL SHIFTS, BUT IMPORTANT SHIFTS. HERE IS THE IGGEST ONE. EARLIER IN THE EVENING THE FIRST TWO WAVES HAD 47% AND A COMBINED INDEPENDENT AND DEMOCRATIC NUMBER WAS SITTING AT 63%. NOW WHAT ARE WE STARING AT? IT IS FOUR POINTS, BUT THAT IS A HUGE SWING. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COIN FLIP AND FIVE OR 10 POINTS OR THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE CLEARLY WAS A SLIGHT OVERSTATEMENT AND THIS IS WHY. THE EXIT POLLS, YOU WANT TO SEE THEM AFTER WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SAMPLE PRECINCTS AND WAITED TO REAL-TIME DATA. YOU GET A REAL SENSE. IT IS A SLIGHT SHIFT, BUT AN IMPORTANT SHIFT THAT I THINK SIGNALS, DIRECTIONALLY, THAT THIS IS LOOKING MORE FAVORABLE FOR DONALD TRUMP. >> NOT ENOUGH REPUBLICANS ON THAT SIDE WILL HAVE PICKED NIKKI HALEY. THAT HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM. >> WE'VE HAD THIS PHENOMENON BEFORE, RIGHT? JOHN McCAIN ONE REPUBLICAN VOTERS, TOO, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE DID NOT WIN A MAJORITY, BUT HE WON A PLURALITY. THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. WE WILL SHOW YOU THE BREAKDOWN, BUT IT IS BASICALLY A TOTAL FLIP WHERE TRUMP IS BEATING HER BADLY AMONG REPUBLICANS AND HALEY IS BEATING HIM BADLY AMONG INDEPENDENTS. THAT IS NOT THE FORMULA SHE NEEDS. >> THAT INDEPENDENT NUMBER, THOUGH, CHUCK. WE ARE COMING UP ON 8:00 AND WE WILL HAVE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT AT 8:00, BUT THAT NUMBER, COULD THAT HAVE BEEN EVEN HIGHER? >> SURE, THIS IS PRETTY HIGH ALREADY, OKAY? BUT I HAVE BEEN GOING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE SINCE 1996, COVERING THEM SINCE 1992. A LOT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WAS NOT ONE MORE DEBATE. THE FINAL WEEKEND IS A HUGE, DECISIVE WEEKEND. SO I CAN'T HELP BUT ONDER, HAD NIKKI HALEY GOT THE COMMAND PERFORMANCE ON THE ONLY TELEVISION AFFILIATE, THE ONLY ONE BROADCASTING ALL OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, SHE WALKED AWAY FROM THAT. AGAIN, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DEBATE RON DESANTIS ANYMORE. SHE WANTED TRUMP THERE, I GET IT. BUT I WONDER IF SHE MISSED SOME IMPORTANT MARKERS IN THE FINAL WEEK THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD IT HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENCE? IF SHE COMES UP SHORT SHE WILL SECOND-GUESS A BUNCH OF STUFF ABOUT THE SCHEDULE. >> AND IF THERE WAS ANOTHER DEBATE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEBATE ANYONE, BECAUSE TRUMP WOULD NOT HAVE SHOWN UP. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER ON THE STAGE, BUT I GUESS SHE COULD'VE DONE A TOWN HALL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE ARE COMING TO THE OP OF THE HOUR RIGHT NOW. POLLS ARE CLOSING AND WE ARE STANDING BY FOR OUR FIRST CHARACTERIZATION FOR THIS RACE. >>> WE ARE ONE SECOND, 8:00 ON THE DOT, THE POLLS HAVE CLOSED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. COMING TO YOU WITH NBC NEWS ELECTION ALERT AT THIS HOUR. THIS IS IMPORTANT, NBC NEWS DECISION DESK IS PROJECTING THE RACE IS STILL TOO EARLY TO CALL BUT THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP LEADS. YOU CAN SEE THE VOTE TOTALS, RIGHT NOW 12% OF THE VOTE IN. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP 52% OF THE VOTE. NIKKI HALEY WITH 47% OF THE VOTE AT THIS HOUR BUT IT IS VERY EARLY, ONLY 12% OF THE VOTE IN. NBC NEWS ELECTION THAT THE DECISION DESK STILL WAITING ON MAKING A CALL PROJECTION. TRUMP IS LEADING BUT IT IS TOO EARLY, STILL WAITING FOR MORE BOATS AND DATA. NIKKI HALEY LOOKING TO PULL OFF A MAJOR UPSET TONIGHT AS SHE FACES MAKE OR BREAK MOMENT IN HER CAMPAIGN. THE CROWD EARLIER, ANOTHER ELECTION ALERT COMING RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE COMING FAST AND SERIOUS. VERY INTERESTING, MAYBE NOT SURPRISING BUT INTERESTING. NBC NEWS CAN PREDICT JOE BIDEN WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY. WHY IS IT INTERESTING? HE DID NOT COMPETE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, THIS IS FROM A RIGHT-IN CAMPAIGN. JODY DEAN TRYING TO CHALLENGE, HE HAS LOST. NBC NEWS CAN PROJECT WINNER OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. WILL THIS MATTER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BECAUSE THE DELEGATES WILL NOT BE AWARDED, SOUTH CAROLINA WILL BE THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY. LET'S GO TO CHUCK TODD TO WALK US THROUGH THE INTERESTING CONUNDRUM THE DEMOCRATS FIND THEMSELVES IN WITH NO DELEGATE . >> NO DELEGATES ARE AWARDED. IT IS WORTH NOTING WHILE WE DON'T KNOW EVERY SINGLE RIGHT -- WRITE-IN . ASSUME 5% IS PULLED FROM THAT, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, DEAN NOT GETTING INTO THE 20s IS A TOUGH THING. HIS CAMPAIGN WOULD LIKE TO FIND A PLACE THEY GET ON THE BALLOT WITH JOE BIDEN TO SEE IF THERE REALLY IS MOVEMENT HERE, THE ONE EARLY STATE THEY'RE LOOKING AT AND MAY SPEND MONEY AND IS MICHIGAN. SOUTH CAROLINA IS A STATE YOU WILL NOT DEFEAT JOE BIDEN IN BUT MICHIGAN IS. >> PUTTING JOE BIDEN OVER-THE- TOP A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST, NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> BIDEN DID SO WELL. FORTH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND FIFTH IN IOWA. IT IS SOMETHING CHRIS SUNUNU HAS TO WORRY ABOUT WITH THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY. THOSE WHO ARE NOMINEES DECIDE THE PRIMARY CALENDARS BASED ON THEIR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. IF NEW HAMPSHIRE -- >> THE 10 DELEGATES GO TO THE CONVENTION, THEY WILL BE SEATE . THEY ALWAYS SAY THEY WON'T BE SEATED, IN 2008, WHOEVER THE NOMINEE IS, THEY WILL SEAT THEM BECAUSE NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A SWING STATE. IDAHO, NOT A BIG DEMOCRATIC STATE, THEY WILL TELL THEM TO POUND SAND. THAT WILL NOT TELL THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ELECTORATE TO POUND SAND. >> GROWN BY 13%, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DRAW SO FAR? >> I WILL TAKE YOU TO ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS IS A GROWING PART OF THE STATE, THIS IS SOMEPLACE SHE NEEDED TO NARROW A LITTLE BIT. LET ME SHOW THE LAST COUPLE CYCLES, IT IS A GROWING VOTE, MORE VOTE THAT TURNED OUT IN ROCHESTER BEFORE AND TRUMP IS DOING BETTER, MORE RAW VOTES WITH 68%. YOU CAN SEE THIS WAS NOT AS FRIENDLY TO THE MODERATE CANDIDATES BUT THIS IS WHY HE IS LEADING BECAUSE SHE IS DOING WELL IN THE DEMOCRATIC COUNTIES, THE SWING COUNTIES, YOU LOOK AT CONCORD. SHE IS NOT WINNING BY THE SAME MARGINS. THE TOWNSHIPS SHE ARE WINNING ARE NOT, THIS IS ONE SHE REALLY NEEDED TO RUN UP THE SCORE. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE. >> MANCHESTER JUST CLOSED. >> I CAN SHOW YOU HERE. SO YOU CAN SEE HERE, MANCHESTER A LITTLE MORE WORKING CLASS, IT WOULD BE A PRETTY BIG UPSET IF HALEY WAS ABLE TO CARRY MANCHESTER. TRUMP IS WINNING BY BIGGER MARGINS IN HIS AREAS AND HALEY IS IN HER AREAS. >> WE APPRECIATE THAT. HALLIE JACKSON OUT AND ABOUT IN THE GRANITE STATE. AT A POLLING LOCATION AND MADE HER WAY TO A WATCH PARTY. IS THAT A SALOON, A BAR? >> Reporter: IT SURE IS. >> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM EVERYONE ENJOYING A NICE BEVERAGE AND THE POLITICS TO GO AS WELL? >> THAT IS THE THING, COMING OUT TO SEA AND TO GET A SENSE OF NEIGHBORS AND COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOTED IN THIS PRIMARY. IT IS A WATCH PARTY, A LOT OF FOX NEWS ON THAT TV, PEOPLE TURNING OUT TO SEE THE RETURNS LIKE PAT, BELLY UP TO THE BAR HERE. THANK YOU FOR CHATTING WITH US. HOW DID IT GO TODAY BOATING WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR AND WHY? >> I VOTED TRUMP BECAUSE I LIKE HIS POLICIES, NOT NECESSARILY THE MAN, HE IS A LITTLE VOCAL AND SOMETIMES HE CAN BE DIVISIVE. OVERALL, HIS POLICIES WORK AND I DON'T THINK BIDEN'S SON ARE. >> DID YOU CONSIDER OR EVALUATE OTHER CANDIDATES? DID YOU CONSIDER BACKING NIKKI HALEY OR WERE YOU ALWAYS FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT? >> I LIKE HER TOO. PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH HIS POLICIES SO THEY MIGHT LEAN TOWARD HIM MORE BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. IT IS EARLY VOTING SO SHE COULD WIN IN OUR STATE AND KEEP GOING, YOU NEVER KNOW. I THINK MAYBE SHE COULD RUN AGAIN MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD I THINK SHE STILL HAS A GOOD CHANCE. IT MAY NOT BE HER TIME YET. >> Reporter: WHY DID YOU COME OUT TONIGHT? WATCHING THE RETURNS COME IN, BEING WITH OTHERS? >> I LIKE FOX NEWS AND I SAW HE WAS GOING TO BE HERE, MAYBE WE CAN SEE HIM. >> Reporter: THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US. A LOT OF FOLKS OUT HERE TONIGHT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS I WANT TO BRING IT TO OTHER FOLKS WERE TALKING TO, ONE THING WE SEE DROP THE COURSE OF THE EVENING IS WAITING FOR THE POLLS TO CLOSE. SO MUCH INTEREST, I HEARD YOU AND CHUCK TALKING ABOUT IT ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTES. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THE RESULTS. >> HALLIE JACKSON, WE APPRECIATE YOU. HERE'S THE BOARD READING OUT RESULTS, CITY THAT WE WANT TO WATCH. >> 510. ASA HUTCHINSON, ZERO. PETER CHATTING, ZERO. PERRY JOHNSON, ZERO. DONALD COULD JOIN US, ZERO. MARY MAXWELL, TWO. GLENN PETERS, ZERO. DARIUS MITCHELL, ZERO. MIKE PENCE, ZERO. VIVEK RAMASWAMY, TWO. >> VOTE COUNT ENFORCEMENT CONSENT LIKE WE MISSED THE TWO TOP CONTENDERS. IT IS A LIVE EVENT AS THEY ARE HAPPENING >>> BREAKING NEWS, SPEAKING WITH THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN MANAGER OF THE RE-ELECTION TEAM. >> Reporter: I SPOKE EXCLUSIVELY WITH RODRIGUEZ. THE FACT THERE IS MOVEMENT WITHIN THE BIDEN SENIOR LEADERSHIP. THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WAS THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN MANAGER IN 2020, MOVING TO DELAWARE TO TAKE A SENIOR ROLE IN THE CAMPAIGN AS WELL MIKE DONELAN, THE CHIEF STRATEGIST FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. IT IS DESCRIBED AS A SHAKEUP AND SIGNIFICANT MOVE CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES AS ACCELERATION OF WHAT WAS PLANNED. SPEAKING WITH JULIE CHAVEZ RODRIGUEZ, BUT IT MEANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN, THEY ARE FAMILIAR NAMES TO THE CAMPAIGN, FAMILIAR NAMES THAT THIS IS ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH AS WE GO INTO THE NEW PHASE OF THE GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN. I ASKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP SHE HAS WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, SHE IS THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER AT THAT FREE TIME WEEKLY. SHE SAYS THAT RELATIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE, EXCITED THERE'S A GREAT ENERGY AROUND THE CAMPAIGN, ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT WE SAW TONIGHT WHICH WAS A RALLY WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IN VIRGINIA. SETTING UP THE NEXT PHASE OF THE CAMPAIGN. THESE COMMENTS SPEAK TO WHAT THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN TRIES TO CHARACTERIZE AS FULL-TIME ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH TO THE CAMPAIGN, NOT NECESSARILY A SHAKEUP. >> MIKE MEMOLI TONIGHT, WE APPRECIATE THAT REPORTING. IF YOU HAVE UPDATES, LET US KNOW. EIGHT: TONIGHT ON THE EAST COAST, NEW HAMPSHIRE WE ARE WATCHING, TOO EARLY TO CALL BY NBC NEWS STANDARDS, 15% OF THE VOTE IN. DONALD TRUMP SLEEP KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AS MORE VOTE COMES IN. CHUCK TODD AT THE BOARDS TONIGHT, SOMETHING YOU POINT IT OUT TONIGHT AS WE GET MORE IN, SOMETHING INTERESTING THAT WORKS IN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S FAVOR. >> TRUMP/HALEY SPLITS, WAITING FOR THE EXIT POLL, 49% OF REPUBLICANS, AMONG THOSE REPUBLICAN THAT VOTED IN THIS PRIMARY, LOOK AT THIS NUMBER THAT TRUMP GOT, 74% OF SELF IDENTIFIED REPUBLICANS, HALEY WITH 25%, YOU KNOW THE MATH, SHE NEEDED OVER 30. >> THAT IS NOT BAD BUT SOMETHING BAD DID HAPPEN. >> IT IS NOT BAD UNTIL YOU SEE THIS NUMBER. HERE IS HALEY AMONG INDEPENDENTS. TRUMP GOT 75% OF GOP, HALEY IS GETTING 61 THERE, SHE GOT 25% OF GOP, TRUMP GOT 37. MORE REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS AND TRUMP DID BETTER WITH INDEPENDENTS THAN SHE DID WITH REPUBLICANS. BASIC ALGEBRA NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN REGULAR ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION, YOU CAN SEE WHY WE CHARACTERIZE THE RACE WE DID AREA >>> I HAVE TO INTERRUPT, KEY ELECTION ALERT THAT WE GOT FROM THE DECISION DESK, STANDBY FOR BREAKING NEWS. I THINK WE HAVE A CALL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> NBC NEWS 10 PROJECT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS WON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY DEFEATING U.N. AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY. SYAL IS AT THE WATCH PARTY FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE FORMER PRESIDENT 2 FOR 2. NIKKI HALEY SAYS IT IS NOT A CORONATION, SHE WILL STAY IN THE RACE. CLEAR WITH IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE TRUMP VICTORY PARTY? >> Reporter: JUST A MINUTE AGO, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN CHANGED THE DIGITAL BILLBOARD BEHIND US TO SAY THAT TRUMP WINS NEW HAMPSHIRE. A HUGE CHEER WENT FROM THE PARTY, ALL THE MAKINGS OF A VICTORY PARTY BUT STARTING TO GET ROWDY. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS WAS THE EXPECTED RESULT FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. WE WILL FIND OUT WHAT THE FINAL MARGIN IS VICTORY IN IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS BEEN A GOLDEN TICKET TO THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN STARTING TO PIVOT TOWARD GENERAL ELECTION, ALL OF THEIR MESSAGING INCLUDING MOMENTS AGO, A STATEMENT FROM THE SUPER PAC SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP IS ARGUING EVERY DAY OR MORE FROM THIS MOMENT ON THAT THE PRIMER CONTINUES IS A DAY JOE BIDEN IT'S AN ADVANTAGE HE SHOULD NOT HAVE AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDS TO COALESCE AROUND DONALD TRUMP. I EXPECT TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE FROM THE CANDIDATE WHEN HE TAKES THE STAGE LATER TONIGHT. HEARING FROM ARMY OF SURROGATES TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR ON THE PRIMARY AFTER TWO-STATE VOTING. ANOTHER VICTORY FOR DONALD TRUMP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, FIRST DATE HE WON IN 2016 THAT LAUNCHED HIM TOWARD THE NOMINATION THAT YEAR, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN 2024 IS OPEN, THIS FOLLOWS A SIMILAR TRAJECTORY. >> SPLIT SCREEN LOOKING AT THE NIKKI HALEY WATCH PARTY AS WELL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE FEELING NOT AS EXCITED, A BIT DOUR FROM WHAT WE CAN SEE FROM THE BODY LANGUAGE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THEIR PHONES. WAS THERE A MOMENT TONIGHT WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE KING TRUMP WAS NERVOUS OR DID THEY HAVE THIS THE WHOLE TIME? >> Reporter: TEAM TRUMP, NO. PROFESSIONALS FROM THE CAMPAIGN, THEY HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, THEY WERE VERY CONFIDENT WITH THE NUMBERS, CONFIDENT THAT FOUR REPUBLICAN VOTERS WOULD COME HOME WITH THEIR CANDIDATE. THAT CANDIDATE HIMSELF, DONALD TRUMP, AS HE ALWAYS DOES, EXPRESSES HIMSELF ON SOCIAL MEDIA. VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE NUMBERS HE SAW EARLIER THIS EVENING TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS, UNAFFILIATED VOTERS HURT IS A PAIN IN THE PROCESS HE WON IN HAMPSHIRE BY 20 POINTS IN 2016. LESSER THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN BUT THE TRUMP CANDIDATE EXPECTED TO SEE A SIMILAR MARGIN. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WILL END UP BEING THE CASE. FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE MARGIN WAS PALPABLE, CHRIS SUNUNU, NEW HAMPSHIRE GOVERNOR PALPABLE THROUGH OUT THE WEEK THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN NEVER SWEATED THIS WOULD BE A WIN, HOW MUCH OF A RHETORICAL ADVANTAGE THEY GET TOWARD THEIR ARGUMENT THE PRIMARY NEEDS TO END, THE ONE BIG QUESTION THEY FACE OVER THE LAST 36 HOURS. >> THANK YOU. IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING OUR COVERAGE, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PROJECTED WINNER BY NBC NEWS WINNER OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. WHEN WE GET REPORTING ON FORMER U.N. AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY OR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WILL TAKE THE STAGE TO SPEAK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WILL BRING IT LIVE. TEAM OF REPORTERS AT THE HALEY EVENT, WHEN WE HAVE NEW REPORTING, WE WILL BRING IT TO YOU I WANT TO BRING BACK THE PANEL, HOGAN, I START WITH YOU, DO THE MARGINS MATTER? >> NO, I DON'T THINK THEY DO. DONALD TRUMP WILL BE 2-0 IN NIKKI HALEY 0-2. HE IS AHEAD BIG IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS WELL I DON'T SEAWORLD NIKKI HALEY DECIDES TO KEEP GOING AND LOSE HER HOME STATE BY 35 OR 30 POINTS WHICH IS WHAT SHE IS ON TRACK TODAY. YES, HAD IT BEEN 1%, REALLY CLOSE, WE COULD BE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. THIS IS A DECISIVE WIN. DONALD TRUMP TO GOP CANDIDATE HAS NEVER WON I WOULD AND GO ON TO WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY GARRETT SAID THE AMOUNT OF INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS VOTING IN GOP PRIMARY OUTNUMBERED REPUBLICANS. >> WINNING OVER 50%. HE WILL WIN NEVADA, NOT CONTESTED. HALEY WILL TRY TO STAY IN FOR A WHILE, NOT A HAPPY EXPERIENCE. THE ENTIRE CONSERVATIVE MEDIA WILL ATTACKER, WHY ARE YOU HELPING JOE BIDEN? IF SHE STAYS IN, SHE WILL LOSE HANDILY AT SOUTH CAROLINA. >> THE NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGN MEMO PUT OUT BEFORE VOTING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERY EFFECTIVE MEMO. WE STARTED WITH 2% 11 MONTHS AGO, ZERO DOLLARS IN THE BANK, NO ONE THOUGHT WE HAD A SHOT OR COULD GET IT DONE COME HERE WE ARE $50 MILLION RAISED OVER 200 STOPS AND NIKKI IS STILL STANDING. WILL SHE BE STANDING AFTER THE LOSS? >> MARGINS MATTER, DOUBLE-DIGIT LOSS, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT. EARLIER I SAID DONALD TRUMP WOULD BE THE NOMINEE AND DID NOT SEE A PATH FOR HER REGARDLESS OF THE RESULTS TONIGHT EVEN IF SHE DID WIN. AT THIS POINT I'M NOT SURPRISED BY THE RESULTS, WE WILL SEE AT THE END, ONLY 16%, WE WILL SEE WITH THE MARGINS ARE AT THE END. IT IS A MATTER OF WHETHER DONORS FEEL COMFORTABLE GIVING HER MONEY. WE HAVE BEEN IN CAMPAIGNS LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU STAY IN THE RACE AS LONG AS YOU HAVE MONEY. SHE HAS THE KOCH NETWORK AND OTHER DONORS FEEL IS THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT HER AND THAT EMO IS SOMETHING THAT CREATES A PATH, SHE WILL STAY IN. HOGAN'S POINT, SHE IS LOSING BY 30 TO 40 POINTS IN HER HOME STATE I DON'T KNOW ANY CAMPAIGN WHERE LOSING THAT DECISIVELY IN YOUR HOME STATE THERE IS A PATH TO GAIN MOMENTUM TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER THAT. I THINK THEY HAVE TO HAVE DISCUSSION. THE PRIMARY IS NOT UNTIL FEBRUARY 24th. DOES SHE STAY IN AND HAMMER TRUMP AND THINK SOMEHOW THAT WILL WEAKEN HIM MOVING FORWARD? MAYBE. I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOOD FOR HER. >> IF I WAS TOLD A YEAR AGO, THREE MONTHS AGO, NIKKI HALEY WOULD FINISH WHATEVER, 45% IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, I WOULD BE SHOCKED. SHE OVER PERFORMED IN THIS CAMPAIGN BUT THE WAY SHE CAMPAIGNED AND RENTED, THE WAY SHE IS ATTACKED, TOO FAR OVER ON THE NON-TRUMP SIDE OF THE PARTY YOU GET THAT IN A STATE WHERE INDEPENDENTS ARE HUGE WITH THE SWING VOTE AND COMING IN BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A DEMOCRATIC CONTEST. THAT WILL NOT BE REPLICATED ELSEWHERE. DESANTIS COULD NOT GET ENOUGH OF THE TRUMP VOTE AND WIDEN INTO IT BECAUSE SHE HAS IT, SHE HAS A GRIP ON THE NON-TRUMP VOTE BUT CANNOT GET FURTHER INTO THE PARTY TO GET PLURALITY OR MAJORITY. >> FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WILL SPEAK LATER TONIGHT, WHAT YOU THINK WE WILL HEAR? >> SIMILAR MESSAGE TO THE ONE AFTER IOWA CAN THANK NIKKI MOST LIKELY, TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO UNIFY AND FOCUS ON JOE BIDEN AS HE IS THE ENEMY HE BELIEVES THE PARTY OF THIS COUNTRY. >> INTERRUPT YOU, BREAKING NEW . NIKKI HALEY ABOUT TO TAKE THE STAGE AFTER LOSING NEW HAMPSHIRE. HERE IS THE FORMER HUMAN AMBASSADOR NOW >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU TOO. >> YOU ARE A GREAT AMERICAN! >> WHAT A GREAT NIGHT, GOD IS SO GOOD ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU, NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE LOVE, THE KINDNESS, AND SUPPORT AND A GREAT NIGHT HERE TONIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND, WHO I KNOW IS WATCHING RIGHT NOW. I LOVE YOU. I WANT TO THANK MY KIDS WHO ARE HERE WHO HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP AND GIVEN ME THE SUPPORT I NEED. YOU REALLY PULL ON YOUR FAMILY WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS. I'M INCREDIBLY BLESSED BY THEIR SUPPORT. I HAVE MY PARENTS AT HOME AND I WILL ALWAYS SAY THAT THE WAY THEY RAISED ME, TO KNOW THAT WE LIVED IN THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD BUT TO ALSO KNOW THE BEST WAY YOU APPRECIATE YOUR BLESSINGS IS TO GET BACK, THANK YOU, MOM AND DAD. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. TO MY SIBLINGS, MY IN-LAWS, EVERYBODY BACK AT HOME, TO VICKY FOR HELPING ME TAKE CARE OF MOM AND DAD, THANK YOU FOR THAT . I WILL TELL YOU, IT FEELS LIKE IT HAS BEEN A LIFETIME BUT IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR WE HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, TOUCHING EVERY HAND, ANSWERING EVERY QUESTION, BEING THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE. WE HAD THE MOST AMAZING THING HAPPENED IS THE SECOND WE GOT THE ENDORSEMENT FROM GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I MEAN, A TRUE GOVERNOR THAT DOES NOT STAND BEHIND A PODIUM. HE SHOWS UP AT A DINER, THE BREWERY, HE LOVES THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE HAS BEEN WITH ME EVERY SINGLE DAY AT EVERY SINGLE EVENT PRESS, I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU. AND I WANT TO THANK SOMEONE WHO WAS WITH ME ON DAY ONE, HE IS A PATRIOT, HE IS A HARD-CORE CONSERVATIVE. AND HE IS MY FRIEND, GENERAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DONALD TRUMP ON HIS VICTORY TONIGHT, HE EARNED IT AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. YOU HAVE HEARD THE CHATTER AMONG THE POLITICAL CLASS, THEY ARE FALLING ALL OVER THEMSELVES SAYING THAT THIS RACE IS OVER. I HAVE NEWS FOR ALL OF THEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS FIRST IN THE NATION, IT IS NOT THE LAST IN THE NATION. THIS RACE IS FAR FROM OVER. THERE ARE DOZENS OF STATES LEFT TO GO. AND THE NEXT ONE IS MY SWEET STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. AT ONE POINT IN HIS CAMPAIGN, THERE WERE 14 OF US RUNNING AND WE WERE 2% IN THE POLLS. I'M A FIGHTER. AND I'M SCRAPPY. AND NOW WE ARE THE LAST ONES STANDING NEXT TO DONALD TRUMP. AND TODAY WE GOT CLOSE TO HALF OF THE VOTE. WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO BUT WE KEEP MOVING UP. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, POLITICS IS WAY TOO PERSONAL. IT IS NOT PERSONAL FOR ME. I VOTED FOR TRUMP TWICE. I WAS PROUD TO SERVE AMERICA IN HIS CABINET, I AGREE WITH MANY OF HIS POLICIES. I DECIDED TO RUN BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY AND BECAUSE IT IS TIME TO PUT THE NEGATIVITY AND CHAOS BEHIND THEM. WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT IS CRUSHING MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS, WE HAVE A BORDER THAT IS TOTALLY OPEN AND DANGEROUS CREATING A DISASTER IN OUR COUNTRY. WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE FAILING TOO MANY CHILDREN AND WE HAVE A WORLD ON FIRE WITH A WAR IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST AND A HUGE AND GROWING THREAT FROM CHINA. THEN YOU LOOK AT WASHINGTON, D.C. WE HAVE A CONGRESS THAT FIGHTS ABOUT EVERYTHING AND ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING. AND WE HAVE JOE BIDEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE MAKING ONE BAD DECISION AFTER ANOTHER. WHEN HE IS MAKING ANY DECISIONS AT ALL. OUR COUNTRY IS IN A REAL MESS. >> THE QUESTION IS, WHO IS GOING TO FIX IT? WITH DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICANS HAVE LOST ALMOST EVERY COMPETITIVE ELECTION. WE LOST THE SENATE. WE LOST THE HOUSE, WE LOST THE WHITE HOUSE, WE LOST IN 2018, WE LOST IN 2020, AND WE LOST IN 2022. THE WORST KEPT SECRET IN POLITICS IS HOW BADLY THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO RUN AGAINST DONALD TRUMP. THEY KNOW TRUMP IS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN IN THE COUNTRY WHO JOE BIDEN 10 DEFEAT. YOU CAN'T FIX THE MESS IF YOU CAN'T WIN AN ELECTION. A TRUMP NOMINATION IS A BIDEN WIN AND KAMALA HARRIS PRESIDENCY . I DEFEAT BIDEN HANDILY. WITH DONALD TRUMP, YOU HAVE ONE BOUT OF CHAOS AFTER ANOTHER, THIS COURT CASE, THAT CONTROVERSY, THAT SENIOR MOMENT, YOU CAN'T FIX JOE BIDEN'S CHAOS WITH REPUBLICAN CHAOS. THE OTHER DAY, DONALD TRUMP ACCUSED ME OF NOT PROVIDING SECURITY AT THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6th. I HAVE LONG CALLED FOR MENTAL HEALTH TO BE TESTED FOR POLITICIANS OVER THE AGE OF 75. TRUMP CLAIMS HE WOULD DO BETTER THAN ME IN ONE OF THOSE TESTS. MAYBE HE WOULD, MAYBE HE WOULDN'T. IF HE THINKS THAT, HE SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM STANDING ON A DEBATE STAGE WITH ME. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> [ CHANTING -NIKKI ] >> MOST AMERICANS DO NOT WANT A REMATCH BETWEEN BIDEN AND TRUMP. THE FIRST PARTY TO RETIRE 80 YEAR-OLD CANDIDATE WILL BE THE PARTY THAT WINS THIS ELECTION. AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE THE REPUBLICANS THAT WIN THIS ELECTION. OUR FIGHT IS NOT OVER BECAUSE WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE. IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, MILLIONS OF VOTERS IN OVER 20 STATES WILL HAVE THEIR SAY. WE SHOULD HONOR THEM AND ALLOW THEM TO VOTE. GUESS WHAT, IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, JOE BIDEN ISN'T GOING TO GET ANY YOUNGER OR ANY BETTER. WE WILL HAVE ALL THE TIME WE NEED TO DEFEAT JOE BIDEN. WHEN WE GET TO SOUTH CAROLINA, DONALD TRUMP WILL HAVE A HARDER TIME FALSELY ATTACKING ME. THE GREAT PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA KNOW THAT I CUT THEIR TAXES. THEY KNOW I SIGNED THE TOUGHEST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BILL IN THE COUNTRY, THEY KNOW WE PASSED VOTER I.D. AND ETHICS REFORM, REMOVED 35,000 PEOPLE FROM WELFARE TO WORK. >> LISTENING TO FORMER UN AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY GIVE HER CONCESSIONAL SPEECH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BUT MAKING IT CLEAR SHE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE. SHE IS STAYING IN THE RACE AND USING THE TIME TO THANK SUPPORTERS AND HER FAMILY, GOING FULL THROTTLE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP SAYING IF SHE WOULD TAKE A MENTAL COMPETENCY TEST OVER 75, HE SHOULD TAKE ONE, HE IS SCARED TO DEBATE HER. A TRUMP NOMINATION IS A BIDEN WIN AND KAMALA HARRIS PRESIDENCY . SHE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE, GOING TO SOUTH CAROLINA UNTIL SUPER TUESDAY, FOR NOW WHAT SHE THING TONIGHT. OUR PANEL ALONG WITH CHUCK TODD, CHUCK, I WILL START WITH YOU, SHE MADE IT CLEAR ON STICKING AROUND AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE. >> A LOT OF FAMILY THANK YOUS, WHERE IS THIS GOING? I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO GET TO SUPER TUESDAY BECAUSE THERE QUITE A FEW STATES WITH SIMILAR BALLOT RULES AS NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SHE HAS A PASS OF 45% ADOLESCENT PLACES THAT COULD GET DELEGATES. DOES SHE HAVE A PASS 51 PLUS ANYWHERE. THE SUPER TUESDAY IS MARCH, SHE HAS TO SLOG THE NEXT 31 DAYS BEFORE SOUTH CAROLINA WITH THE ONLY CONTEST BEING MAGA BECAUSE SHE IS NOT FADING INTO BECAUSE OF THE WEIRD CAUCUS RULES. THE MOMENTUM SHE CRATED THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HOW DID SHE GET IT? NO DEBATE, EVENT? HER BIGGEST FEAR, DONORS POURING MONEY INTO HER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THEY ARE FOCUSED ON ONE THING, THEY DON'T WANT BIDEN/TRUMP. HALEY IS THE VEHICLE TO TRY TO STOP BIDEN/TRUMP. IF IT DOES NOT WORK, THEY WILL LOOK FOR OTHER VEHICLES. WHAT SHE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT HIM TO HER DONORS GIVE HER ENOUGH MONEY TO GO FOR SUPER TUESDAY? OR DO THEY SAY, I'M NOT TRYING ANYMORE MONEY ON THIS. NOW I WILL GO TO NO LABEL. TO ME, THE NEXT WEEK, WE WILL FIND OUT AND SHE WILL FIND OUT HOW CONFIDENT HER DONORS ARE IN HER. >> THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK, NIKKI HALEY MEETING WITH DONORS ON WALL STREET TO GET MORE MONEY FROM NEW YORK AND OTHER STATES TO KEEP HER CAMPAIGN ALIVE. I WANT TO GO TO A GRAPHIC WE MADE, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP OUT ON TRUTH SOCIAL PUTTING HIS REACTION TO HIS VICTORY. THE NIKKI HALEY CONCESSION SPEECH, HE STARTED BY SAYING HALEY SAID SHE HAD TO WIN IN HAMPSHIRE, SHE DOESN'T. HE GOES ON TO SAY MORE, SHE CAME IN THIRD LAST WEEK EXCLAMATION POINT! DELUSIONAL!!. I WANT TO BRING BACK THE PANEL, FORMER U.N. AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY, SHE WAS JUST REFERRING TO HOGAN. SHE SAYS IT IS NOT OVER, IS SHE OVER? >> I THINK SHE IS. SURPRISING SHE CAME OUT IN IT, YOU HAVE TO SAY YOU WILL FIGHT AND WIN. SHE IS GOING AFTER TRUMP IN A TOUGH WAY, IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE OFFERING SHE IS EXPECTING ONTO HIS TICKET. THE MONTH UNTIL SOUTH CAROLINA. >> WHY CAN'T SHE GO STRONGER? >> POLLING POORLY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, STRONG TRUMP STATE, IT SHOWS HOW TRUMP HAS THE ABILITY, HE IS STILL AN OUTSIDER, OUTSIDER VIBE AND APPEAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, AT THE SAME TIME, IN A LOT OF WAYS THE ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE. HOGAN MENTIONED EARLIER EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN SOUTH CAROLINA BEHIND TRUMP CAN EXPECT THE FORMER GOVERNMENT TO HAVE THAT CAN HE IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT EVERYONE EXPECTS TO WIN. >> YOU WERE WATCHING THE SPEECH, DID SHE MOTIVATE YOU, DO YOU WANT HER TO STAY IN THE RACE NGE >> I TOLD YOU, I FELT AS THOUGH THEY WERE ALWAYS RUNNING FOR SECOND PLACE. FROM THE BEGINNING, NIKKI HALEY, DESANTIS, ALL OF THEM. WHEN THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AFTER TRUMP AND CUT HIM OFF AT THE KNEES, THEY DID NOT TAKE IT YOU CANNOT PLAY FOOTSIE WITH MAGA AND EXPECT TO BEAT THEM IN THE END THEY NEVER RAN A CAMPAIGN TO TAKE TRUMP OUT FROM THE BEGINNING. ANYONE WHO STAYED IN THE RACE THAT WEAKENS DONALD TRUMP WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION, I'M FINE WITH IT, SHE CAN DO THAT. I THOUGHT INTERESTING NUMBERS HERE, EVEN THOUGH SHE DID NOT WIN ENOUGH INDEPENDENTS MACHINE IS AT 65%, SHE WON 51%. IF WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND BREAK DOWN THOSE SUBURBAN AREAS AND INDEPENDENTS, IT SHOWS WEAKNESS FOR TRUMP IN THE GENERAL. THAT IS THE VALUE SHE BRINGS, SHOWING PEOPLE STILL VOTING, NOT VOTING FOR TRUMP NECESSARILY , VOTING FOR TRUMP BUT NOT IN THE WAY HE WOULD NEED FOR GENERAL ELECTION. THAT IS THE ONLY VALUE. >> IS THERE ENOUGH MONEY OUT THERE TO KEEP HER ALIVE PAST SOUTH CAROLINA? >> THERE IS LOTS OF MONEY OUT THERE. BEEN ENOUGH TO SAY WE BELIEVE IN YOU. SPIN IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE KOCH NETWORK DOES AND THOSE DONORS, MAJOR BILLIONAIRES, WALL STREET GUYS LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO PUT THEIR MONEY, DO THEY SEE A PATH FOR HER? I'M NOT SO SURE BECAUSE EVERYONE WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR BEGINNING TO COALESCE BEHIND TRUMP. HOGAN, BEFORE WE START WITH YOU, THIS IS SOUTH CAROLINA, THE NEXT CONTEST IN THE GOP RACE FOR THE NOMINATION. THE NUMBERS ARE NOT GREAT FOR NIKKI HALEY, 64% FOR TRUMP, 25% FOR HALEY. YOU ARE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND HEAR HER SPEECH, ON THE FENCE FOR NIKKI HALEY, YOU HEAR A SPEECH SHE WANTS TO FIGHT, SHE IS A WARRIOR READY TO GO TO SOUTH CAROLINA. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SHE GETS THERE? >>'S THEY WILL ALL STAY IN UNTIL THEY DON'T. DESANTIS WOULD SAY UNTIL HE DIDN'T. THE SAME THING APPLIES, WHAT ELSE DOES SHE SAY UNLESS SHE GETS OUT TO ENDORSE TRUMP TONIGHT? WHICH SHE WILL NOT DO, SHE FEELS THE RACE IS BETWEEN HERSELF AND DONALD TRUMP. MORE PEOPLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TICKET THAN THE REPUBLICAN SIDE. THE POINT HAS BEEN MADE, IT IS WORTH ACKNOWLEDGING AND SANE AGAIN, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE LIKE NIKKI HALEY, YES WAS GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE, ALSO WON RE-ELECTION TO BE DOWN SO FAR AND EXPECT TO WIN HER HOME STATE, EVERYONE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, STATEWIDE OFFICEHOLDERS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE ALL LINING UP BEHIND DONALD TRUMP. EVEN TIM SCOTT, SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SOMEONE NIKKI HALEY APPOINTED HIM IN HIS POSITION IS FOR DONALD TRUMP. I DON'T SEE A WORLD WHERE SHE CONTINUES. SPEND YOUR RAN CAMPAIGNS SUCCESSFUL IN IOWA CAN KEEP RAISING MONEY UNTIL IT GETS TO A POINT THERE IS A NEW REALITY. >> TALKING ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS WITH DONORS ON THE NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGN PICKING UP THE PHONE TONIGHT, WHAT IS THE PITCH TO DONORS? >> THE WALL STREET CONVERSATION HURTS THE GOP BASE, GO TO WALL STREET TO ASK FOR MONEY. THAT IS A PARIAH. SHE WAS GIVEN THE KOCH MONEY, POLITICS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, LOOK AT THIS GREAT BOOST AND INFLUX OF MONEY. WAIT, OF COURSE SHE WOULD GET THAT KOCH MONEY BECAUSE SHE IS ESTABLISHED GLOBALLY LIKE THEY ARE, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY GOOD THING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE SAYS, WE WILL GET TO SOUTH CAROLINA, SHE HAS TO HAVE A STRATEGY SPECIFIC BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES NOT BY BEING STUPID BUT NOT HOW TO INVEST MONEY TO GET A RETUR . IF THEY DON'T SEE A RETURN IN THE STATES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF PITCH SHE WILL MAKE. >> PRAGMATIC VEHICLE, THEY WILL NOT CRAWL OVER BROKEN GLASS FOR NIKKI HALEY THEY BELIEVE IN HER SO DEEPLY, IF THEY BELIEVE SHE HAS A SHOT, IF NOT, THEY WILL BLOW THE WHISTLE. IN ALI VITALI AT THE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS WATCHING THE SPEECH UNFOLD. TALK ABOUT WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU, IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO SAY I'M OUT OF THE RACE. SHE WENT STRAIGHT AFTER DONALD TRUMP AND DID NOT LET HER FOOT OFF THE GAS. >> Reporter: IN IOWA, SHE STARTED THE SAME WAY BY PROFUSELY THANKING HER FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED HER GET TO THIS POSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE, THANKING HER HUSBAND WHO IS SERVING A TOUR OVERSEAS TAKING HER KIDS FOR STEPPING UP AND THE GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, CHRIS SUNUNU, WHO WAS A DRIVING FORCE THE WAY SHE BARN STORMED THE STATE IN THE CLOSING WEEKS OF THE PRIMARY HERE. HE WAS WITH HER IN DINERS AND COFFEE SHOPS AND TOWN HALLS. HALEY THANKING HIM FROM THIS BIG STAGE AND ANNOUNCING EARLY IN THE NIGHT SHE WILL BE STAYING IN. IT REMINDED ME OF 2020 WHEN AMY KLOBUCHAR IN IOWA CAME OUT EARLY, SAID SHE DID WELL ENOUGH TO CALL IT A WIN BY HER STANDARDS AND MOVED ON TO NEW HAMPSHIRE. THAT IS WHAT HALEY IS DOING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TRYING TO BOUNCE INTO WHAT SHE CALLS SWEET SOUTH CAROLINA BECAUSE IT IS HER HOME STATE YOUR PANEL IS RIGHT TO POINT OUT, IT IS A REAL SLOG FOR NUMBER OF REASONS, SPECIFICALLY THE IDEA THERE IS LESS COLLEGE PLUS AGE VOTERS THERE THE IDEA IT IS A PLACE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, ONE OF THE FIRST REAL PLACES WE SAW IT TRUMP COUNTRY BEGIN TO SHOW ITS POWER IN 2016. NEVERTHELESS, PARTS OF THE NIKKI HALEY SPEECH STOOD OUT TO ME, THE GENERAL WAY SHE IS MAKING OPEN INVITATION TO ANYONE WHO, LIKE HER, VOTED FOR TRUMP TWICE, DID NOT SERVE IN HIS ADMINISTRATION, SHE POINTED OUT SHE DID THAT FOR HIM AS WELL AND LIKED HIS POLICIES. IF YOU LIKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND VOTED FOR HIM TWICE, I WILL OFFER YOU THOSE THINGS WITHOUT THE CHAOS, WITHOUT THE COURT CASES, IN HER WORDS, THE SENIOR MOMENTS TALKING ABOUT TRUMP IN THE MOST DIRECT FASHION WE HAVE HEARD HER DO IT, CHALLENGING HIM TO DEBATE HER, CHALLENGING HIM IN SOME WAYS TO TAKE MENTAL FITNESS OR MENTAL ACUITY TEST. SHE SAID ON THE DAY SHE ANNOUNCED HER PRESIDENTIAL BID ALMOST A YEAR AGO IN SOUTH CAROLINA, IF YOU ARE OVER 75, YOU SHOULD BE TAKING A MENTAL FITNESS TEST. SHE IS CLEARLY CHALLENGING TRUMP ON THAT FRONT, ALMOST DIRECTLY. THIS IS A MOMENT WE ARE WATCHING NIKKI HALEY TAKE HER MOST DIRECT SHOTS AT TRUMP YET BUT ALSO WATCHING HER MAKE AGE THE KEY ISSUE. IT IS A THING SHE SAYS WITH RELUCTANCE AND A TWINGE OF SADNESS, SHE HATES TO BE SAYING THIS ABOUT HER RIVAL BUT IT IS THE SEED SHE CONTINUES TO PLANT IN THE MINDS OF VOTERS AND DOWN THE REST OF THE PRIMARY CALENDAR AS SHE GOES. THAT IS SOMETHING TRUMP CANNOT CHANGE, HE CANNOT CHANGE HOW OLD HE IS AND NEITHER IS JOE BIDEN. IT PLAYS UPON THE FEAR I HAVE HEARD FROM REPUBLICANS. REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB INSTILLING CONCERN ABOUT JOE BIDEN'S AGE AND ACUITY. NIKKI HALEY IS LUMPING HIM IN WITH DONALD TRUMP WHICH MAKES THE CONCERN TOUGHER. IT IS A SUBTLE WEIGHT TO DIG INTO THE MINDS OF VOTERS AND SHE IS HOPING IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS A WEDGE SHE CAN USE TO GET TO THE NOMINATION. BEFORE YOU GO, DOES THE MARGIN OF VICTORY MATTER? WATCHING MORE OF THE VOTE COME IN, THE SPREAD GETTING WIDER, DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD WITH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP OVER NIKKI HALEY, IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE A SHELLACKING, DOES SHE DROPPED OUT OR THAT'S IT, SHE MADE THE SPEECH, STICKING IN AND TELL SOUTH CAROLINA? >> Reporter: IT WILL MATTER HUGELY, WHY SHE CANNOT AS EARLY AS SHE DID, WE ARE THINKING IT LOOKS CLOSER THAN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, HER CAMPAIGN TEAM SEES THAT TO, SHREWD MOVE TO COME OUT EARLY, THIS WAS GOOD ENOUGH, WE DID WELL, LET'S GO TO WHAT THEY CALL MAYBE GREENER PASTURES IN SOUTH CAROLINA. WE CANNOT UNDERSCORE HOW TOUGH LOVE THAT IS GOOD IT MATTERS, WHEN SHE GOES TO MEET DONORS IN NEW YORK AND TEXAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT WILL BE THE PROOF OF PURCHASE, RETURN ON INVESTMENT, HOW CLOSE DOES SHE GET TO DONALD TRUMP, HOW MUCH OF A MATCH CAN SHE MAKE IT? ALI VITALI FROM THE HALEY WATCH PARTY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING. JOINING US IS POLITICAL STRATEGIST AND FORMER SENATOR FROM MISSOURI. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. FRANK, YOU WROTE THE BOOK, WORDS THAT MATTER. ANY WORDS NIKKI HALEY SAID TONIGHT, WILL THEY MATTER WITH REPUBLICAN VOTERS? IT WILL. I CANNOT TELL WHETHER IT WAS A DOUBLE-DIGIT WIN. THAT QUESTION YOU ASKED YOUR COLLEAGUE MOMENTS AGO IS THE QUESTION. IF SHE LOSES BY LESS THAN 10%, SHE HAS PERMISSION TO GO ON, VOTER PERMISSION. IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW SHE RECOVERS. HER LANGUAGE, THREE THINGS MATTER, ELECTABILITY. DOES SHE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT JOE BIDEN? NUMBER TWO, CHAOS. YOU HEAR HER USE THAT WORD ALL THE TIME. ISSUE THE KIND OF LEADER REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING FOR? NUMBER THREE, CAN SHE CAPTURE VOTE THAT IS SO HARD-CORE REPUBLICAN TO DEMONSTRATE SHE CAN PUT TOGETHER A MAJORITY. ARGUABLY, YES IT'S TRUE. THE LAST ONE IS TOUGHER WHICH IS WHY THE FINAL MARGIN FOR TONIGHT MATTERS CONSIDERABLY. >> I WANT TO ASK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RACE AND LISTEN TO HER MESSAGE, CRAFT SO MANY SPEECHES AND PHRASES FROM CANDIDATES THAT WON RACES, ITCHY CRAFT HER MESSAGE TOO LATE, GET A VOICE TOO LATE IN THIS PROCESS? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. DEBATE PERFORMANCE, SHE GOT BETTER AS TIME WENT ON SHE FOUND THE LANGUAGE, MESSAGING THAT PUT HER AS CLOSE AS IT GETS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS IS THE BEST STATE FOR HER, INDEPENDENTS CAN VOTE HERE, MODERATES ARE SIGNIFICANT PERCENT OF THE REPUBLICAN VOTE. HER MESSAGE IS TUNED TO THEM, YOU CANNOT FORGET THE DONALD TRUMP INTENSITY, LEVEL OF PASSION AND SUPPORT OF HIS SUPPORTERS IS UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE SEEN IN MY CAREER. WATCHING THEM AND DISLODGING THEM IS PRETTY DARN HARD AND CLEARLY SHE IS NOT SUCCEEDED TO THE LEVEL SHE WANTED TO TONIGHT. IS IT FRUSTRATING DUE WORKING WITH SO MANY REPUBLICANS CLOSE TO 50% OR MORE, MAYBE A LITTLE LESS OF REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP YET HE WILL BE THE NOMINEE? >> I DON'T THINK THE WORD IS FRUSTRATING, I DO WANT A POSITIVE MESSAGE, SOMEONE HOPEFUL, FOCUS ON THE FUTURE. THE GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, CHRIS SUNUNU WHO WALKED ACROSS FROM ME, HEAR A NOISE WHEN HE WAS WALKING IN, HE IS THE KIND OF REPUBLICAN THIS COUNTRY NEEDS. FINDING A MORE POSITIVE APPROACH. DONALD TRUMP UNDERSTANDS THESE VOTERS AND HE GETS THEM. HE KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER THE KIND OF SPEECH AND MESSAGE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. NIKKI HALEY, IT IS A LITTLE TOUGHER BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF 2024 IS NOT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF 10 YEARS AGO. >> FRANK LUNTZ, APPRECIATE THAT . COUNTING VOTES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, SENATOR, YOU WON AND LOST ELECTIONS, I ASKED HOGAN THIS QUESTION BUT YOU HAVE HAD TO DO IT, HOW HARD IS IT TO CALL SUPPORTERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, COLLIER ELECTION TEAMS AND GET THEM EXCITED AND COLLIER DONORS, I NEED YOU TO WRITE ANOTHER CHECK? >> I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE HARD AT ALL FOR NIKKI HALEY TO RAISE MONEY. SHE HAS PLENTY OF MONEY. I WILL TURN US ON ITS HEAD A LITTLE BIT, REALLY THIS IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT, NOT EVEN THE INCUMBENT TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, HE MANAGED 50% IN IOWA? 50% IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, OF HIS OWN PARTY. I KNOW IN IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE, UNAFFILIATED VOTERS CAN VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY. I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS A SHOW OF STRENGTH FOR HIM. BIDEN GETTING MORE THAN 50% AND HE IS NOT EVEN ON THE BALLOT. I THINK IT SHOWS THERE IS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, VOTERS THAT DO NOT WANT TRUMP, STRONGLY DO NOT WANT TRUMP. I BELIEVE THOSE ARE OPEN FOR JOE BIDEN TO GET AND I COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE. SPENT IF YOU HAD A SAY IN THIS, YOU WANT THE REPUBLICAN RACE TO SHAKE OUT BECAUSE YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS WHAT THE PARTY NEEDS BECAUSE IF THERE'S HALF THE PARTY AROUND HALF THE PARTY, THERE IS A CANDIDATE, BUT THE PROCESS PLAY OUT. >> WE HAVE SEEN IN WASHINGTON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS REALLY DIVISIVE. THEY CAN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE OR DO THE BUSINESS OF THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE SO BUSY FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES BETWEEN THE MAGA WING OF THE PARTY AND THE NIKKI HALEY WING OF THE PARTY. NO QUESTION TRUMP HAS A MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, PART OF THE MAGA GROUP. THERE WITH TRUMP AND I THINK THEY WILL WIN THE NOMINATION. DON'T DISCOUNT THEY HAVE A REAL WAR WITHIN THE PARTY. PART OF THAT IS AMONG THE FOLKS WHO FUNDED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BY AND LARGE FOR MOST OF ITS HISTORY. >> HOGAN, I WILL BRING IT TO YOU, IS SHE RIGHT. CAN TRUMP GET THE REST OF THE PARTY BEHIND UP? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BY NOVEMBER? SURE, LIKE ICE CREAM IS NOT ICE CREAM AND LIKE THE INCUMBENT IS NOT THE INCUMBENT THIS IS A MUCH SITUATION DONALD TRUMP SEES HIMSELF IN AS OPPOSED TO JOE BIDEN, WHO IS THE SITTING PRESIDENT. DONALD TRUMP IS A STRUGGLED ON THE GOP VOTERS, MASSIVE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN OUR SITE THAT WANT A SECOND TERM FOR DONALD TRUMP, WHO LOVE AMERICA FIRST POLICIES AND WANT TO IMPROVE AMERICA. THE QUESTION IS, CAN HE TAKE THAT AND EXPAND THE PARTY AND GET TO THE INDEPENDENTS? WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A LONG TIME. THIS, AS ALWAYS, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE A REFERENDUM ON SOMEBODY. WHO IS A NOT? IF IT IS ABOUT JOE BIDEN AND HIS FAILURE >> THE CHANCE OF TAKING BACK THE WHITE HOUSE. IF NOT, IF IT IS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP, WE HAVE AN ISSUE. THIS CAMPAIGN IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN A VACUUM. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CANDIDATE, DONALD TRUMP HAS A RECORD AS PRESIDENT, JOE BIDEN ALSO HAS A RECORD, YOU CAN BUT THOSE UP AGAINST EACH OTHER AND ASK YOURSELF THAT QUESTION, IS YOUR LIFE BETTER TODAY THAN IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO? >> SENATOR. >> PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS IS FAMOUS FOR PERSONALITY SMATTERING. WHETHER SOMEONE IS LIKABLE OR SOMEONE IN THEIR LIVING ROOM FOUR YEARS. DONALD TRUMP HAS A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WITH SWING VOTERS AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS THAT DON'T EAT POLITICS ALL DAY LONG LIKE ALL OF US, DON'T LIVE AND BREATHE IT EVERY DAY. THEY KNOW HE REPRESENTS CHAOS AND A GUY MORE INTERESTED DRIVING GRIEVANCE THAN HE IS ASPIRATION. THEY KNOW HE DOES NOT TALK ABOUT UNITING THE COUNTRY, HE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT DIVIDING THE COUNTRY. I THINK THAT WILL COME INTO PLAY ALSO, IMPORTANT PART OF THIS. YOU HEARD REPUBLICAN VOTERS LIKE WE DID IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, SO MANY SAID, I DON'T LIKE HIM BUT I LIKED HIS POLICIES. IT MATTERS. THOSE ARE DIEHARD REPUBLICANS PEERED YOU GET INDEPENDENT VOTER, IT MAKES IT MATTER TO YOU PERSONALITY MATTERS, THE ECONOMY MATTERS, WE WILL SEE WHERE THE ECONOMY IS. YOU COVERED TRUMP AND HIS RISE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT VICIOUSNESS UNLEASHED ON NIKKI HALEY AND THE NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGN GOING TO SOUTH CAROLINA. WE ARE GETTING A TASTE OF IT TONIGHT. >> THE LINE ON HER WILL BE AT IS OVER, SHE NEEDS TO GET OVER IT AND GET WITH THE TEAM AND NOT HURT DONALD TRUMP IN THE ONLY VEHICLE TO BEAT JOE BIDEN. I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE A HAPPY FOUR WEEKS UP TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND SHE WILL PROBABLY LOSE SOUTH CAROLINA. CLAIRE AND HOGAN ARE RIGHT. IF YOU COULD SWITCH SOMEBODY ELSE, OTHER THAN BIDEN OR KAMALA HARRIS THEY WOULD WE TRUMP EASILY PEERED IF IT WAS SOMEONE OTHER THAN TRUMP, THEY WOULD BEAT BIDEN EASILY. THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN, JOE BIDEN 35% APPROVAL, DONALD TRUMP 35% APPROVAL. >> 50/50 RACE. >> DONALD TRUMP HAS NEVER BEATEN JOE BIDEN, JOE BIDEN BEAT DONALD TRUMP DESPITE WHAT DONALD TRUMP TOLD PEOPLE HE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED HE LOST THE ELECTION WHICH IS WHY WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS WITH HIM PAIRED THE OTHER THING, CLAIRE'S POINT, INDEPENDENT VOTERS AND MODERATE VOTERS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT DON'T LIKE DONALD TRUMP ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DECIDE THIS ELECTION IN PENNSYLVANIA, NEVADA, MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, AND ARIZONA . THOSE PEOPLE, AS WE GET CLOSER, WHEN THEY PAY MORE ATTENTION IN REAL LIFE, TRUMP AND BIDEN RACE AND WHAT DONALD TRUMP REPRESENTS WHICH EANS LESS RIGHTS FOR THEIR DAUGHTER . DAUGHTERS HAVING LESS RIGHTS THAN THEIR GRANDMOTHERS DID THANKS TO THE EXTREME MAGA POSITION ON THE WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT SIT WELL WITH WOMEN. THEY LOOK AT DONALD TRUMP'S BEHAVIOR AND TALKING ABOUT VICIOUSNESS, THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. WHEN WE GET CLOSER, THEY STEP BACK AND SAY, IS THIS THE TYPE OF AMERICA WE WANT AGAIN? ARE WE GOING THROUGH THIS AGAIN, SOMEONE THAT INCITES INSURRECTION, SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BE A DICTATOR ON DAY ONE, SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IN OUR DEMOCRACY, SOMEONE WHO MOCKS PEOPLE, CRIMINAL DEFENDANT? I THINK WHEN PEOPLE PAY MORE ATTENTION, THERE IS A BINARY CHOICE AND THERE WILL BE, INDEPENDENTS WILL NOT BREAK FOR DONALD TRUMP. >> THAT IS POSSIBLE. VULNERABILITY FOR DONALD TRUMP. EXTRAORDINARY THING WITH POLLING, NOSTALGIC FOR THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY. WHO ARE YOU BETTER OFF WITH TRUTH POLICY? TRUMP WINS CLEARLY COMPARED TO JOE BIDEN. >> THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN HAS WORK TO DO ON THAT DESPITE RIGHT NOW THE ECONOMY IS DOING PRETTY GOOD. NUMBER ONE OIL PRODUCERS IN THE WORLD. THE ENERGY ARGUMENT IS A FALLACY. INFLATION IS DOWN 3% FROM NINE. BIDEN PASSED INFRASTRUCTURE ACT. IT IS UP TO THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN TO SELL THAT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH THE REALITY OF WHAT IS GOING ON. HAVE TO JUMP IN TO SAY I WILL MAKE YOU FRIENDLY $1 WAGER THAT DONALD TRUMP WILL NOT THANK NIKKI HALEY TONIGHT. >> I WILL TAKE THAT. >> NBC NEWS PROJECTED DONALD TRUMP WINNING NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. HALLIE JACKSON IS TALKING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS ABOUT THE VICTORY. WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU? >> Reporter: LET ME HAVE THEM TELL YOU, WE'RE AT THIS BAR WERE FOLKS ARE WATCHING THE RETURNS AND RESULTS. SORRY TO INTERRUPT, GREETINGS YOU VOTED FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. I DID. >> Reporter: TELL US WHY ARE YOU SPINNING I FEEL LIKE HE IS NOT BEHOLDEN TO ANYBODY. HE DOES NOT TAKE MONEY FROM DONORS, HE JUST WANTS AMERICA AND HE WANTS THE BEST FOR AMERICA. >> Reporter: NBC NEWS HAS PROJECTED THE FORMER PRESIDENT WON THE PRIMARY, YOUR REACTION? >> UNHAPPY ABOUT THAT, I HOPE HE GOES ON TO WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER AND TAKE DOWN LEVEL WILL RUN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. I DON'T THINK BIDEN WILL BE THERE CANDIDATE. THE COUNTRY IS GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? THE ECONOMY IS BAD, THE BORDER IS WIDE OPEN. I FEEL LIKE SO MUCH CORRUPTION GOING ON IN THE GOVERNMENT ON BOTH SIDES. REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT. >> Reporter: YOU THINK NIKKI HALEY SHOULD DROP OUT OF THE RACE? THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CAME OUT TODAY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MARGINS ARE BUT IF DONALD TRUMP HAS A STRONG SHOWING, THAT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE ABOUT WHERE THE ELECTORATE IS THAT, ABOUT UNITY IN THE PARTY. YET NIKKI HALEY SAYS IS NOT COORDINATION, PEOPLE HAVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD. WHAT SAY YOU? >> I BELIEVE NIKKI HALEY HAS A CHANCE. I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD DROP OUT YET. I THINK THERE IS A FLAVOR FOR HER IN THIS COUNTRY. I FEEL LIKE TRUMP IS THE PERSON THAT THE PEOPLE WANT. I FEEL LIKE HE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE LOVES AMERICA. I THINK NIKKI HALEY IS BEHOLDEN TO RINOS . I THINK SHE IS WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS PART OF THIS PARTY THAT HAS NO CONTROL, WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT LOVES AMERICA. HAPPY THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PROJECTED A WIN. IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BE CHATTING WITH YOU AND OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. THANK YOU MUCH. YOU HEARD IT THERE, THE RATIONALE FROM SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO BACKED FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. THEY SEE THE RESULTS TONIGHT, HE APPEARS TO HAVE THE LEAD, PROJECTED TO WIN HERE. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS BY HOW MUCH, SOMEBODY ELSE BACKING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP THAT VOTED TODAY, JAMIE THAT VOTED FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. >> ABSOLUTELY DID. >> Reporter: PROJECTOR THE RACE FOR HIM. >> I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR THIS. IT IS GREAT. I'M SURPRISED IT WAS AS CLOSE AS IT WAS, I DID NOT THINK SHE WOULD GET THAT MUCH. IT IS CRAZY. >> Reporter: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MARGINS ARE PART I ASKED ONE OF YOUR FELLOW FOLKS ENJOYING THE EVENING AT THIS BAR IN MANCHESTER, DO YOU THINK NIKKI HALEY SHOULD DROP OUT? >> I DO, IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR HER TO DROP OUT LIKE THE REST OF THEM HAVE. I THINK VIVEK RAMASWAMY IS AMAZING, WE DID A COUPLE EVENTS WITH HIM HIM THE GUY IS CLASS ACT WITH EVERYTHING HE STANDS FOR AND I HOPE HE STANDS WITH TRUMP BECAUSE I THINK HE COULD BE WITH TRUMP. VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAD A COUPLE EVENTS, COULD HE BE VP MATERIAL? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT BP, I THINK YOU SHOULD WORK WITH TRUMP SIDE- BY-SIDE. >> HIS CAREER IS AMAZING. CLASS ACT. >> Reporter: JAMIE, THANK YOU FOR CHATTING WITH US TONIGHT. THIS IS THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. TURNING AHEAD, WHERE I'M TURNING IT SOUTH CAROLINA BECAUSE THAT IS A STATE WHERE NIKKI HALEY IS EYEING. I WILL PUT IT HERE FOR SECOND, IT IS HER HOME STATE, IT IS A PLACE SHE ALREADY, YOU HEARD IT IN HER SPEECH TONIGHT, SHE IS CASTING HER EYES ON HER HOME STATE. THE ISSUE WITH THAT IT IS SIMPLY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ON THIS PROGRAM, IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME KIND OF DEMOGRAPHIC MAKEUP THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE DOES. IT RELATES TO UNDECLARED OR INDEPENDENT-MINDED VOTERS THAT WE HAVE SEEN ARE BREAKING FOR NIKKI HALEY HERE. SOUTH CAROLINA, DIFFERENT VIBE AND SITUATION, REAL QUESTION MARK AS TO WHETHER SHE CAN PULL TOGETHER THE SAME KIND OF COALITION AND HAVE A STRONG SHOWING THERE. THERE IS SKEPTICISM IN THE BROADER REPUBLICAN ORBIT THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN. WE WILL SEE WHAT THE MARGIN IS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. HE IS CASTING HIS EYE ON NOVEMBER FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION. WE HAVE HEARD THAT AND SEEN THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN AT HIS RALLIES, EVEN RECENTLY OVERNIGHT AT THE LATEST RALLY TALKING ABOUT HE WANTS TO TAKE IT TO PRESIDENT BIDEN COME NOVEMBER. THAT IS PART OF THE DYNAMIC. KEEP IN MIND THE OTHER PIECE, TALKING TO A COUPLE FOLKS ABOUT THIS IN A SECOND, THESE GUYS. HI, VOTERS, DID YOU VOTE TODAY? WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR? >> DONALD TRUMP >> Reporter: REACTION. HE IS PROJECTED TO WIN, WHAT YOU THINK? >> I HOPE SO YOU >> Reporter: WE CALL THAT, HE IS PREDICTED TO WIN. >> EXCELLENT. VOTING FOR HALEY, YOU'RE VOTING FOR WAR. TRUMP, NO WAR. >> Reporter: I SPOKE TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AT A CAMPAIGN EVENT, HE IS FACING LEGAL CHALLENGES, DOES THAT CONCERN YOU OR CHALLENGE YOU? >> THAT WILL GO BY THE WAYSIDE. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT AT ALL. >> Reporter: THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FACING MULTIPLE INDICTMENTS. YOU SAW RON DESANTIS, ONE OF HIS NORMAL RIVALS TODAY, WHY THE DEFENSIVE CAMPAIGN TOOK OFF, REPUBLICANS RALLIED AROUND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE OF THOSE LEGAL ISSUES. THAT IS THE LAY OF THE LAND IN MANCHESTER. I WILL SEE YOU LATER TONIGHT OR SOUTH CAROLINA. SPINNING WITH THEY OFFERING YOU A BEER, SOME WINGS? TELL ME YOU ARE GETTING SOME LOVE. >> I WILL HAVE A BURGER AND NO COMMENT ON WHAT HAPPENS OFF AIR. WE WILL LET THAT JUST LIVE HERE IN MANCHESTER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> OUR COVERAGE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY CONTINUES, RIGHT NOW. >>> NBC NEWS SPECIAL, DECISION 2024, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. REPORTING, TOM LLAMAS. >> IT EVENING AND TRAN EIGHT. IT HAS BEEN A BIG NIGHT FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. NIKKI HALEY IS REFUSING TO BACK DOWN. WE ARE PROJECTING THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS WON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. HE WOULD BE DEFEATING NIKKI HALEY. 28% OF THE VOTE IS IN AND YOU CAN SEE DONALD TRUMP IS EXPANDING HIS LEAD. THE NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGN SAYS THEY WILL NOT DROP OUT. YOU CAN SEE DONALD TRUMP'S LEAD STARTING TO WIDEN, BUT WITH MOST OF THAT, NIKKI HALEY IS AT CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE , ADDRESSING SUPPORTERS IN A FIERY AND DEFIANT BEACH. >> NEW HAMPSHIRE IS FIRST IN THE NATION. IT IS NOT THE LAST IN THE NATION. THIS RACE IS FAR FROM OVER. THERE ARE DOZENS OF STATES LEFT TO GO. THE NEXT ONE IS MY SWEET STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA! >> WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR THE VICTORY SPEECH FROM THE FORMER PRESIDENT, WHICH COULD COME AT ANY MOMENT AND WILL BRING THAT TO YOU AS SOON AS IT HAPPENS. LET'S GO TO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS. MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE FORMER PRESIDENT? I THINK WE HAVE A SENSE OF THAT UNTRUTH SOCIAL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE HE'S ANGRIER AND ANGRIER THAT SHE IS NOT DROPPING OUT. >> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S NOTABLE, BECAUSE AFTER IOWA, WE SAW A CONCILIATORY TONE FROM TRUMP. WE MAY SEE THAT AGAIN. HE'LL HAVE A HUGE AUDIENCE, NOT JUST REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS, BUT THE VOTERS HE HOPES TO WIN OVER IN THE GENERAL AND HE WANTS TO SHOW COMPETENCE AND TRY TO UNITE REPUBLICANS. THAT SAID, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, HIS FIRST COMMENTARY WAS ON THE FACT THAT NIKKI HALEY WAS NOT DROPPING OUT AND HE CALLED HER DELUSIONAL AND SUGGESTED THAT SHE FAILED TO MEET THE HIGH BAR SHE SET FOR HERSELF, OF WINNING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IS THE TWO PRONGED APPROACH GOING FORWARD, TO SHOW THEY CAN BE OPEN ARMS TO EVEN NIKKI HALEY AND HER SUPPORTERS LIKE THEY HAVE TO THE OTHERS WHO DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE, TO REBUILD, AND BY THE WAY, THEY GOT TWO SENATORIAL ENDORSEMENT TONIGHT. THEY ARE COMING BACK INTO THE FOLD, TONIGHT AND WILL START TO MAKE NIKKI HALEY'S LIFE VERY MISERABLE. FIVE MINUTES AFTER THIS RACE WAS CALLED, I SAW SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR, TIM SCOTT, WALKING IN AS A GUEST OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. HE WILL BE A SUPER RECOGNIZABLE POLITICAL SURROGATE, JUST LIKE MUCH OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. THEY WANT TO PUT NIKKI HALEY ON AN ISLAND AND NOT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNTIL THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY. >> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, APPRECIATE IT. WE WILL STAND BY AND TAKE YOU LIVE. AN UPDATE ON THE VOTE RIGHT NOW. AS PROJECTED, DONALD TRUMP IS THE WINNER OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. A LOT OF VOTES ARE STILL COMING IN BUT HOW BIG IS THE MARGIN? IT'S GROWN TO ABOUT 13%, RIGHT NOW. WE KNOW THAT TRUMP'S WON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY BUT HOW? WE HAVE CHUCK TODD AT THE BIG BOARD WITH THAT DATA. YOU WERE POINTING SOMETHING OUT TO ME, SAYING THAT THIS IS INCREDIBLE FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE AND FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT. >> LET ME JUST GO THROUGH THE BASE, HERE. THESE WERE THE BIGGEST GROUPS FOR HIM. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ALL NIGHT. HALF THE ELECTORATE WAS REPUBLICAN. THE PROBLEM IS NIKKI HALEY DID NOT WIN 75% OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS . HE DID WELL WITH WORKING-CLASS VOTERS AND THOSE WITHOUT A COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT JUST ANOTHER STRAIGHT UP WAY OF SEEING THIS, LOOK AT THE GENDER GAP. DONALD TRUMP WON WITH MEN BY NEARLY 20 POINTS. 51% MALE. LET ME SHOW YOU THE FEMALE SPLIT. NIKKI HALEY WON BY ONE POINT. DO THE MATH. >> FEMALE VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE? THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR HER. SHE DOESN'T SEEM TO BENEFIT FROM ANYBODY VOTING ON GENDER, WHILE DONALD TRUMP OVER PERFORMS WITH MEN, IN GENERAL. SOME OF THIS IS ABORTION RIGHTS, WHICH IS WHY WE SEE MORE WOMEN AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, BUT DO THE MATH. THIS IS A DOUBLE-DIGIT VICTORY. >> WE TALKED ABOUT MARGINS, THE MARGINS MATTER. I'M LOOKING AT ONE OF THE SCREENS RIGHT NOW, 30% OF THE VOTE, AND YOU HAVE 55.8. THIS KEEPS GROWING AS MORE VOTES COME IN. IS THAT THE TREND? >> THERE'S A TON OF STUFF THAT'S NOT REPORTED. THE LABEL IS BASICALLY FORMER MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS WHO MOVED ACROSS THE WAY TO NO TAX NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS IS A HEAVY REPUBLICAN AREA. HE'S WINNING IN PLACES LIKE NASHUA THAT FRANKLY, DEMOCRATS USUALLY DO WELL IN IN GENERAL. THIS IS WHERE SHE NEEDED TO WIN. JOHN McCAIN'S HEADQUARTERS WERE ALWAYS NASHUA. IT'S THE HEART OF McCAIN COUNTRY. I WOULD ALWAYS LOOK THERE AND SHE'S NOT WINNING THERE AND SOME OF THESE OTHER PLACES, HIS NUMBERS ARE GIGANTIC. THIS IS WHERE EVERYBODY IN MASSACHUSETTS HAS TO GO TO FIGHT FIREWORKS. -- TO BUY FIREWORKS. >> THAT GIVES YOU A HINT. LIVE FREE OR DIE? >> A 50 POINT VICTORY. >> THE ROMAN CANDLE, I APPRECIATE IT. >> WE WILL GET TO OUR TRACK PANEL, BUT LET'S BRING IN KRISTEN WELKER GOT NEW REPORTING. I KNOW YOU BEEN WORKING YOUR SOURCES AND YOU'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGN. >> THEY ARE DEFIANT, JUST LIKE NIKKI HALEY IS. THEY SAY THEY STILL HAVE A PATH. ONLY TWO STATES HAVE VOTED AND IT'S TOO EARLY TO DECLARE THE RACE. THIS IS THE QUESTION, HOW DO YOU CONVINCE SUPPORTERS, HOW DO YOU CONVINCE DONORS? THEY SAY LOOK, THEY STILL HAVE A TON OF CASH IN THE BANK AND THEY SAID THEY STILL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF VOTERS. THAT'S THE MESSAGING FROM HER CAMPAIGN BUT HERE'S THE REALITY CHECK. AND THIS IS WHY IT DOES GET SO MUCH MORE COMPLICATED, IN PART DISTRICTS STARTING TO ENDORSE DONALD TRUMP AND THAT A SIGNIFICANT WE ARE SEEING THIS PARTY COALESCE AROUND TRUMP. NIKKI HALEY IS AGAINST ALL OF THAT. SHE IS STILL WATCHING TO SEE WHAT THE FINAL TALLY IS GOING TO BE. RON DESANTIS DID THE SAME THING LAST WEEK AND THEN LOOKED AT A LOT OF POLLING AND HAD HARD CONVERSATIONS. WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IF SHE LOSES IN HER HOME STATE, IT'S ONE THING TO LOSE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. IF SHE LOSES IN HER HOME STATE, THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE. >> IF SHE GETS BOOKED AND THEN SUDDENLY CANCEL, YOU KNOW WHAT MIGHT BE GOING ON. BUT DON'T THINK WE HAVEN'T ASKED ALREADY. >> GREAT TO HAVE YOU. MY GREAT TO BE HERE. >> MIKE COLLINS OF GEORGIA WILL JOIN US NOW FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS. EXPLAIN THIS, IF WE ALL BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY, WHY SHOULDN'T NIKKI HALEY STAY IN AS LONG AS SHE CAN? >> I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS THING DOWN NOW AND GET ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE STOP PLAYING GAMES OF THE PRIMARIES WHEN YOU HAVE NO CHANCE. SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE. SHE IS NO CHANCE OF WINNING AND ACTUALLY IF SHE CAN'T GET CLOSE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, A MORE LIBERAL'S DATE WHERE SHE IS THE MORE LIBERAL CANDIDATE, SHE'S NOT GOING TO CARRY SOUTH CAROLINA OR NEVADA. WHY KEEP GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS WHEN WE CAN GET A GOOD HEAD START ON MAKING SURE WE TURN OUT TO GET TRUMP BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE? >> AREN'T YOU CONCERNED? EVEN IN YOUR HOME STATE, THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR ELECTION INTERFERENCE. HE IS MORE THAN 90 CRIMINAL COUNTS AGAINST HIM. ARE YOU WORRIED YOU MAY HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO CAN'T RUN OR HAS BEEN CONVICTED? >> NOT ONE BIT. DONALD TRUMP WAS LOVED IN THIS COUNTRY TO THE POINT WHERE HE BECAME PRESIDENT AND STARTED IMPLEMENTING GREAT AMERICA FIRST AGENDA POLICIES AND THE DEEP STATE DECIDED WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS GUY IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. THESE ARE BOGUS CHARGES AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY IS SEEING NOW THAT THE WHEELS ARE FALLING OFF THE BUS. IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE YOU MAY HAVE AN INDICTMENT. >> WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE NOW, OBVIOUSLY, INVESTIGATIONS, IN GEORGIA. AS THE RACE CONTINUES, WOULD YOU PUT PRESSURE ON NIKKI HALEY VOCALLY, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IS THAT NECESSARY, OR SHOULD YOU WAIT UNTIL SOUTH CAROLINA AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS? >> I WOULD HOPE THAT SHE TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW TO GO AHEAD AND SET HER SPEECH UP AND GET OUT OF THE RACE. PUT HER SUPPORT BEHIND TRUMP TOMORROW, AND THEN WE CAN GET THIS THING CLOSED OUT AND MOVE ON WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AS OUR NOMINEE, WHICH HE WILL BE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND GET DARTED ON OUR GENERAL ELECTION. >> YOU KNOW, THE BIDEN HARRIS RE-ELECTION TEAM ARE BASICALLY AGREEING, THAT THE RESULTS TONIGHT CONFIRMS DONALD TRUMP HAS ALL BUT LOCKED UP THE GOP NOMINATION. WHY DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO RUN SO BADLY AGAINST TRUMP, IF TRUMP CAN BE BIDEN? >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR REASONING IS, I'M NOT IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAMP, BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT BACK WHAT THEY HAD DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THOSE POLICIES THAT HAD THIS ECONOMY. WE HAD THAT PIECE WITH THE MILITARY, AND PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, I WAS IN OHIO LAST WEEK. WE'VE BEEN OUT TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND THE CONCERNS, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT TO GET BACK WHAT THEY HAD DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BID WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT, WE WILL TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK. >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST GROWING PODCAST IN AMERICA, LET'S START WITH YOU. YOU WORK IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND HAVE CONSULTED REPUBLICANS, DOES NIKKI WE NEED TO DROP OUT OR SHOULD SHE CONTINUE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY? >> SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO DROP OUT. IT'S A HARD PATH FOR HER. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR, BASED ON RESULTS AND THE PRESUMPTION THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO DO WELL IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I THINK THAT IF YOU ARE MAKING AN ARGUMENT TO HER, TO STAY IN THE RACE, HE WOULD SAY, YOU'VE GOT A 77-YEAR-OLD, LIKELY REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WITH A LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES BEFORE HIM. YOU HAVE AN 81-YEAR-OLD INCUMBENT PRESIDENT. THE ODDS OF THAT THE CASE ON ELECTION DAY, THOSE TWO PEOPLE, BEING THE NOMINEE, LIKE, PERHAPS IT'S 80%, BUT IT'S NOT 100%. WHY NOT JUST SAY IN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND ACCUMULATES IN DELEGATES? I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY AN ARGUMENT THAT I AM HEARING BEING MADE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. >> WE SOUGHT A CAMPAIGN SHAKEUP WITH THE BIDEN HARRIS REELECTS TEAM TONIGHT. THE ECONOMY NUMBERS ARE MOVING IN FAVOR OF PRESIDENT BIDEN. ONE THING SHOWS THAT VOTERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT JOE BIDEN'S AGE. HOW DOES A CAMPAIGN LIKE HIS GET OVER THAT AND HOW CAN YOU SHOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT HE STILL HAS SEVERAL YEARS LEFT IN HIM TO RUN THE COUNTRY? >> THEY JUST HAVE TO SHOW IT EACH AND EVERY DAY OF THE CAMPAIGN. THEY HAVE TO GO OUT THERE, HE HAS TO HAVE ENERGETIC EVENTS, PEOPLE NEED TO SEE HIM IN THE FALL. THEY HAVE TO PROJECT WITH THE CAMPAIGN THAT HE'S CAPABLE. HE'S NOT GETTING YOUNGER AND NEITHER IS TRUMP. IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CAMPAIGN, I THINK IT'S A SMART DECISION. HE WOULD TWO OF HIS MOST TRUSTED AIDES IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND YOU CAN'T RUN A CAMPAIGN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE WHITE HOUSE. IT TOO COMPLICATED, THERE ARE TOO MANY DECISIONS TO BE MADE, AND IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO MOVE HIS PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR DAY JOBS AND INTO RUNNING THE CAMPAIGN IN A MORE FORCEFUL WAY. I THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS GOTTEN CLOSER TONIGHT TO BEING THE NOMINEE BUT IN THE END, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING FOR JOE BIDEN. I THINK HAVING A LONGER CAMPAIGN, PUTTING THAT CHOICE IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, IS WHAT'S LIKELY TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN A SHORTER CAMPAIGN WHERE PEOPLE DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CHOICE. >> THERE ARE DIRECT AND INDIRECT PRESSURES WHEN IT COMES TO THE CAMPAIGN AND HAVING PEOPLE DROP OUT. THERE WERE VERY ESTABLISHED NAMES, ON THE OTHER SIDE. WE'VE ARTIE SEEN McDANIEL COME OUT WITH STRONG LANGUAGE, WE KNOW FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS COMMENTED, WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE? >> WE WILL SEE THAT EXTERNAL PRESSURE. SOME WILL DO IT OVERTLY AND SOME WILL BE MORE SUBTLE, LIKE THE SENATOR FROM TEXAS, WHO SAID HE WAS NOT GOING TO DO PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS. HE'S LETTING IT BE KNOWN TO NIKKI HALEY WHERE HE'S AT, HE IS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS, CAN SHE MAINTAIN A FUNDRAISING AND DONOR BASE THAT ALLOWS HER TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER 31 DAYS BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN SHE GETS TO THE VOTE IN SOUTH CAROLINA? QUITE FRANKLY, THAT WOULD BE MORE TELLING THAN A CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENT. DOES SHE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RUN A CAMPAIGN IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT IS CAPABLE OF WINNING? SHE CAN RUN THAT RACE, SHE CAN BE ON THE BALLOT, BUT IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE A STRONG FIELD OPERATION INVESTED, FRANKLY, SHE'S JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. I THINK THAT WHETHER SHE IS IN THE RACE IN A WEEK IS MORE TELLING THAN IF SHE SAYS SHE'S IN THE RACE TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL GO TO THE TRUMP VICTORY WATCH PARTY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS ABOUT TO TAKE THE STAGE PRETTY EARLY. IT'S 9:20, YOU SEE HIM THERE. HE'S TAKING HIS VICTORY LAP, SOAKING IT IN. WE CAN SEE THE RED HAT, THE CELL PHONES. A COLLECTION OF AMERICAN FLAGS, AND THEN A COLLECTION OF SOME OF HIS BIGGEST ENDORSERS, RAMASWAMY, TIM SCOTT, IS HEREBY THE PODIUM? NO, IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS STILL DOING A VICTORY LAP. THE INTERESTING THING, SENATOR SCOTT RAN AGAIN AND ASKED HIM WHY HE WANTED TO RUN AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE TIME AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM HAVE AS MUCH ENERGY SINCE HE ENDORSED THE TRUMP. YOU WONDER, WHAT'S THE CALCULATION, HOW MANY ARE THINKING ABOUT HAVING A CHANCE TO BE A RUNNING MATE? A LOT OF THE TEAM IS COMING TOGETHER, OTHERS WOULD BEEN IN THE TRUMP CIRCLE FOR A LONG TIME. HE'S ENJOYING THIS, TAKING A LOT OF PICTURES AND WE WILL LISTEN FOR A SECOND. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WOW. >> WELL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THIS IS A FANTASTIC STATE, THIS IS A GREAT STATE. WE WON NEW HAMPSHIRE THREE TIMES NOW, THREE. WE WIN IT EVERY TIME, WE WIN THE PRIMARY, WE WIN THE GENERAL, IT'S A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO BE, VERY IMPORTANT. IF YOU REMEMBER IN 2016, WE CAME HERE AND WE NEEDED THAT WIN AND WE WON BY 21 POINTS AND IT WAS GREAT. TODAY, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE I SAID, WHAT A GREAT VICTORY. I THINK SOMEBODY RAN UP TO THE STAGE ALL DRESSED UP NICELY, BUT NOW I LOOKED UP AND IT SAID 14. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S GOOD FOR OUR PARTY AND I SAID, SHE IS DOING A SPEECH, LIKE SHE ONE. SHE DIDN'T WIN, SHE LOST. LAST WEEK, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM AND IF YOU REMEMBER, RON WAS VERY UPSET BECAUSE SHE RAN UP AND SHE PRETENDED SHE ONE IOWA AND I LOOKED AROUND AND I SAID, DIDN'T SHE COME IN THIRD? YEAH, SHE CAME IN THIRD. THEN I LOOKED AT THE POLLS, SHE'S TALKING ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO WIN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE SAW IT, BUT I HAD ONE FOOT UP. WE WON ALMOST EVERY SINGLE POLE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS AGAINST CROOKED JOE BIDEN. SHE DOESN'T WIN THOSE. SHE DOESN'T. THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL VICTORY SPEECH, BUT LET'S NOT HAVE SOMEBODY TAKE A VICTORY WHEN SHE HAD A VERY BAD NIGHT. SHE HAD A VERY BAD NIGHT. YOU HAVE THE NOW VERY UNPOPULAR GOVERNOR. THIS GUY HAS GOT TO BE ON SOMETHING. LOOKS LIKE HOPSCOTCH. YOU KNOW I'M WATCHING THIS GUY, BUT ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO, WELL, THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. WE ARE 14 POINTS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE BUT WHEN SHE DOES APPEAR, YOU KNOW, WITH 7% OF THE VOTE COUNT. LET ME TELL YOU, IT'S BEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE CAUCUS, AND I HAD THE SAME FEELING. I'M UP, AND I'M WATCHING AND I SAID, SHE'S TAKING A VICTORY LAP. WE BEAT HER SO BADLY, RON BEAT HER, ALSO. RON CAME IN SECOND AND HE LEFT. SHE CAME IN THIRD AND SHE IS STILL HANGING AROUND. THE OTHER THING, SHE ONLY GOT 25% OF THE REPUBLICAN VOTE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THAT. TREMENDOUS NUMBERS OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS CAME OUT BECAUSE IN THE STATE, YOU'RE THE GOVERNOR THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING. IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, THEY ACCEPTED DEMOCRATS TO VOTE. I THINK THEY HAD 4000 DEMOCRATS BEFORE OCTOBER 6 THAT HAD ALREADY VOTED. THEY ARE ONLY VOTING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE ME LOOK AS BAD AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER, WE WON IN 2016 AND IF YOU REALLY REMEMBER, WE ALSO WON IN 2020. BY MORE. WE DID MUCH BETTER IN 2020 THEN WE DID IN 2016. WE LOST BY A WHISKER, BY A WHISKER. NO, BUT WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN. YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK UP. I CAN GO UP AND I CAN SEND EVERYBODY OH, THANKS FOR THE VICTORY, IT'S WONDERFUL, OR I CAN GO UP AND SAY, WHO WAS THE IMPOSTER THAT WENT UP ON THE STAGE BEFORE AND CLAIMED VICTORY? SHE DID POORLY. THE GOVERNOR SAID, SHE'S GOING TO WIN, THEN SHE FAILED BADLY. NOW I ASK, THE ONLY PERSON MORE ANGRY THEN LET'S SAY ME, BUT I DON'T GET TOO ANGRY, I GET EVEN. BECAUSE HE WAS THERE AND HE DID FANTASTICALLY WELL, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT TIM SCOTT BY THE WAY, JUST GOT ENGAGED, THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL OF THIS. A MAN THAT GOT TO KNOW, VERY WELL, MR. RAMASWAMY. GO UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT IT, HE HAS TO DO IN A MINUTE OR LESS AND THEN WE WILL JUST SAY, WE HAVE BEEN BIDEN. BUT ONE MINUTE OR LESS, GO DO IT. >> WHAT WE SAW TONIGHT IS AMERICA FIRST DEFEATING AMERICA LAST. THAT'S WHAT WE SAW TONIGHT. IF YOU WANT AMERICA LAST, YOU CAN GO TO GO JOE BIDEN WHO IS APPARENTLY STILL IN THE PRIMARY. YOU KNOW WHO DELIVERED A DOUBLE- DIGIT VICTORY TONIGHT? IT'S A DOUBLE-DIGIT VICTORY, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THIS MAN, DONALD J TRUMP, THE LEADER OF AMERICA FIRST. THAT MEANS SOMETHING. USA AND DONALD TRUMP, AMERICA FIRST. I GOT 30 SECONDS, LET ME MAKE THIS POINT. WE'VE GOT TO SAY THIS RIGHT. WHAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW WITH HER CONTINUING IS THE UGLY UNDERBELLY OF AMERICAN POLITIC , WHERE MEGA-DONORS ARE TRYING TO DO ONE THING WHEN WE THE PEOPLE SAY ANOTHER AND IT'S UP TO US TO AT LONG LAST SAY NO, WE CREATE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS ACCOUNTABLE TO US AND WE HAVE SAID TONIGHT WE WANT, AGAIN, AS WE DID IN IOWA, DONALD J TRUMP. THAT'S THE TRUTH TONIGHT, AND THE ONLY THING -- >> THERE'S A PORTION OF THIS EACH. IT TOOK A WEIRD TURN, HE GAVE THE PODIUM TO RAMASWAMY, WHO PROCEEDED TO ATTACK NIKKI HALEY AND GO AFTER PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY. SOME FACT CHECKS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAID HE WON EVERYTHING WILL NEW HAMPSHIRE ELECTION HE'S BEEN IN, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. HE ALSO SAID NIKKI HALEY DOESN'T BEAT JOE BIDEN IN POLLS, THAT'S NOT TRUE. SHE HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT AND SEVERAL POLLS. YOU KNOW, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE UGLY SIDE OF POLITICS. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE VICIOUSNESS AND HOW BAD IT WILL GET. THE FORMER PRESIDENT TOOK THE STAGE AND PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY THING HE TALKED ABOUT WAS NIKKI HALEY, ATTACKING HER OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, WHAT STOOD OUT A SENATOR TIM SCOTT IN THE BACKGROUND, AND ELECTED SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, APPOINTED BY NIKKI HALEY, SORT OF SMILING AND GOING ALONG WITH THIS. IS THIS WHAT WE CAN EXPECT GOING FORWARD? >> IT'S BEEN AN UGLY PLACE. THE FACT THAT SENATOR TIM SCOTT IS THERE, OKAY BUT THE VICIOUSNESS, AGAINST LEAKS TO THE LACK OF CHARACTER DEMONSTRATED. HE MADE EXCUSES FOR IT. SO, I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT SENATOR SCOTT CONTINUES, AND FOR RAMASWAMY, EVEN AFTER NIKKI HALEY'S TEENAGE DAUGHTER, HE'S CONTINUED TO LOWER THE BAR WHEN IT COMES TO INTEGRITY. THIS IS PAR FOR THE COURSE. THIS IS WHAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN REPRESENTS AND THIS IS WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. IT'S LIVING IN A FANTASY, HERE, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. >> DOES THE FORMER PRESIDENT NEED TO DO THIS? HE SAYS HE DOESN'T GET ANGRY, YOU GET EVEN. HE SAID THAT. HE SAID THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD. IS IT GOING TO GET UGLIER THAN THIS? >> OH, YEAH. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LONGEST GENERAL ELECTION WE'VE EVER HA . IT WILL START PRETTY QUICKLY IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. BOTH CAMPS, I'M SURE YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS TOO, THIS IS GOING TO BE A TIME OF MONEY SPENT AND A TON OF MUD THROWN ALL OVER THE PLACE AND LOOK. I GET HE SAID HE WON NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE DIDN'T. JOE BIDEN, BOTH OF THESE, HE SAID THAT, DON'T LOOK AT ME. I WILL SAY SOMETHING THAT TRUMP DID MENTION ABOUT NIKKI HALEY. THE AD, THAT WAS FOR HER TO SAY, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE. THOSE CAN BE PULLED DOWN QUICKLY, THAT THE CAMPAIGN TACTIC. SHE MADE A POINT TO SAY THAT NOW ON TO SOUTH CAROLINA, THEY KNOW ME BEST. THAT'S UNDERCUTTING HER OWN ARGUMENT BECAUSE SHE'S DOWN BY 35. THEY KNOW YOU BEST AND YOU ARE DOWN 35 POINTS? IT WILL BE DIFFICULT. >> THE BIDEN RE-ELECTION TEAM HAS PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THAT TRUMP IS THE NOMINEE AND THEY WILL GO AFTER HIM. IS THIS MOMENT IMPORTANT FOR DONALD TRUMP? HE IS SORT OF VERIFY -- VILIFYING THE FEMALE RIVAL, GOING AFTER WITH A GROUP OF MEN ON THE STAGE AND I JUST WONDER IF THAT SOME T WRONG IMAGE. HE'S UP BY DOUBLE DIGITS. DOES HE NEED TO DO THIS? >> HE WON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY BY A COMFORTABLE MARGIN. HE GAVE A SPEECH WHERE HE LITERALLY DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS ANGRY. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THIS IS A BIFURCATED TRUMP. SOMETIMES YOU GET THEM ON A TELEPROMPTER WHICH HE HAD IN IOWA. HE WAS NICE TO EVERYONE, WHICH WE THOUGHT MIGHT HAPPEN TONIGHT, BUT IT DIDN'T, AND THIS WAS MORE OF HIS TRUE FEELINGS MADE HE AGREED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, AND HE CAN'T AND WON'T HIDE IT. THIS ISN'T DECISIVE, BUT WHY NOT BE GRACIOUS, BE OPTIMIST? >> ONE QUICK POINT, HE'S ALSO IN A COURT TRIAL WITH E JEAN CARROLL FOR THE SECOND TIME WHERE HE WAS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. >> THAT'S DEBATABLE. >> THE JUDGE USED THE TERM, SO THAT'S NOT DEBATABLE. IT'S A DEFAMATION TRIAL. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER. HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THOSE DYNAMICS. >> YOU RAN CAMPAIGNS FROM FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA, DOES THIS MATTER >> EVERY MOMENT IN THE CAMPAIGN MATTERS. WE PROBABLY WATCHED EVERY WORD THAT NIKKI HALEY SAID AND GOT UPSET. WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE IS THANK THE VOTERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SAID THAT THE GENERAL ELECTION HAS STARTED. THIS IS LIKE FIRST GRADE POLITICAL PRACTICE. HE DIDN'T DO THAT. HE MAY START LATER TONIGHT OR TOMORROW, BUT I THINK THERE WAS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE ONE THING I CAN SAY IS THAT BIDEN WON IN PART, NOT FULLY, BECAUSE HE DID WELL ENOUGH NOT JUST WITH REPUBLICAN VOTERS, THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHO WERE BASICALLY REPUBLICAN. >> TRUMP PICKED UP AGAIN. LET'S LISTEN. >> THE STUFF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT. SHE WILL BE UNDER INVESTIGATION IN MINUTES AND RON MIGHT HAVE BEEN, BUT HE DECIDED TO GET OUT. NOW, MR. RAMASWAMY IS PERFECT, RIGHT? AND TIM SCOTT, I KNOW, WOULD NEVER. YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? COME ON. I WANT HIM TO SAY SOMETHING. >> LOOK, NEW HAMPSHIRE! THE PRESIDENT SAID A DOUBLE- DIGIT WIN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND YOU DELIVERED! I'M GOING TO INVITE YOU TO MY HOME STATE, STARTING TOMORROW. WHERE THIS ELECTION IS OVER! IF TIME FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO COALESCE AROUND OUR NOMINEE AND THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP! THAT'S GET THE PARTY STARTED TONIGHT! >> WHAT A GOOD GUY. WHAT A GOOD MAN HE IS. JUST REMEMBER, I DID HEAR NIKKI SAY, IT'S OFF TO SOUTH CAROLINA. WHILE I LOVE SOUTH CAROLINA. SHE FORGOT ONE THING, SHE FORGOT ONE THING. NEXT WEEK IS NEVADA. NOT SOUTH CAROLINA. WE LOVE SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT NEXT WEEK IS NEVADA AND AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE WE JUST WON NEVADA, 100%. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND THEY TOOK POLLS AND I WAS PULLING AT 95%. THEY DECIDED NOT TO PLAY IN NEVADA, AS WE JUST WON NEVADA. WE HAVE A MAN FROM NEVADA HERE, WHEREVER HE MAY BE. HE MAKES MONEY EVERYWHERE HE GOES, HE'S A MONEY MACHINE. YOU KNOW WHAT, PUT HIM IN TREASURY, YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME MONEY? GOOD TO HAVE YOU GUYS. WE GO TO NEVADA AND WE PICKED UP ALL OF THOSE DELEGATES AND THEN WE DO GO TO SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE WE DONE REALLY WELL. WE HAVE A GREAT GOVERNOR, GREAT EVERYTHING. ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THEM HAVE ENDORSED ME. DID YOU EVER THINK THAT SHE ACTUALLY APPOINTED YOU? APPOINTED AND SHE ENDORSED ME. YOU MUST REALLY HATE HER. NO, IT'S A SHAME. >> I JUST LOVE YOU. >> THAT'S WHY HE'S A GREAT POLITICIAN. THAT'S WHY HE'S A GREAT POLITICIAN. SO THIS IS A GREAT EVENING AND WE ARE GOING TO NEVADA FOR A LITTLE WHILE. WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM, THERE. IT'S A TEAM THAT WE CAN NOW SEND SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB AND IT'S A FANTASTIC PLACE, REALLY. WE WILL HEAD OUT TO SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE I THINK WE WILL WIN EASILY. I THINK WE ARE 50 POINTS UP. THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING. I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD DO THIS, BECAUSE I FIND IN LIFE THAT YOU CAN'T LET PEOPLE GET AWAY WITH BOWL, OKAY? YOU JUST CAN'T. WHEN I WATCHED HER IN A FANCY DRESS THAT PROBABLY WASN'T SO FANCY, I SAID WHAT SHE DOING, WE WON? SHE DID THE SAME THING LAST WEEK BUT HE WAS MUCH MORE ANGRY ABOUT IT THAN I WAS. WE HAVE NO CHOICE. I THINK OUR COUNTRY IS FINISHED. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING SO AMAZING, AND THE REASON WE HAVE SUCH SUPPORT, THE BEST NUMBERS I'VE EVER HAD, THEY ARE SO BAD AT WHAT THEY ARE DOING. AND SO EVIL. THEY ARE DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. >> I WANTED TO COME BACK TO OUR PANEL, WHY IS HE SO ANGRY? HE JUST WON IN DOUBLE DIGITS, I'M CONFUSED. >> THEY WANT TO FOCUS ALL OF THEIR FIRE, THEIR RESOURCES, ON JOE BIDEN. EVERY MINUTE THAT NIKKI HALEY STAYS IN THE RACE, TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING. WE HAVE LAWSUITS LOOMING. THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME, EFFORT, AND ENERGY WORRIED ABOUT NIKKI HALEY. >> WHY, HE'S A BY 35 POINTS AGAINST HER. IGNORE HER. IF SHE IS NO THREAT TO HIM AT ALL AND SHE IS DELUSIONAL, WHICH WITH ALL SAID HE'S GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE, HE CAN DECIDE TO START THE GENERAL ELECTION RIGHT NOW. THIS IS NOT -- >> HE'S TALKED ABOUT THAT IN GENERAL ELECTION TERMS FOR A WHILE BUT TONIGHT, WATCHING THE KAYLEE DECIDE TO STAY IN -- >> BECAUSE HE CAN'T STAND THE FACT THAT THE WOMEN IN THE RACE DID NOT CONCEDE AND BOW DOWN THE WAY TIM SCOTT AND RAMASWAMY AND THE REST OF THEM HAVE AND HE CANNOT STAND IT. THE FIBER OF HIS BEING CAN'T THAN THE FACT SHE HASN'T BOWED THE KNEE YET. >> PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT NOTHING MATTERS, IN POLITICS, BUT HE ATTACKED HER DRESS, RIGHT? THERE'S ALSO A QUESTION OF TEMPERAMENT AGAIN. YOU ARE ALMOST REMINDED OF HOW FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP CAN GET WHEN HE'S UPSET. DO YOU THINK A MOMENT LIKE THAT MATTERS? >> IS GOING TO BE A CLOSE RACE AT EVERY MOMENT BUT HE TALKS ABOUT HER MORE THAN HE MENTIONED JOE BIDEN AND YOU ARE RIGHT. HE CAN TURN THE ATTENTION TO BIDEN ENTIRELY, BUT HE IS SO PERSONALLY OFFENDED THAT HE CAN'T LET IT GO. ANOTHER ASPECT OF THIS CAMPAIG , HE IS A GOOD TEAM, A SHREWD TEAM THAT HE'S LISTENED TO. >> A DISCIPLINED TEAM. >> THERE IS NO WAY THEY TOLD HIM TO DO THAT. >> 100%. GARRETT JOINS US AND HAS BEEN COVERING THE CAMPAIGN. GET US UP TO SPEED, WHAT'S YOUR FIRST REACTION? >> WELL, I WAS STUNNED THAT HAVE DIFFERENT THAT EACH WAS FROM THE SPEECH HE GAVE IN IOWA WHERE HE WALKED ON STAGE AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT UNITY AND TRYING TO BE MAGNANIMOUS AND JOKING ABOUT THE FIELD. CLEARLY HE'S LOOKING AHEAD TO THE GENERAL ELECTION. THAT TRUMP WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND TONIGHT. 10 MINUTES OF TAKING THE STAGE, HE WAS TESTING THE GOVERNOR WAS ON DRUGS AND THEN LYING ABOUT WINNING IN 2020. IT'S INCREDIBLE REVERSION TO RALLY DONALD TRUMP AS OPPOSED TO GENERAL ELECTION TRUMP. FOR A SIGNIFICANT AUDIENCE TUNING IN, THAT'S PROBABLY A GIFT FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND CAMPAIGN TO SEE THAT VERSION OF TRUMP TONIGHT. I CAUGHT THE TAIL END OF YOUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE IDEA OF WHY HE DOESN'T JUST IGNORE HER AND WAIT FOR HER TO BASICALLY RUN OUT OF MONEY, I'VE BEEN ASKING THAT QUESTION ALL WEEK TO ADVISERS AND THE ANSWER THEY GAVE ME WAS CLEAR ON STAGE. IF BECAUSE TRUMP CAN DO THAT. HE ONLY HAS ONE SPEED WITH PERCEIVED ENEMIES AND EYES TO ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK. EVEN IF IT GIVES HER MORE LIFE BY DRAWING ATTENTION BACK TO HER CAMPAIGN, WHEN THERE ARE NO DEBATE, HE WILL KEEP ATTACKING HER BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY WAY HE KNOWS HOW TO RUN A CAMPAIGN. THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T TOP IT AND THAT IS WHAT VOTERS AND VIEWERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GETTING INTO. >> WE APPRECIATE THAT. HE HAD ME BE GREAT NIGHT. HE DID WELL WITH REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND INDEPENDENTS, AS WELL, AND HE HAD THIS SPEECH. DO YOU THINK THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS HEADING BACK TO WASHINGTON GOING, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT? >> SURE, BUT TRUMP MIGHT NOT GET THAT. BUT YEAH, YOU ARE SQUANDERING TIME. YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE GENERAL ELECTION STARTING TODAY. IT WAS AWFUL. IS HE GOING TO SWING VOTES? NO. OVER 40% OF PEOPLE CHOSE SOMEBODY ELSE, OKAY? HE'S DOMINANT. POLITICS, TO SOME EXTENT, IS ABOUT MATH, AND IT'S ABOUT DATA. THIS WILL GIVE THE CAMPAIGN A HUGE NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN LEADING INDEPENDENTS. MOST OF THEM WILL GO HOME TO DONALD TRUMP AND THIS REMINDS PEOPLE, I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT. HE HAD A CHANCE TONIGHT, SIMILAR TO IOWA, I DON'T THINK HE'S ABLE TO DO THAT. HE'S IN A RAGE. HE SHOULDN'T GO TO SOUTH CAROLINA AT ALL, HE SHOULD GO TO WISCONSIN. HE SHOULD GO TO GEORGIA. >> DID HE JUST GIVE A GIFT TO THE KAYLEE? >> IT COULD SPORTIVE GET HER TO DIG IN, RIGHT? HE DOES HAVE A WAY OF ALMOST ENCOURAGING HIS OPPONENTS TO KEEP FIGHTING AND COMING BACK ANYTHING THAT ULTIMATELY, THIS IS WHAT NONE OF US HAVE THE ANSWER TO. WHAT DOES NIKKI HALEY WANT? WE KNOW RON DESANTIS, TIM SCOTT, RAMASWAMY, THEY DECIDED THEY WANT A FUTURE ENTRANCE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THE KAYLEE HAS TO ASK, IS THERE A FUTURE FOR NIKKI HALEY IN TROMSO PUBLICAN PARTY OR DOES SHE TRY TO GO DOWN? THE CALCULATION TED CRUZ MADE IN 2016 AND THEN HE SORT OF CAVED IN, RIGHT? HE WAS ASSUMING THAT TRUMP IS GOING TO LOSE, I WILL BE THE ONE WHO CAN STAND UP IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NIKKI HALEY TO BE THE LONE PERSON THAT KEPT TRYING TO FIGHT. IT'S A LONELY PLACE TO BE. I GO BACK TO, NONE OF US KNOW, WHAT DOES SHE WANT? SHALL NEVER BE THE RUNNING MATE. AND I THINK IF SHE MAKES THAT CALCULATION, THAT'S AN INCENTIVE IN HER OWN MIND TO STAY IN AND TRY TO BUILD A CASE FOR A NEW REPUBLICAN PARTY. THAT, TO ME, IS THE ONLY REASON TO STAY IN, THAT SHE WANTS TO ESSENTIALLY PICK UP THE PIECES IF SHE BELIEVES TRUMP IS GOING TO LOSE THIS. >> THAT MADE ME THINK, THE MOST FAVORABLE SCENARIO IS FOR HER TO WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THEN IMAGINE WHAT THAT SPEECH WOULD HAVE BEEN IF HE LOST. AND THEN, MAYBE SOMETHING SHAKES UP. IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST FAVORABLE POSSIBLE SCENARIO FOR HER. >> SPEECH IS LIKE THIS, WHEN TRUMP BEHAVES LIKE THIS, REMINDS PEOPLE. THESE ARE THE VOTERS THAT STEVE BANNON 720 1 , THAT IF TRUMP LOSES THEM, HE WILL LOSE THE ELECTION. WE BELIEVE THAT LINE HAS EXPANDED TO 12% BECAUSE OF JOBS AND TEMPERAMENT AND PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE SPELLING, WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF THIS. EVERY TIME DONALD TRUMP DOES THIS, I BELIEVE THAT LINUX FANS IN WISCONSIN, PENNSYLVANIA, ARIZONA. THIS DOESN'T HELP THEM. FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION, THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE REMINDED OF WHEN THEY GO TO THE BALLOT BOX AND SAY, JOE BIDEN MIGHT BE OL , BUT IS ALSO OLD AND THIS IS HOW HE BEHAVES. >> THIS IS WHAT -- >> YOU BEEN IN THE ROOMS. YOU CAN SEE WHEN HE IS NOT BEEN HAPPY. WILL ANYBODY IN THE CAMPAIGN, ANYBODY IN HIS CIRCLE TELL HIM, HEY BOSS, THAT WAS A MISTAKE? >> I THINK THERE ARE PLENTY OF TIMES WE ARE ON -- HONEST WITH TRUMP ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND THAT HAPPENS QUITE HONESTLY, OFTEN. SOMETIMES THAT'S GOOD. SOMETIMES WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS BUT THE FACT IS, WHILE WE ARE MAKING A BIG DEAL OF IT HERE, WE ARE ON TO SOUTH CAROLINA NOW AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MATTERS IN THIS MOMENT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE GENERAL. >> BUT I'M SAYING, THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE DONALD TRUMP EVERY DAY, SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, HOW DOES HE KEEP THE BASE HE HAS , HOW DOES HE EXPAND AND GET INDEPENDENT VOTERS? I WOULD ARGUE THAT THINGS LIKE THIS DON'T MATTER. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ON THIS PANEL AND OTHER NETWORKS WILL MAKE KAYLEE AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE VOTER, WHO IS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND HAS CRIMES SPIKING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS OR PEOPLE POURING INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ILLEGALLY WILL BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT HIS RHETORIC . >> YOU DON'T THINK IT'S A REMINDER? >> IT'S A REMINDER OF DONALD TRUMP, AND HOW HIS PERSONALITY CAN BE, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT POLICY. THAT'S THE ARGUMENT AND THAT'S THE CAMPAIGN. ON THE OTHER SIDE THEY WILL SAY, LOOK AT THIS MAN, WE WILL SAY, LOOK AT JOE BIDEN, AND THAT'S IT. >> HE LOST IN 2020 AND WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO COME BACK, ANYTIME A LOSING CANDIDATE WANTS TO COME BACK AND WIN, THEY USUALLY ADMIT, HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO DIFFERENT. I HEAR YOU, I HEARD YOU, I'LL DO THIS. WHAT'S HE GOING TO SAY? IS HE GOING TO SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT HE'S SAYING IS, I'M NOT BRINGING IN ESTABLISHING PEOPLE. HE'S NOT PROMISING IT WILL BE MORE ORGANIZED, LESS CHAOTIC. >> IT'S RETRIBUTION. >> IT'S D PLATFORMING. WHEN HE'S PLATFORMS, PEOPLE GET COMFORTABLE. >> THE COUNTERARGUMENT IS THAT WITH THE WRONG TRACK THROUGH THE ROOF FOR BIDEN, AND VOTERS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS AGE, YOU WANT A CANDIDATE THAT PROJECTS STRENGTH, RIGHT? THAT PROJECTS ENERGY. MAYBE NOT EXACTLY LIKE THIS, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING TRUMP WILL BE THINKING ABOUT AS WELL. >> IS ONE REASON PEOPLE THINK TRUMP IS YOUNGER THAN HE IS. HE'S GOT THAT ALMOST FERAL QUALITY. THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN THAT AND CHAOS AND THIS ELECTION, I THINK, THERE COULD BE FOREIGN-POLICY IMMENSE, ECONOMICS, BUT IT WILL BE A SWATH OF VOTERS SAYING, CAN I FOLLOW ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF TRUMP? I THINK THAT'S LESS ABOUT POLICY . >> WE SEE MORE ABOUT THIS IN ECONOMY. IMMIGRATION IS IMPORTANT. I'M JUST SAYING, THESE ARE UNIVERSALLY KNOWN. BASICALLY THAT'S THE QUESTION, WHICH IS THAT BIDEN IS OBVIOUSLY A FLAWED CANDIDATE. I THINK THE RACE IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT, BUT TRUMP WILL BE THE MAJOR VICTOR. PEOPLE WHO VOTED AGAINST HIM LAST TIME YOU COME HOME AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT'S INTERESTING TO ME. THIS IS THE ONE THING, HE DOESN'T SEEM THAT INTERESTED IN. EVEN IF HE DOESN'T APOLOGIZE, I GET IT'S ABOUT IMMIGRATION, THE ECONOMY, BUT TO ME, MAYBE HE DOES THAT TOMORROW. BUT WE WILL SEE AT THE END OF THE DAY BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS ELECTION COMES DOWN TO. HE DOES HAVE AN ADVANTAGE ON TURNOUT. A LOT OF REPUBLICANS VOTE FOR HIM BUT I THINK THAT'S WHY BIDEN HAS THOSE ISSUES. YOU GIVE TRUMP AN ADVANTAGE ON TURNOUT. >> ALL RIGHT, WE APPRECIATE THAT. GARRETT IS SPEAKING TO TRUMP VOTERS FROM THAT VICTORY WATCH PARTY. >> I'M TRYING TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE ENTHUSIASM WE SAW AND I WANT TO BRING IN BRIDGET FROM SALEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE. WERE YOU AT ALL SURPRISED BY THE RESULTS TODAY? >> NO, IT WAS A NO-BRAINER. I DID A LOT OF PRAYING FOR IT BUT I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO WIN. >> WHAT DO WE MAKE OF WHAT WE SAW TODAY, TRUMP SAYING THAT THIS RACE, BASICALLY SAYING THAT THIS RACE IS OVER? DO YOU AGREE? WHY SHOULDN'T EVERYONE ELSE GET THE CHANCE NEW HAMPSHIRE GOT? SHOULD ALL GET A CHANCE. >> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE MANNER IN WHICH HE STARTED TALKING TODAY ABOUT THIS RACE? HE WAS TALKING MORE ABOUT NIKKI HALEY THAN JOE BIDEN. >> WHEN HE TALKS TO THE PEOPLE, IT'S LIKE HE IS ZEROING IN ON ME. HE'S TALKING TO ME. EVERYBODY FEELS THAT WAY. HE'S TALKING TO THE PEOPLE. I CAN EXPLAIN IT. I'M CRAZY ABOUT THE GUY. >> HOW DO YOU CONVINCE YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO MIGHT HAVE VOTED FOR NIKKI HALEY OR DONALD TRUMP IN 2016 OR 2020 WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT GETTING BACK ON THE TRUMP TRAIN? WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE? >> YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS, THEY DON'T KNOW THE FACTS. I KNOW YOU'RE IN THE NEWS, BUT THEY LISTEN TO BIG NEWS, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. >> WHAT ARE THE FAKE FACTS? TRY ME. SERIOUSLY. >> LIKE HE'S GOING TO BE A DICTATOR, YOU KNOW. IT'S A LOT OF BALONEY. HE'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS COUNTRY. LOOK WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WHERE WE WERE FOUR YEARS AGO. >> WHAT DOES TAKING CARE OF THIS COUNTRY LOOK IKE? IS THERE A SPECIFIC ISSUE WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE HE GETS AND NO ONE ELSE DOES? >> PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, AND GASES WHAT, A DOLLAR -- ALMOST TWO DOLLARS? A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. THEY HAVE THREE JOBS, NEVERMIND TWO. >> PRICES ARE GOING BACK DOWN, THE ECONOMIC NUMBERS ARE GOING TO JOE BIDEN'S DIRECTION. IF THE ECONOMY IMPROVES SUBSTANTIALLY BEFORE NOVEMBER, WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR VIEW? >> NO. BIDEN IS NOT THE ONE IMPROVING IT, TRUMP IS. >> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL SET THAT ASIDE FOR NOW. THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP'S LEGAL CHALLENGES, THE DEFAMATION CASE, CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, STOLEN ELECTION, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL OF THAT? >> IT'S ALL CRAP. HE >> NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS TRUE? >> I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF IT. BECKY WAS FOUND LIABLE FOR DEFAMATION FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT >> LOOK AT WHO'S TRYING HIM. IS ANYBODY HOME? >> CAN ONLY WHAT, REPUBLICAN JURIES AND JUDGES HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE? >> I DON'T THINK HE'S BEING TREATED FAIRLY. IF IT WAS YOU IN THERE THEY WOULD BE TREATING YOU RIGHT. >> I HEAR THAT FROM TRUMP SUPPORTERS ALL THE TIME. IF HE GETS CONVICTED OF MISHANDLING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS OR CONVICTED OF TRYING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION, DOES THAT CHANGE YOUR MIND? >> NO. LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO HUNTER BIDEN. >> HUNTER BIDEN ISN'T RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. >> THEY ARE DOING ANYTHING TO HIM. >> WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IN THE FALL? THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE LONGEST , UGLIEST, GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS ANYONE REMEMBERS DID IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY? >> IT WILL BE WORTH THE WAIT. >> LET ME ASK YOU A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. THE QUESTIONS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP'S AGE, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT JOE BIDEN'S AGE FOR A LONG TIME. HE'S PUSHING 80. HE WOULD BE INTO HIS 80s, HAD YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? DID THAT CONCERN YOU? >> DONALD IS MY AGE AND IT'S ONLY A NUMBER. IT'S WHAT'S UP HERE. HE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD TO ME. >> IF YOU WANT TO RUN WITH PRESIDENT -- RUN FOR PRESIDENT, WE SHOULD TALK. THANKS FOR CHATTING WITH US. TOM, -- >> TOM, THIS IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE TRUMP SUPPORTERS OF BEEN TALKING TO ACROSS THIS STATE. THE INVESTIGATIONS AREN'T REAL, COURT CASES ARE NOT REAL, THE DEVOTION IS UNMATCHED BY ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE I'VE EVER COVERED. YOU CANNOT QUESTION THE COMMITMENT THESE SUPPORTERS HAVE FOR TRUMP. >> THE LOYALTY, WE APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING. CHUCK, WALK US THROUGH THE CALENDAR AND WHAT NIKKI HALEY IS FACING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS. >> WE ARE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE RIGHT NOW, 16 DAYS LATER, TRUMP WAS DESCRIBING THAT THING WHERE HE'S THE ONLY ONE TRYING TO GET THERE. >> THEY CREATED A CAUCUS IN THE PRIMARY AND THE PARTIES RUNNING THE CAUCUS IN IS THAT IF YOU REGISTER YOU CAN BE IN THE CAUCUS BALLOT, ANYWAY. THIS IS WHY HE CAN'T BE STOPPED FROM NOMINATION. >> TO ME, THIS IS WHERE I THIN , IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER STATE WHERE DONALD TRUMP COULD HAVE PROBLEMS, IT'S MICHIGAN. THEY HAVE THE SAME RULES. SOUTH CAROLINA DOES, TOO, BUT THERE WILL BE A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THAT TAKES PLACE BEFORE THIS WHICH WILL TAKE POTENTIAL VOTERS AWAY THAT NIKKI WOOED. SOUTH CAROLINA IS HER WATERLOO. MICHIGAN IS THE ALASKA. >> DO YOU THINK SHE MAKES IT TO SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS SOMETHING HAPPENS? >> RON DESANTIS SAID HE WOULD GO ON AND WITHIN 96 HOURS, HE WAS OUT OF THE RACE. SEE WHAT THE NEXT 72 HOURS ARE LIKE. >> CHUCK TODD, THANK YOU. THAT DOES IT FOR ME, NBC COVERAGE CONTINUES WITH MY GOOD FRIEND KRISTEN WELKER RIGHT NOW. >>> THIS IS NBC NEWS SPECIAL, DECISION 2024: THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY REPORTING TONIGHT, KRISTEN WELKER AREA >> SPECIAL COVERAGE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. I'M KRISTEN WELKER IN NEW YORK ON THE FOURTH NIGHT FOR PRESIDENTIAL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP. NBC NEWS SUGGESTS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WON THE PRIMARY DEFEATING NIKKI HALEY. VERY COMFORTABLE MARGIN. HIS VICTORY TONIGHT COULD MAKE HIM DOMINANT AND PRECEDENT POSITION, INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN RESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO WIN NOMINATING CONTEST. THE FORMER PRESIDENT ADDRESSED THE COUNTRY VOWING RETRIBUTION WITH FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT THE ELECTION AND LASHING OUT AT HALEY, PRESIDENT BIDEN, AND DEMOCRATS >> THE ONLY PERSON MORE ANGRY THAN ME, I DON'T GET TOO ANGRY, I GET EVEN, WE HAVE BEATEN BIDEN, YOU COULD ALMOST SAY, WHO THAT HELL CAN ? THE MAN CAN'T PUT TWO SENTENCES TOGETHER. THEY USED COVID TO CHEAT. ARE THEY STILL GET PEOPLE? I DON'T THINK SO, NOBODY CAN CHEAT THAT WELL. DO THEY HATE OUR COUNTRY? THEY MUST HATE OUR COUNTRY, THEY ARE SO BAD AT WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND SO EVIL AND THEY ARE DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY GET A LITTLE NOTE TO NIKKI, SHE IS NOT GOING TO WIN. >> THE RESULT LEAVES NIKKI HALEY FACING MAJOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF OUR CAMPAIGN AFTER COMING UP SHORT IN A CONTEST WHERE UNDECLARED VOTERS UPSIDE CHAIR OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTORATE. HER SPEECH TONIGHT, SHE BOWED TO SOLDIER ON. >> YOU HAVE HEARD THE CHATTER AMONG THE POLITICAL CLASS, THEY ARE FALLING ALL OVER THEMSELVES SAYING THAT THIS RACE IS OVER. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I HAVE NEWS FOR ALL OF THEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS FIRST IN THE NATION . IT IS NOT THE LAST. >> DEFIANT NIKKI HALEY THERE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, NBC NEWS PROJECTS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S WON HIS PART EASY DESPITE NOT BEING ON THE BALLOT. HIS SUPPORTERS ORGANIZED WRITE IN CAMPAIGN AVOIDING EMBARRASSING LOSS TO CONGRESSMAN DEAN PHILLIPS EVEN THOUGH NO DELEGATES WERE AT STAKE. WE HAVE IT ALL COVERED TONIGHT. GARRETT HAAKE IS THAT TRUMP HEADQUARTERS IN NASHUA AND WE ARE AT CONCORD AT HALEY HEADQUARTERS HALLIE JACKSON. CHUCK TODD WILL BE AT THE BIG BOARD ALL NIGHT TO TAKE US INSIDE THE RESULTS. GARRETT HAAKE, I WANT TO START WITH YOU, TAKE US INSIDE THE TRUNK CAMPAIGN, CLEARLY WE HEARD FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TRYING TO PRESSURE NIKKI HALEY TO GET OUT OF THE RACE. I KNOW YOU HAVE TALKED TO HIS SUPPORTERS ALL NIGHT LONG, WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU THERE? >> Reporter: LET ME FLIP IT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN GOT THE RESULT EXPECTED. THEY THINK ALL OF THE ACCOUNTING IS DONE, END UP WINNING THE STATE BY 12 TO 15 POINTS, THEY ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS THEY THINK IT KEEPS THEM ON TRACK TO LOCK UP THE NOMINATION BY MID MARCH IF NOT SOONER. THE CANDIDATE, ON THE OTHER HAND, SEEMS DEEPLY BOTHERED BY NIKKI HALEY AND THE WAY SHE CLOSED OUT THE CAMPAIGN AND THE WAY SHE SPOKE ONSTAGE TONIGHT. WE SAW IT ON HIS TRUTH SOCIAL ACCOUNT CALLING HER DELUSIONAL, THE WAY SHE TRIED TO TURN SECOND PLACE FINISH AND TO WIN EARLY AT LEAST WITH MOMENTUM. YOU SAW HIM GIVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLE OF SPEECH TONIGHT THAN WHEN HE DID WITH IOWA A WEEK AGO. GONE WAS THAT MAGNANIMOUS TONE, APPEALS TO UNITY AND BACK WAS RILEY TRUMP ATTACKING HIS PERCEIVED ENEMIES SUGGESTING CHRIS SUNUNU, THE GOVERNOR WHO SUPPORTED NIKKI HALEY WAS ON DRUGS. SUGGESTING ALSO FALSELY HE WON NEW HAMPSHIRE IN 2020 IN ESTATE HE LOST BY 60,000 VOTES. THIS IS THE DONALD TRUMP TO THOSE OF US WHO COVER HIM ARE FAMILIAR WITH ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. I THINK IT IS A DONALD TRUMP YOU WILL SEE GOING INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION WHETHER HIS CAMPAIGN FEELS IS A GOOD STRATEGY OR NOT SUPPORTERS IN THE ROOM, USUALLY AFFECTIVE, THEY AIDED UP, NOT NECESSARILY THE AUDIENCE GOING FORWARD. WE WILL SEE IF THE TUG-OF-WAR BETWEEN THE DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGN THAT WANTS HIM TO COMPETE AND WIN GENERAL ELECTIONS AND DONALD TRUMP HAS ONLY ONE SPEED WHEN ATTACKING PERCEIVED OPPONENTS IF THE TENSION GETS IRONED OUT WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS WITH NIKKI HALEY CONTINUING. >> RATE ANALYSIS, BEFORE I MOVE ON, TALK ABOUT HOW YOU EXPECT HIM TO STRADDLE THAT LINE BETWEEN CLEARLY TRYING TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON NIKKI HALEY AND TURNING HIS SIGHTS TO THE GENERAL ELECTION. HE HAS NOT WON THE NOMINATION YET. PRESIDENT BIDEN SHIFTING INTO HIGHER GEAR. >> Reporter: YOU SAW HIM EVENTUALLY TURNED TO JOE BIDEN A THIRD TO HALF WAY THROUGH THE SPEECH TONIGHT, ALMOST AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT REMEMBERING THAT IS THE ULTIMATE TARGET. I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WILL SEE THAT TENSION BETWEEN THE CANDIDATE AND CAMPAIGN DONALD TRUMP HAS ONE SPEED, AS LONG AS NIKKI HALEY IS IN THE RACE, HE WILL ATTACK HER. VERY LITTLE LIKELIHOOD WE CAN IGNORE HER OR WAIT FOR HER FUND- RAISING OR ATTENTION TO DRY OUT OR FOR HER TO GET OUT OF THE RACE HE WILL TRY TO ATTACK HER AND ISOLATE HER AND FOCUS ON WINNING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN AGGRESSIVE WAY AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR IT TO END AT ITS NATURAL COURSE. THE PARTY WANTS HIM TO FOCUS ON JOE BIDEN. WE WILL WATCH THE TUG-OF-WAR IN REAL TIME FOR HIS ATTENTION IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD. >> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR MARATHON DAY AND NIGHT. FANTASTIC REPORTING ALI VITALI JOINS US FROM NIKKI HALEY'S HEADQUARTERS IN CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. I HAVE TALKED TO MY SOURCES INSIDE THE HALEY CAMPAIGN, THEY ARE BULLISH AS WELL, THEY INSIST THERE IS A PATH. LET'S BE REALISTIC, PART OF WHAT THEY WERE HOPING FOR TONIGHT AND PART OF THE EXPECTATIONS WAS THAT THEY WERE HOPING SHE COULD KEEP ANY LOSS WITHIN SINGLE DIGITS AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. HAVING REALISTIC CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE FOLKS, IT IS A SETBACK. >> Reporter: OF COURSE. THAT IS WHY THEY CAME OUT TONIGHT AT THE POINT THEY DID WHEN POLLS WERE MUCH CLOSER THAN ANYONE EXPECTED, MUCH CLOSER THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED. THAT IS THE BEST TIME FOR NIKKI HALEY TO RALLY THE CROWD OF SUPPORTERS BEHIND ME. THEY ARE MORE THAN AWARE OF THE REALITY OF THE RACE, THE FACT IT WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY YOU HAVE A SHOT AT THE NOMINATION, IF YOU HAVE NOT WON A STATE OUTRIGHT, THEY ARE ARGUING FOR STATES COMING WAY DOWN THE PIPELINE, PLACES LIKE MICHIGAN OR TEXAS, ANYWHERE WITH OPEN OR SEMI OPEN PRIMARY SYSTEM THAT IS AKIN TO NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY ARE ARGUING WITH MORE TIME, THE MOMENTUM WILL BUILD IN THOSE PLACES. WE KNOW A MONTH TO SOUTH CAROLINA IS AN ETERNITY. NEVERTHELESS, HER MESSAGE WAS BULLISH AND SOUNDED LIKE THIS. >> AT ONE POINT IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THERE WERE 14 OF US RUNNING AND WE WERE 2% IN THE POLLS. I'M A FIGHTER. AND I'M SCRAPPY. NOW WE ARE THE LAST ONES STANDING NEXT TO DONALD TRUMP. >> Reporter: YOU KNOW WHAT? ESSENTIAL TO BE SCRAPPY AND A FIGHTER BECAUSE GARRETT LAID IT OUT TO YOU AND I HAVE COVERED FRONT AND WE KNOW IT TO BE TRUE, HE WILL NOT MAKE THIS EASY. THE SPEECH WE SAW HIM GIVE TONIGHT WAS ALMOST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT I IMAGINE IS A SCORCHER CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIS FORMER U.N. AMBASSADOR. THEY ARE GOING TO SOUTH CAROLINA, SHE LIKES TO ARGUE IT IS HER SWEET HOME STATE. IT HAS CHANGED A LOT DEMOGRAPHICALLY SINCE SHE WAS LAST ON THE BALLOT IN 2014. SHE WON TWO TIMES AS GOVERNOR. I WAS ON THE GROUND IN 2016 WHEN TRUMP SWEPT THE COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOLIDIFIED THE FACT HE WAS REMAKING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN REAL TIME DOING AWAY WITH THE JEB BUSH AND MARCO RUBIO OF THE 2016 CYCLE. HALEY RETURNING TO THAT SAME STATE JUST OVER A MONTH FROM NOW AND IT IS AN ETERNITY. SHE WILL HAVE TO MAKE TO HER DONORS THE CASE SHE CAN GET TO THAT TIME PERIOD. >> HER DONORS, SHE HAS TO CONVINCE THEM TO STAY WITH HER IN SOUTH CAROLINA, IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR ANY FUTURE POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS SHE MAY HAVE. ALI VITALI, FANTASTIC AS ALWAYS. SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT HALLIE JACKSON IS ON THE GROUND IN MANCHESTER WHERE SHE HAS BEEN TALKING TO VOTERS ALL NIGHT LONG AT A WATCH PARTY. YOU HAVE THEUN LOCATION TONIGHT, I HAVE TO SAY, MY FRIEND. >> Reporter: CAN I TELL YOU, I LOOKED AROUND AND REALIZED EVERYBODY LEFT BECAUSE OF WHERE I'M STANDING. EVERYBODY IS AT THE BAR, WATCHING RETURNS COME IN. A LOT OF SUPPORTERS OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. WE SAW A COUPLE REPORTERS AT NIKKI HALEY. I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS THE STATE AS WELL AS ANYBODY, NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN CHAIR, CHRIS. GIVE US A SENSE WHERE YOU ARE AT. >> PRETTY GOOD, RECORD TURNOUT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD. THE MORE WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE AND GET A BROAD SPECTRUM OF VOTER VIEWS, THE BETTER POLITICIANS CAN SERVE THEM. HAVING THE PRIMARIES THE WAY WE DO AND PARTICIPATION IS A GOOD THING. >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU THINK THE RACE GOES FROM HERE? >> THE HALEY CAMPAIGN HAS TO REASSESS THEIR CHANCES OF WINNING. NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A VERY FRIENDLY STATE FOR SOMEBODY LIKE NIKKI HALEY. WITH THE UNDECLARED ABLE TO VOTE AND MORE MODERATE ELECTORATE, IT WAS KEYED UP FOR HER TO DO WELL SO SHE COULD CONNECT WITH VOTERS IT LOOKS LIKE SHE WILL BE DOWN 10 POINTS, BOY, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT UP IN OTHER STATES? IT IS UP TO HER CAMPAIGN TO ASSESS THAT. IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU COULD WIN, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY DROP OUT AND NOT PROLONG THE PAIN. IF SHE THINKS SHE CAN WIN, SHE SHOULD CONTINUE ON. >> Reporter: WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SPECTRUM? NIKKI HALEY SUGGESTING IT IS NOT A CORONATION, MAYBE SHE SHOULD COMPETE INTO SUPER TUESDAY? THE MESSAGE HEARING THE CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE, DONALD TRUMP HAS A STRONG SHOWING TONIGHT, IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT PARTY UNITY AND PEOPLE COME TOGETHER FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP? WHAT SAY YOU? >> IT WAS NOT CORONATION, COMPETITION AT IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE, IF NIKKI HALEY WANTS TO CONTINUE ON, SHE HAS A RIGHT TO DO THAT, MORE POWER TO HER. LOOKING AT NOVEMBER, SPENDING MONEY, ENERGY, FOCUSING ON US, WE ARE BATTLING, DISADVANTAGE. LOOKING AT THE HELP OF THE PARTY, IF SHE THINKS SHE CAN WIN, BY ALL MEANS CONTINUE. IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN WIN, WHY WASTE EVERYBODY'S TIME? >> Reporter: I IMAGINE SOME OF THE PARTY IS RELIEVED THE HARD STUFF IS OVER. >> WE WON KEY ELECTIONS AT THE LEGISLATURE. NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A RED STATE, GOVERNOR, STATEHOUSE, SWEPT THE MAYOR AND CITY OF MANCHESTER. WE ARE TRENDING THE RIGHT WAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. IT IS A GREAT NIGHT FOR REPUBLICANS. >> Reporter: THANK YOU FOR CHATTING WITH US. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN TONIGHT, THIS QUESTION OF THE MARKET CENTER, THE QUESTION OF WHERE THE RACE GOES, YOU HEARD IT A LITTLE BIT FROM CHRIS. POTENTIALLY RECKONING FOR THE NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGN EVENTUALLY AT SOME POINT. IN THE MEANTIME, FOLKS OUT HERE VERY MUCH BACKING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO MEMBERS OF SEMI PRO HOCKEY TEAM FROM MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS IS ANY. YOU CAST YOUR BALLOT TODAY. >> I DID I VOTED FOR MR. TRUMP. I SUPPORT HIM AND I LIKE THE WAY HE SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES, SUPPORT THE GOAT, THE GOAT HOCKEY FANS >> Reporter: THE BAR WE ARE AT. >> LOCAL BUSINESSES. HE IS PROJECTED TO WIN. >> Reporter: GIVE ME YOUR REACTION, DO YOU THINK NIKKI HALEY SHOULD CONTINUE HER CAMPAIGN? DID YOU ENTERTAIN HER AS A CANDIDATE? >> I THINK SHE IS DOING IT IS A BID FOR HER, GOOD FOR HER. IF SHE WANTS TO KEEP THAT GOING, SHE DID GET A LOT OF VOTES OBVIOUSLY, I'M A TRUMP GUY GOOD FOR HER. >> Reporter: WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HER STAY IN THE RACE OR GET BEHIND THE FORMER PRESIDENT? >> PROBABLY THE LATTER. SHE CAN DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS >> Reporter: THANK YOU VERY MUCH THANK YOU FOR CHATTING WITH US THAT IS THE LAY OF THE LAND. WE ARE HEADED NEXT, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, TO SOUTH CAROLINA BECAUSE THAT IS THE STATE NIKKI HALEY HAS HER EYE ON. NEVADA HAPPENS BETWEEN THAT, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP COMPETING THERE. HERE WE ARE, DEMOCRACY IN ACTION . I'M GOOD, DID YOU VOTE TODAY? >> I DID NOT BUT I WAS GOING TO. >> Reporter: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEMOCRACY IN ACTION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE WILL SEE HOW THE REST OF THE NIGHT UNFOLDS. >> SO FASCINATING TO SEE HER FROM THE FOLKS THERE, IT FLUSHES OUT THE IDEA THERE WILL BE PRESSURE ON NIKKI HALEY AT THIS POINT. THAT WAS CLEAR BASED BOTH ON THOSE INTERVIEWS YOU DID. THANK YOU SO MUCH, I DO APPRECIATE I . I HOPE YOU HAVE A LITTLE FUN AT THE BAR. I WANT TO TURN TO CHUCK TODD AT THE BOARD TO BREAK IT DOWN. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHO TURNED OUT AND WHY HALEY DID NOT PULL OFF THE COMEBACK SHE WAS HOPING FOR. >> Reporter: SIMPLE MATH, THIS IS THE MOST UPDATED EXIT POLL WE INCORPORATE ACTUAL RESULTS. THIS IS A WEIGHTED EXIT POLL BASED ON THE RESULTS THEMSELVES BUT YOU CAN SEE, IT TURNED OUT TO BE MAJORITY REPUBLICAN. AS WE STARTED THE NIGHT, DONALD TRUMP IN SUCH A BAD MOOD IS BECAUSE WHEN THE NIGHT BEGAN, THE COMBINATION OF DEMOCRATIC INDEPENDENTS WAS NOT 49, IT WAS SITTING AT 53. IT HAD BEEN 53, THAT WOULD BE A BIG DIFFERENCE. DONALD TRUMP WON REPUBLICANS WITH WHOPPING 74% OF THE VOTE. NIKKI HALEY GOT 25% OF THE VOTE. AMONG INDEPENDENTS, HER BIG NUMBER, THE GOOD NEWS THAT SHE WON BIG BUT NOT BY ENOUGH, SHE GOT 60. DONALD TRUMP AT 38% OF INDEPENDENTS AND SHE ONLY GOT 25%. OKAY, THIS IS BASIC ALGEBRA, THERE ARE MORE REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS DONALD TRUMP GOT MORE REPUBLICANS, THE BIGGER GROUP AND MORE INDEPENDENTS THAN HALEY GOT REPUBLICANS. THAT IS WHY WE ARE STARING AT THIS DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICIT. I WILL SHOW A FEW OTHER WAYS TO LOOK AT HOW EACH OF THEM WERE ABLE TO PUT THIS, WHAT THE KEY GROUPS WERE FOR EACH OF THEM. DONALD TRUMP DOMINATED WITH THE VERSION OF THE PARTIES HE CREATED. WE TOLD YOU THIS LAST WEEK WITH IOWA, VERY CONSERVATIVE VOTERS. THIS IS NEW, HE NEVER CARRIED VERY CONSERVATIVE 2016, HE WAS NOT VIEWED CONSERVATIVE. HE REDEFINED THE WORD, WHATEVER HE SAYS IS THE CONSERVATIVE POSITION THEREFORE HAS VOTERS SEE IT, THAT IS THE NUMBER. 74% OF REPUBLICANS, HERE IS THE WORKING-CLASS BASE WITH FAMILY AND COME UNDER 50 DOMINATED THOSE TWO TO ONE COMPARED TO NIKKI HALEY. IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THIS, ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE PER REALLY GOOD NIGHT FOR JOE BIDEN. 73% OF SELF DESCRIBED MODERATES, 66% OF FIRST-TIME VOTERS, ONE IN FIVE FIRST-TIME REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTER, WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? THEY VOTE REPUBLICAN OFTEN OR SHOW UP HERE? 60 OR 70 INDEPENDENTS AND MAJORITY OF COLLEGE GRADUATES. JOE BIDEN WILL NOT WIN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE VOTERS BUT PEOPLE, 5% IN EACH CATEGORY, IT SHOWS YOU WHY NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A BRIDGE TOO FAR TO CARRY, HE NEVER CARRIED IT TO I DON'T THINK HE IS BUILT FOR IT, SOME REPUBLICANS WIN IT, GEORGE W. BUSH WAS ABLE TO NARROWLY WIN IT ONCE, JOHN KERRY FLIPPED IT ONCE. HE IS NOT THAT TYPE OF REPUBLICAN WHICH IS WHY TRUMP LOST BOTH TIMES. THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DONALD TRUMP WITHIN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO LOSE A THIRD TIME. >> THE BIDEN TEAM WOULD DENOUNCE THE BIG SHAKEUP WATCHING THE NUMBERS CLOSELY. TALK ABOUT THE OTHER BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THE EXIT POLLS, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO VOTERS THAT IDENTIFY WITH THE MAGA MOVEMENT. >> Reporter: LET ME GET YOU TO THAT, I KNOW, I WENT TO DO THE BIDEN LEGITIMATELY WON ELECTION. THIS WAS A SPLIT ELECTORATE IF YOU RECALL, IOWA WAS TWO TOO ONE. TWO-THIRDS OF I DID NOT BELIEVE BIDEN LEGITIMATELY WON. DONALD TRUMP WON THESE VOTERS, LOOK HOW WELL HE DID, HE WON 86% OF THESE VOTERS. IF YOU THOUGHT BIDEN WON LEGITIMATELY, NIKKI HALEY DID NOT WIN AS MANY, SHE WON 77%. ONE IN FIVE VOTERS WHO BELIEVE BIDEN WON LEGITIMATELY STILL ENDED UP SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP. IT IS NOT AS IF THAT ISSUE ALONE IS A GUARANTEE THAT YOU WIN ALL OF THOSE VOTERS IN THAT PLACE. IT IS AN INTERESTING WAY TO LOOK AT IT. YOU START TO SEE HOW NIKKI HALEY CONTINUED TO COME UP SHORT I'M BUYING A LITTLE TIME, IF TRUMP IS CONVICTED, OVERALL SPLIT, 54 42, IF CONVICTED, 87% HE WON THOSE VOTERS. CHECK THIS OUT, HE IS NOT FIT IF CONVICTED, HE STILL WON 13%. >> WE SAW SIMILAR NUMBERS TO THAT IN IOWA AS WELL, BIG IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GENERAL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU SO DON'T GO ANYWHERE . >>> COMING UP, THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE WILL DIVE DEEPER INTO WHAT THE RESULTS MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PRIMARY RACE AND THE TRUMP GRIP ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY ELECTION. PLEASE STAY WITH US. ♪ >>> NEWS LIVES IN THE NOW. >> MY HOUSE IS NO LONGER HERE BUT WE ARE HERE. >> NOW IS RAW. NOW IS REAL. >>> NEWS FOR THE GENERATION OF NOW IS NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WITH HISTORIC WIN TONIGHT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MORE OF THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT COALESCING AROUND HIM. THE FORMER PRESIDENT ENDORSED TWO SENATE ENDORSEMENTS. JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THESE RESULTS, MARC SHORT, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO MIKE PENCE AND SENIOR FELLOW AT AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOUR REACTION TO WHAT WE SAW TONIGHT WHEN WE STARTED OFF TODAY, WE TALKED ABOUT THE MARGIN OF POTENTIAL TRUMP VICTORY, HE HAS DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD. >> HE DOES, ROUGHLY 10 POINTS. VERY LITTLE TO CHANGE THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PRIMARY. THE REALITY IS REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE NOT READY TO QUIT DONALD TRUMP YET AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. >> WHAT YOU MAKE OF TONIGHT AND WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE FORMER PRESIDENT, PARTICULARLY RELATING TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND HIS PEACE, COMFORT NIKKI HALEY TO GET OUT. >> HE WOULD LIKE THAT, WE TALKED EARLIER WHAT THE MARGIN WOULD BE, THE ISSUE IS, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS HE DID NOT DESTROY HER AND HE DID NOT HAVE A FABULOUS SHOWING, A LITTLE AMBIGUOUS AND I THINK SHE CAN MAKE THE CASE, I CAN STATE IN THE RACE, IF I WIN SOUTH CAROLINA. THAT IS A HARD CALL, WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT IN THE POLLS. IF I WIN SOUTH CAROLINA, THERE IS A CASE TO BE MADE. THE MONEY WILL BE THERE FOR NIKKI HALEY SO THAT IS NOT A FACTOR WHICH IT WAS FOR RON DESANTIS. AS FAR AS DONALD TRUMP'S SPEECH, EVERY TIME I HEAR HIM MAKE A SPEECH LIKE THAT, IT REMINDS ME OF THAT GRADE, MEAN KIDS WHO SAID YOU ARE FAT AND UGLY, YOU'RE STUPID AND I HATE THEM STILL TO THIS DAY 50 YEARS LATER AND THAT IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT SPEECH. >> THAT IS A LOT TO RESPOND TO. PEAK DONALD TRUMP IS THE KING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. A YEAR AGO PEOPLE DOUBTED HIS POWER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND WE HAVE SEEN HIM TROUNCE CHALLENGERS. HE BEAT RON DESANTIS BY 30 POINTS WHO DROPPED OUT, NIKKI HALEY AND HE HAS WON BY 11 POINTS HERE, HE WILL WIN NEVADA BECAUSE SHE IS NOT PART OF THAT CAUCUS. SOUTH CAROLINA, SHE DROPPED 30 OR 40 POINTS, I DON'T SEE HOW SHE'S ARRIVED WITH ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORL . SURVIVING EMBARRASSING LOSS IN HER HOME STATE, I DON'T SEE A PATH FORWARD, THE REALLY INTERESTING THING I WOULD SAY WITH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY, EXIT POLLING SHOWED BY 21 POINT MARGIN, HER ARGUMENT WAS ELECTABILITY, I CAN BEAT JOE BIDEN REPUBLICAN VOTERS THINK IS A BETTER CANDIDATE TO FUTURE CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN PEERS THAT THROWS HER ARGUMENT IN THE TRASH. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO LOOK AT THE SPEECH, E GOT EMOTIONAL AND UNHINGED. I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE CASE, ANALYZE HOW MUCH IS INTENTIONAL, HE KNOWS HE WILL WIN NEVADA AND SOUTH CAROLINA, HE KNOWS SUPER TUESDAY IS LOCKED IN SO HE WILL POUND THIS AND THAT IS WHAT HE DOES. BUILDING THE SCENTSY'S OF VICTOR. I'M NOT SAYING HE IS RIGHT THAT IT HELPS WITH GENERAL ELECTION VOTERS, ANY REPORT HE GOT UNHINGED OR WAS EMOTIONAL, THIS IS HIM, IT IS NOT ACCIDENTAL, INTENTIONAL DECISION ON HIS PART BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE WILL WIN COMING DOWN THE PATH. >> INEVITABILITY, EVERYTHING MARC SAID, YOU HAVE SENATOR CORNYN COMING OUT WITH ENDORSEMENT, DEB FISCHER WITH ENDORSEMENT. EXTRAORDINARY DECISION BY CHAIRWOMAN RONNA McDANIEL, NOW IS THE TIME FOR UNITY, NOT SO SUBTLE WAY OF SAYING NIKKI HALEY, YOU CAN'T WIN TONIGHT, TIME TO LEAVE THE RACE. IS THERE NOT A SENSE OF INEVITABILITY, HOW THEN DOES HALEY HAVE A PATH TO SOUTH CAROLINA? >> SHE MAY NOT HAVE A PATH BUT WE HAVE A PRIMARY PROCESS, PRIMARY PROCESS FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. IF WE DON'T LIKE IT AND WANT TO CHANGE IT, WE HAVE A MEANS TO DO THAT BUT WE HAVE NOT DONE IT WE DON'T GET INTO THE RACE AND TALK ABOUT OUR LEADERS LIKE KINGS, EVEN THOSE WHO THINK OF THEMSELVES THAT WAY. THERE IS A DISCUSSION TO BE HAD, THERE IS A DEBATE TO BE HAD. DONALD TRUMP HAS TO PROVE HIMSELF. MY VIEW IS THE PRIMARY PROCESS IS THAT PROCESS AREA >> ESPECIALLY FOR PARTY CHAIRMAN WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE NEUTRAL. >> SO MANY FASCINATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE EXIT POLLS. WHEN IT RELATES TO PRIMARY VOTERS, 61% SAID THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE A PART OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT. WHEN THAT FIRST CAME IN, MAYBE THIS WILL BE A CLOSER NIGHT THAN WE THOUGHT. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT, WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? DESPITE THAT FACT, DONALD TRUMP STILL STOMPED HALEY. >> BROADER APPEAL OUTSIDE THE MAGA BASE, HISPANIC AND BLACK VOTERS, HISTORIC FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE. YOUNG VOTERS COMING HOME TO HIM AS WELL. I THINK IT HAS TO DO THAT IT IS INEVITABLE RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE SEE IT AS A RACE BETWEEN JOE BIDEN AND DONALD TRUMP, THAT IS WHAT THE MATCHUP WILL BE IN 2024 . WE HAVE A PRIMARY PROCESS, NIKKI HALEY HAS EVERY RIGHT TO STAY IN THE RACE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THERE IS NO PATH GOING THROUGH, SHE WILL GET TROUNCED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SUPER TUESDAY, THE MAP WILL BE MORE FRIENDLY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> I JOIN THE CAMPAIGN AFTER MIKE PENCE WAS ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT, NOT PART OF THE NOMINATION. NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS ALWAYS A BATTLE GOING, SHOCKED BY THE NUMBERS, TRUMP. PEOPLE WHO WERE INDEPENDENTS MUST'VE GONE FOR HALEY. THERE IS THAT REBELLIOUS NOTION OF VOTERS COME I HATE ALL OF WASHINGTON AND LOOKING FOR SOMEONE. DESPITE THE PRESIDENT, THEY VIEW HIM AS THAT VEHICLE. >> POPULAR SWATH OF THE ELECTORATE, PARTLY WHAT MARC IS DESCRIBING. >> PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO BE LABELED THAT WAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS MADE THAT LABEL, EPITHET, INSULT TO PEOPLE. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE LABELED LIKE THAT. >> WHAT DOES HE LOOK FORWARD TO, BUT THE NEXT FEW WEEKS MIGHT LOOK LIKE? MARC, NIKKI HALEY UNDOUBTEDLY NEEDS TO HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. REMEMBER THAT RON DESANTIS AFTER IOWA WAS CELEBRATING HIS SECOND PLACE FINISH. YET WHEN HE TOOK A HARD LOOK AT THE POLLS AND HIS DONORS, SHE STILL HAS DONORS, HE DID NOT FEEL LIKE THERE WAS A PATH. IF SHE FEELS LIKE SHE WILL NOT WIN HER HOME STATE, CAN SHE STAY IN THE RACE? THAT WOULD BE A MORE DEVASTATING LOSS THE NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT YOU A LOT OF CANDIDATES RUN OUT OF MONEY, SHE HAS NOT. A LOT OF DONORS DON'T WANT TRUMP AND WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SHE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE MEANS TO CONTINUE ON. A MONTH FROM NOW WHEN YOU GET TO SOUTH CAROLINA, I'M NOT SURE SHE WILL WANT TO BE IN THE TICKET IF SHE LOSES BY 25 POINTS. >> ESTIMATE SHE GOES TO SOUTH CAROLINA? >> I THINK SHE DOES. >> YES. >> STICK AROUND, OR TO DISCUSS. GREAT CONVERSATION. NBC NEWS PROJECTS WHEN COVER PRESIDENT BIDEN IN THE GRANITE STATE AS WELL. HE WAS NOT EVEN ON THE BALLOT. WE DELVE INTO THAT, NBC NEWS NOW SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY ELECTION ♪ >>> NEARLY A DOZEN HOURS AFTER THE EYE ROARED ASHORE. THERE IS SOME LATE-BREAKING NEWS. >>> THE NBC NEWS MOBILE APP, GET CONNECTED TO YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS, BREAKING NEWS, AND LIVE VIDEO. DOWNLOAD THE NBC NEWS MOBILE APP NOW. >>> KRISTEN WELKER HOSTS MEET THE PRESS EVERY SUNDAY ON NBC. >>> WELCOME BACK. TONIGHT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENT BIDEN ONE STATE HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY AS A RUNNING CANDIDATE. REACTION TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S VICTORY, THE PRESIDENT HAS A CLEAR I MET UNLIKELY REMATCH AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN. IN STATEMENT TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN REACTED TO THE TRUMP VICTORY THANKS IT IS CLEAR DONALD TRUMP WILL BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND MY MESSAGE TO THE COUNTRY IS THE STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER, OUR DEMOCRACY AND PERSONAL FREEDOM FROM THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE, OUR ECONOMY WHICH MADE ASTONISHING RECOVERY IN THE WORLD SINCE COVID ARE ALL LET'S TAKE. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT MIKE MEMOLI IS AN OLD WATCH PARTY, PRESS SECRETARY JEN PSAKI AT THE HEADQUARTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THANK YOU FOR STAYING UP WITH US THIS ELECTION NIGHT. LET ME START WITH YOU AND THAT STRIKING STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT AND THE MAJOR CAMPAIGN SHAKEUP HE IS REPORTING ON THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT? >> Reporter: WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST MONTH, THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN WRAPPING UP THE KIND OF URGENCY DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN WANTING TO SEE FOR SOME TIME AND THE CRYSTALLIZATION OF THE FACT WE APPEAR TO BE HEADING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION MODE EARLIER THAN A LOT OF FOLKS EXPECTED HIS DRIVING WHAT THE CAMPAIGN IS DESCRIBING, NOT AS A SHAKEUP BUT BEGINNING OF ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT. FOR SOME TIME, PEOPLE INCLUDING THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BARACK OBAMA SUGGESTING THE BIDEN TEAM IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, THE HEADQUARTERS, NEED TO INCLUDE SENIOR DECISION MAKERS THAT HAVE THUS FAR BEEN WORKING THE WEST WING INCLUDING MIKE DONELAN AND O'MALLEY JOINING THE HEADQUARTERS. I SPOKE WITH JULIE CHAVEZ RODRIGUEZ, SHE IS AND HAS BEEN THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER. SHE SAYS IS A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT, REFLECTION THAT WE ARE SEEING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION RACE COME TO AN EARLY END. NOT LIKELY TO CHANGE THE DAY-TO- DAY OPERATIONS. THEY ARE VERY FAMILIAR NAMES TO HER, FOR ME EARNINGS AT HEADQUARTERS. COVERING EVERYONE UNDER ONE ROOF CONTINUES TO KEEP THE OPERATION MOVING FORWARD. ANOTHER SENIOR OFFICIAL TELLING ME THE PRESIDENT STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER. IT IS A CAMPAIGN THAT IS LOW BUT BUILDING UP RAPID RESPONSE OPERATION, FIELD SECTION IN THE EARLY STATES AND EXTENDING THE MAP. THEY DOWNPLAY THIS AS A MATTER OF STAFF IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH SPLIT RESPONSIBILITIES MOVING TO THE CAMPAIGN FULL TIME. IT IS A NOTEWORTHY DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERING WHAT YOU AND I WERE HEARING A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THEY WERE PUSHING BACK ON THESE KINDS OF SUGGESTIONS. >> ABSOLUTELY, STRIKING DEVELOPMENT. JEAN SAKI, IT IS STUNNING TO HEAR PRESIDENT BIDEN SAY IT IS CLEAR DONALD TRUMP WILL BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE. NIKKI HALEY IS STILL IN THE RACE, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIS COMING OUT AND SAYING THIS ON THE SAME DAY THE CAMPAIGN HAS ANNOUNCED THESE CHANGES ON THE SAME DAY HE HAD HIS JOINT APPEARANCE WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT, THE FOCUS ABORTION RIGHTS? >> IS CONSISTENT WITH LANGUAGE WITH STATEMENT ISSUED BY JULIE CHAVEZ RODRIGUEZ, THE PRESIDENT'S VOICE MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT. IT IS INTERESTING THEY DECIDED TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT IS ELEVATING IT MORE. THE FOR STATEMENT FROM JULIE CHAVEZ RODRIGUEZ THAT TONIGHT THE RESULTS CONFIRM DONALD TRUMP HAS ALL BUT LOCKED UP THE GOP NOMINATION. THAT IS THE FIRST LINE. WHAT IT SHOULD INDICATE TO EVERYBODY AND ALL OF US IS THAT THEY ARE STARTING THE GENERAL ELECTION, HOWEVER LONG NIKKI HALEY STAYS IN, WHETHER TOMORROW OR SOUTH CAROLINA, THEY'RE RUNNING AGAINST TRUMP, RUNNING FULL THROTTLE AGAINST HIM AND THAT IS THEIR PLAN. PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TONIGHT, I THINK THEY PUT OUT BOTH STATEMENTS, CERTAINLY THE ONE IN THE PRESIDENT'S VOICE. >> TAKE US INSIDE YOUR CONVERSATION WITH DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES. MIKE AND I ARE REPORTING ON THIS, THERE HAS BEEN CONCERN THAT THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SLOW TO RAMP UP. OBVIOUSLY THE CAMPAIGN SAYS OKAY, HERE WE ARE WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION. DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY? OR DO THEY WISH HE DID THIS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO? >> FIRST OF ALL, EXCELLENT REPORTING DONE BY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE INCLUDING MIKE MEMOLI THAT UNEARTHED THE FACT THEY ARE BRINGING JEN O'MALLEY, MIKE DONELAN, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS PLANNED TO GO OUT TODAY, WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES. I DON'T THINK THEY PLAN TO DO THAT, I THINK THEY PLANNED TODAY TO MAKE CLEAR THE GENERAL ELECTION WAS STARTING. IN TERMS OF CONVERSATIONS, I HEARD THE SAME THINGS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. THE DEMOCRATS ARE NERVOUS, NERVOUS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DONALD TRUMP ELECTED TO ANOTHER TERM. THEY WANT TO SEE URGENCY FROM THE CAMPAIGN. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE TWO DEMOCRACY SPEECHES THE PRESIDENT GAVE, THEY WANT TO SEE MORE OF THAT. THEY ARE ENCOURAGED BY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING WITH MORE AGGRESSIVE TACTIC ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN THE MEDIA ON DONALD TRUMP. WE WILL HAVE TO SEE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. MIKE DONNELLY AND JEN O'MALLEY DILLON, COMFORT SECURITY WARM BLANKET FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE KNOWN ENTITIES, IN THE MIDDLE CIRCLE, COMFORT LEVEL WITH WHO THEY ARE AND THEIR TRACK RECORD AMONG PEOPLE WHO LONG SUPPORTED THE PRESIDENT. THEY DO NOT CHARACTERIZE IT AS A SHAKEUP, JULIE CHAVEZ RODRIGUEZ THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER, THE STATEMENT IN HER NAME WHICH I THINK WAS DONE ON PURPOSE. THIS WILL GIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE NERVOUS MORE CONFIDENCE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND HIM A LONG TIME WILL RUN THE CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFULLY WILL BE DEEPLY INVOLVED. >> PICKING UP ON THAT POINT, WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING FOR IN THE COMING WEEKS FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN, THE VICE PRESIDENT, THEY WILL BE PUTTING THIS FOCUS ON ABORTION RIGHTS, ALSO ALKING ABOUT DEMOCRACY LIKE JEN TALKED ABOUT. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS TO FIND A NEW MESSAGE ON THE ECONOMY. >> Reporter: THERE ARE THREE PILLARS TO THE BIDEN RE- ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND WE SEE THAT PLAY OUT AS THE YEAR HAS BEGUN. THE VIEW IS VALLEY FORGE, STRONG SPEECH FROM THE PRESIDENT, ABORTION RIGHTS AND STRONG ISSUE THROUGH THE GENERAL ELECTION. THE ECONOMY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, THAT WILL BE A MAJOR SCENE. WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE PRIMARY CALENDAR, THE PRESIDENT TRAVELING TO SOUTH CAROLINA THIS WEEKEND. I THINK IT IS WORTH HIGHLIGHTING WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WRITE-IN WAS SUCCESSFUL, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING FROM PEOPLE NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN FOR DEPRIVING NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY ARE HOPING THE PRESIDENT WILL COME HERE QUICKLY BECAUSE NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL BE A BATTLEGROUND STATE IN NOVEMBER. >> THANK YOU FOR GREAT CONVERSATION AREA >>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, TEAMING UP WITH CHUCK TODD AT THE BIG BOARD. DON'T GO ANYWHERE, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT. SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY ELECTION ♪ >>> STAY ON TOP OF BREAKING NEWS AND THE BIGGEST STORIES OF THE DAY WITH NBC NEWS DAILY. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> I'M MORGAN RADFORD. >> I'M VICKY NGUYEN. >> I'M KATE SNOW. >> I'M ZINHLE ESSAMUAH. >> GET IN-DEPTH REPORTING FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> BREAKING NEWS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. >> AND AROUND THE WORLD. >> QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REBELLION IN RUSSIA. >> WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH. >> WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR? >> AND YOUR WALLET. >> GREAT LAST-MINUTE DEALS TO BE FOUND IF YOU HAVE FLEXIBILITY. >> NBC NEWS DAILY, WEEKDAYS 12:00 TO 4:00 P.M. EASTERN ON NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME BACK. VERY SPECIAL, RARE OCCURRENCE, CHUCK TODD AND STEVE KORNACKI AT THE BIG BOARD TOGETHER TALKING ABOUT THE PATH FORWARD. >> LIKE AN ECLIPSE, YOU DON'T GET IT VERY OFTEN. >> WE PUT OUR BRAINS TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE PATH AHEAD. OBVIOUSLY, FOR NIKKI HALEY IT HAS TO BE A FORMULA OF PRIMARIES THAT INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS. EVERYTHING THROUGH SUPER TUESDAY, THE FIRST TUESDAY IN MARCH SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE SHE WILL START TO PUT HER RESOURCES. PUT HER RESOURCES AT EVERYTHING IN YELLOW. REALISTICALLY, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA IS A GOOD PLACE FOR HER, COLORADO COULD BE. I THINK THE SOUTHERN STATES, WHILE OPEN, NOT GREAT TERRITORY FOR HER. REALISTIC AND MAYBE SHE DOES WELL IN THE REST OF NEW ENGLAND. STEVE DID SOME CRUNCHING ON THIS STATE-BY-STATE AREA >> LOOKING AT RELIANCE SHE HAD ON INDEPENDENTS, EXIT POLL SAYS 49% OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTORATE IS REPUBLICAN. LOOKING BACK AT 2016, SOME OF THE STATES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT SHARE OF THE STATE WAS REPUBLICAN? THE PRIMARY, 62, 69, MASSACHUSETTS, 69, 83, 70. VERMONT, 57, DIFFERENT KIND OF REPUBLICAN, SHE COULD BE COMPETITIVE. VIRGINIA, 55. THE OTHER FACTOR IS THIS IS TWO- PERSON RACE. IN A LOT OF STATES, THE FORMULA SAMPLE FOR DELEGATES, 50% IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, YOU GET IT ALL. >> THEY CHANGE THE RULES. >> CALIFORNIA IS THE BIG ONE, 50%. HE COULD BEAT HER BY TWO POINTS AND TAKE ALL THE DELEGATES. >> THE DEMOCRATIC DELEGATE DID DROP 1000 PLUS VOTERS. THERE ARE PLACES THERE IS NO DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY DEMOCRATS CAN PARTICIPATE, THAT COULD IN THEORY COST HER, I THINK IT COST HER VOTES. DEAN PHILLIPS WITH THE CAMPAIGN COST HER OPPORTUNITY. >> 6% I.D. DOES DEMOCRAT, USUALLY 2%. >> 12%, 12 AND EIGHT. IT WAS ONLY 12% WHEN BERNIE SANDERS WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE IN 2016. THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY BUT MORE DEMOCRATS STAYED IN THERE LANE. >> THEY DON'T DO DEMOCRAT REGISTRATION, THE HIGH WATER MARK FOR DEMOCRATS WAS McCAIN IN 2009, INDEPENDENTS. >> 40% NON-REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE IF I RECALL. 48 WAS A TOUGH PLACE. HE IS ESSENTIALLY THE NIKKI HALEY CANADA. >> THE BUSH MESSAGE IN 2000, MORE REFINED VERSION FROM WHAT YOU HEARD OF TRUMP. DON'T SIDE WITH THE DEMOCRATS OR THE INDEPENDENTS, OR THE MEDIA. >> DONALD TRUMP WON A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS. YOU COULD LAY CLAIM SOME REPUBLICANS WANTED HIM, SHE HAS A PROBLEM WHEN ONLY NE IN FOUR REPUBLICANS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WANTED HER. >> WIN THE INDEPENDENT VOTE BY 24 INDEPENDENTS AND LOSE REPUBLICANS BY 49 IS 73 POINT SWING. I LOOK BACK IN THE THERE'S NO NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY WHERE THERE IS THAT BIG OF A SWING. >> YOU PUT A FINE POINT ON IT, IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS, LOOKING AT DOUBLE THE AMOUNT WHEN YOU GET TO SOUTH CAROLINA, MICHIGAN WHICH IS WHY HER PATH GETS HARDER. >> IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU WANT TO COLLECT DELEGATES TO INFLUENCE THE PLATFORM, DO ALL THE THINGS. THE ONLY MOTIVATION IS TO STICK THIS OUT, SHE WANTS TO BE THE LEADER OF A PARTY THAT DOES NOT HAVE DONALD TRUMP INVOLVED. SHE SOMEHOW BELIEVES TRUMP LOSES AND THERE WILL BE ROOM. WITH THE BET TED CRUZ MADE AND LOST IN 2016, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS WHO SHE IS, I DON'T. >> GIVEN HE SERVED IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND MADE THE CALCULUS IN LAST TIME, I AGREE. THE OTHER NUMBER WAS SOUTH CAROLINA, 76% REPUBLICAN IN 2016 WAS 72% EVANGELICAL IN 2016 , TONIGHT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, 19%, IOWA'S 55. TRUMP FORMED THAT POLITICAL PAWN, THE BACKBONE. >> ONLY MASSACHUSETTS LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, ONLY MASSACHUSETTS, THE NEIGHBORING STATE, MAYBE THE D.C. PRIMARY. >> McCAIN SWEPT NEW ENGLAND PRETTY MUCH AND LOST ALMOST EVERYONE >> 2016, MARCO RUBIO. >> TONIGHT JUMPING BECAUSE ONE OF THE STATES LOOKING AT IS MASSACHUSETTS, VIRGINIA, WHAT IS ABOUT VIRGINIA? >> THAT IS EASY. VIRGINIA IS ALLERGIC TO TRUMP. IT IS LITERALLY THE PATH, GIVING HISTORY HERE, WE CAN GO BACK IN TIME AND SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN VIRGINIA. 2016, VIRGINIA. THIS WAS THE PATH, YOU CAN SEE IT HERE. WASHINGTON, D.C., AND HE WON ALL OF RICHMOND, WHEREVER DEMOCRATS CARRY IN VIRGINIA, RUBIO DID WELL. BY THE WAY, STILL CAME UP SHORT. >> I HAVE TO POINT THIS OUT, THE D.C. PRIMARY, COMBINED ALMOST 73% FROM MARCO RUBIO, JOHN KASICH, 19 DELEGATES IN D.C., THE FUN I COULD SEE HALEY GETTING. >> THE PROBLEM IS SHE HAS TO FOLLOW A DEMOCRATIC PATH TO WIN REPUBLICAN NOMINATION, WHENEVER DEMOCRATS DO WELL IN GENERAL ELECTION IS WHERE SHE HAS TO FIGURE THIS OUT. NO WAY TO WIN NOMINATION. >> THE CHALLENGE DOING WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> WAIT A MINUTE. >> THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. ALL EYES ON THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BATTLE IN HER HOME STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. YOU'RE WATCHING SPECIAL COVERAGES ON THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS. ♪ >>> NEWS LIVES IN THE NOW. COMING AT US EVERY SECOND. NEWS IS MORE NOW THAN EVER. >>> JUST OUTSIDE ISRAELI MILITARY HEADQUARTERS. >> NOW IS RAW. NOW IS REAL. >> THE FED DECISION, HELP US TRANSLATE THAT INTO VERY PLAIN ENGLISH. >>> NOW IS CONSTANT. >>> THE FUTURE IS NOW. >>> NEWS FOR THE GENERATION OF NOW IS NBC NEWS NOW. >>> THIS RACE IS FAR FROM OVER, THERE ARE DOZENS OF STATES LEFT TO GO. AND THE NEXT ONE IS MY SWEET STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA! >> WELCOME BACK AFTER LOSSES TONIGHT AND IOWA, GOING BACK TO HER HOME STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA WERE BOTH SENATORS AND CURRENT GOVERNOR ARE BACKING DONALD TRUMP. IN FACT, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR TIM SCOTT BEHIND TRUMP LITERALLY AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT SPOKE AFTER HIS VICTORY. BACK WITH ME IS THE PANEL, MARC SHORT, DANIELLE PLETKA, GARRETT VENTRY. STANDING BEHIND DONALD TRUMP, WE THOUGHT THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZ ABOUT HIM BEING POTENTIAL VP NOMINEE, THAT TYPE OF REINFORCEMENT REINFORCES THE BUZZ. >> TRUMP WANTS TO SHOW HE HAS COMPLETE DOMINATION OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, A COUPLE OPPONENTS WITH PART OF THE OPTICS, THAT WILL HAPPEN, ENTIRE REASON WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT VP THIS EARLY ABOUT HIS DOMINATION IN IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, TALKING ABOUT GOING TO SOUTH CAROLINA. HALEY'S ISSUE ABOUT GOING TO SOUTH CAROLINA, OTHER CAMPAIGNS RUN, RON DESANTIS WAS BACKED WITH HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND JEFF BUSH COULD NOT BEAT HIM IN 2016. I WOULD ARGUE 2024 EVEN STRONGER POSITION THAN HE HAS BEEN GOING FORWARD. IT WILL BE TOUGH FOR HER TO SUFFER THE LOSS, RUBIO SUFFERED A LOSS IN FLORIDA OF HIS HOME STATE, IT IS VERY HARD TO RECOVER FROM THAT AREA EVEN IF SHE HAS THE MONEY AND RESOURCES, SHE CAN'T GO FORWARD IF SHE DOES NOT PUT W'S ON THE BOARD. >> STARING DOWN DOUBLE DIGIT DEFICIT IN YOUR HOME STATE IS SO CHALLENGING. CHUCK AND STEVE LAID OUT WHY THE PATH IS SO CHALLENGING BEYOND SOUTH CAROLINA. >> WHAT I REALLY LIKED WHAT THEY SAID, THAT CHUCK SAID, IT IS DEMOCRATIC, NOT REPUBLICAN. IF YOU'RE NIKKI HALEY, YOU LOOK AT THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AND STILL SEE THE NUMBERS, 55% OF AMERICANS DON'T WANT 2020 AGAIN, THEY DON'T WANT DONALD TRUMP, THEY DON'T WANT JOE BIDEN. HOW DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU AND HOW DOES SHE THINK ABOUT THAT MOVING FORWARD? THAT IS A BIG PART OF HOW SHE THINK ABOUT HER FUTURE AREA >> MARC, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? DOES SHE THINK ABOUT ANOTHER WAY TO TAKE ON TRUMP IF NOT THROUGH THIS PATH? >> I HAVE NEVER VIEWED HER AS IDEOLOGICAL VOYEUR. I THINK SHE IS A TRANSACTION. I DON'T SEE HER HAVING A BIGGER CAUSE. SHE IS THE ONE IN 2016 CAME OUT FOR TRUMP ON THE STATE OF THE UNION, ACCEPTED POST TO THE U.N. AMBASSADOR, CABINET POST AREA I DON'T SEE THAT INTO THE FUTURE. >> TALK ABOUT THIS REMARKABLE STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN WHO BASICALLY DECLARED THIS RACE OVER. WHO HAS SAID EFFECTIVELY THAT THE GENERAL ELECTION HAS BEGUN, THE NOMINATION SEEMS TO BE LOCKED UP BY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. DANIELLE, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT? GOING BACK TO THE POINT, AMERICANS DO NOT WANT THIS REMATCH YET HERE THEY ARE. THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET, WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING FOR? YOU SAW PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE VICE PRESIDENT TALKING ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS, CLEARLY THEY WILL MAKE IT THE CENTRAL PART OF THEIR CAMPAIGN? >> FIRST OF ALL, THE WAY I PICTURE THIS, JOE BIDEN WAKES UP EVERY MORNING AND SAYS, DONALD TRUMP WILL BE THE CANDIDATE. THEY HAVE A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP. DONALD TRUMP CAN ONLY BEAT JOE BIDEN AND JOE BIDEN CAN ONLY WE DONALD TRUMP. WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL COME OUT. THEY ARE IN A DEATH MATCH ALMOST LITERALLY, LOCKED TOGETHER GIVEN THEIR AGE. I THINK FOR THE PRESIDENT, IT IS HUGELY IMPORTANT. PLUS, HE WANTS TO PIVOT, HE WANTS TO SAY DEMOCRACY IS ON THE BALLOT EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF EVERY SINGLE DAY. I THINK PEOPLE WILL GET TIRED OF IT BUT THAT IS WHERE HE WANTS TO GO AREA >> GARRETT, WE THINK OF THAT? WHAT DO YOU THINK, ABORTION CENTRAL TO RE-ELECTION CAMPAIG ? I HAVE SPOKEN TO REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE NOT FOUND THEIR FOOTING OR MESSAGE. >> ABSOLUTELY. IT IS CLEAR THESE TWO WILL BE THE PARTY NOMINEE AND WE HAVE THOUGHT THAT FOR A LONG TIME, DRAGGING OUT THE INEVITABLE. IT WILL BE DONALD TRUMP VERSUS JOE BIDEN IN NOVEMBER 2024. I DO THINK THE DEMOCRACY ARGUMENT FROM JOE BIDEN IS INTERESTING AND DEMOCRATS LITERALLY ENSURING TAKING HIM OFF THE BALLOT IN MULTIPLE STATES, DEMOCRACY. TAKE HIM OFF THE BALLOT AND DON'T LET VOTERS DECIDE. THE THIRD THING WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ABORTION, I WOULD AGREE, IT IS A TOP ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS. THEY WOULD MUCH RATHER TALK ABOUT ECONOMY INFLATION, BIDEN DOES NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS BECAUSE UNDERWATER WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND HAS BEEN THE LAST YEAR. A VERY GOOD ANSWER, NIKKI HALEY HAD A GOOD ANSWER, PRESIDENT TRUMP IN HIS INTERVIEW HAD A GOOD ANSWER. I DO THINK KARI LAKE HAD AN INTERESTING ANSWER, SHE DOES NOT SUPPORT FEDERAL ABORTION BAN AND TALKS ABOUT MORE RESOURCES FOR WOMEN, BABIES, I THINK IT IS A GOOD ANSWER. >> WHAT YOU THINK? >> KARI LAKE WAS TWO TIME OBAMA VOTER, SHE'S NOT ORTHODOX REPUBLICAN. I DO THINK BIDEN IS SMART. THE RELATIONSHIP IS SYMBIOTIC. AS NIKKI HALEY SAID, ANY OTHER REPUBLICAN TO BEAT BIDEN AND ANY OTHER DEMOCRATS WOULD BE CHECKED TRUMP. SMART TO ELEVATE THIS TO BIDEN VERSUS TRUMP RACE. >> INTERESTING, I TALKED TO REPUBLICANS WHO SAY BIDEN IS UNDERWATER WITH THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT CHANGES IN NOVEMBER? THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY, ONE OF THEIR BIG CONCERNS. >> THAT IS A LOT OF CHANGE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN. WE ARE LOOKING AT VERY SERIOUS INFLATION STILL, THINGS THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE PRESIDENT ISN'T TALKING ABOUT. PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT JUNK FEES, PEOPLE CARE THAT THEIR HOUSE IS WORTH LESS THAN THEIR MORTGAGE, THEY CAN'T AFFORD MILK OR TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL. THOSE VIEWS WON'T CHANGE, I WISH THEY WOULD. >> SIGNALING SHIFT AND MESSAGING ON THE ECONOMY, INFLATION HAS BEGUN TO COME DOWN . ARE YOU HEARING THAT TYPE OF CONCERN WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN CIRCLE? 10 SECONDS. >> TOUGH FOR BIDEN TODAY, THE POINT HERE IS PEOPLE THINK IT WILL GET WORSE, TWO-THIRDS OF PEOPLE THINK THE ECONOMY AND EVERYTHING IS HEADED THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> GREAT CONVERSATION AND GREAT OUR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND CHUCK TODD HAS BEEN HERE THROUGHOUT THE HOUR. MUCH MORE COVERAGE OF THE 2024 RACE EVERY WEEKDAY AT FOUR CLICK P.M. ON MEET THE PRESS NOW. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OUR SPECIAL NBC NEWS NOW COVERAGE OF THE 2024 NEW 2024 NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. >>> THIS IS AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL, DECISION 2024, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. >> WELCOME TO THE NEW SPECIAL