Switcheroo Sensation: Democrats in Disarray as Party-Swap Plot Threatens Trump’s New Hampshire Grip

William FurneyOct 19, 2023

Minute Read

The Democratic National Committee’s decision to shake up its primary calendar and start in South Carolina instead of traditionally beginning in Iowa and New Hampshire is not sitting well with some of the party faithful — and Republicans are hoping to benefit from the infighting.

Dethroned States

Democratic primaries — the process by which the party votes to choose a candidate to run in next year’s presidential election — have for decades first been held in Iowa and New Hampshire, but problems in Iowa in 2020 that resulted in days of delays forced the DNC to make some changes.

Objections Over Changes

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The revised Democratic primary calendar, which is backed by President Joe Biden, is not exactly final and there are still over four months to go. That has led to continuing objections from the pushed-back states.

DNC ‘Turning Backs’

The DNC had essentially “turned their back on Iowa and rural America,” blasted Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart, as she called for her state to be returned to top of the primary list.

New Democratic Primary Dates

As it currently stands, and unless there are any changes, due to campaigning from Iowa and New Hampshire, voters in South Carolina will make their choices for presidential candidate on February 3, 2024. They will be followed by New Hampshire as well as Nevada on February 6, Georgia on February 13 and Michigan on February 27. All other states, including Iowa, can hold their primaries on any dates after these.

Republican Moves

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Sensing an opportunity, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a fierce critic of Donald Trump, is urging people in New Hampshire to switch parties in the hope of eroding support for the ex-president. Because Christie, a Republican like Trump, wants that job.

Pro-Christie Groups Urge Switch

The former governor may not have explicitly called on New Hampshire Democrats to change sides and try to prevent a second Trump presidency, but groups supporting him have. Tell It Like It Is, a Political Action Committee or PAC, that supports Christie for president, along with American Leadership Today, a nonprofit, sent out fliers to Democratic voters urging them to change to Republican.

‘Only One Willing’

The groups’ fliers said Christie was “the only one willing to take Trump on” and “Don’t let this guy back in the White House.” They reminded registered voters that they had a deadline of October 6 to switch parties.

Trump’s Oval Office Desire

Trump lost to Joe Biden in the 2020 election, and refused to concede defeat. Instead, the president claimed — falsely, it would turn out, following multiple court cases that looked into the issue — that the election was “stolen” from him because of “rigged” election machines. Trump’s refusal to accept that he had lost and Biden would be the next president led to rioting at the US capitol in January 2021, after he urged supporters to march there in protest. Five people were killed in violence that broke out and dozens were arrested.

Trump the Republican Frontrunner

Trump has a wide lead over his rivals to be nominated as the GOP’s choice for candidate in the 2024 election, and is currently polling at up to 60% of registered Republican voters who say he would be their choice. Christie, meanwhile, is polling at a mere 3.2%, suggesting his hopes of getting to the White House are a longshot.

Other GOP Contenders

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had been Trump’s main contender to be chosen as the Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election, but his polling has collapsed as his campaign imploded. DeSantis is currently polling around 14%, from a high of about 30 points more than that. Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley is also contesting the nomination, and is polling about 7%, as is businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump’s vice president during his term in office, Mike Pence, is hoping to be the Republican candidate too but his poll numbers have consistently been below 5%.

2020 Election Fallout

While Trump may believe he has a clear shot at the Republican nomination, many in the party are concerned about a myriad of legal cases he is fighting, both federal and civil. The federal cases include indictments on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the peaceful transfer of power and illegally holding and sharing confidential government documents at his Florida home.

Democratic Presidential Race

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On the Democratic side, whatever happens with the primary calendar, President Biden is campaigning for a second term, along with Vice President Kamala Harris as his running mate. But just as there are concerns about Trump, there are worries about a second Biden term too, given that the president is 80 years of age and recently has been tripping and mumbling his words.