Elections

Can Trump’s Iowa Strategy Work In New Hampshire?

Kerry Picket Political Reporter
Font Size:

DES MOINES, Iowa — Will Donald Trump see victory in the New Hampshire primary despite deploying a similar campaign strategy he used in Iowa, a state he lost on Monday night to Texas Sen. [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore]?

Trump’s second place Hawkeye state finish came after months of flying in and out of the state and holding enormous campaign rallies attended by his supporters, while Cruz preferred the traditional county by county intimate meet and greets as well as months-long organizing for caucus preparations.

The Trump campaign has given his New Hampshire supporters similar big rallies and Cruz continues with his meet and greets throughout the small New England state.

According to the last polls before the Iowa caucus results, Trump crushes the competition in New Hampshire but that may change with Cruz’s new momentum coming out of Iowa.

“Mr. Trump has clearly established a very different approach than what is traditional in New Hampshire and whether or not that is going to work for him, we’ll know on election day,” New Hampshire Republican Chairwoman Jennifer Horn told The Daily Caller prior the Iowa caucus results.

She continued, “A number of the campaigns have very strong ground games—very visible ground games—Governor Bush, Governor Kasich, Governor Christie, Sen. Rubio, Carly Fiorina — they have very active visible ground games and again Mr. Trump and his team choose their own strategy — their own approach and we’ll see on election day how that pans out.”

It should be noted that caucus and primaries run very differently and Trump’s campaign based off of enthusiasm may be a better fit for a primary than a caucus one D.C. campaign consultant told TheDC last week before the Iowa caucus.

“A personality-based approach to politics tends to work better in primary states versus caucus states. Trump is basing his strategy on momentum and the fact that he is leading the pack,” said Cygnal’s Brent Buchanan.

“If Iowa does not turn out well, the strategy unravels,” Buchanan added. “Republicans want to nominate a winner, and that really matters more than the current polls or personality.”

Chairwoman Horn says while she cannot say who is a new voter at New Hampshire rallies that Trump hosts, she senses a “very palpable sense of frustration among voters.”

“I would say, not just in New Hampshire but across the country. I think there’s a lot of frustration for seven years of failed policies, failed leadership. I think it’s natural that that is what is being expressed right now,” said Horn.

She added, “Going forward, I think what voters are looking for is a leader that can unite not just our party but our nation…not just solutions to the problem but an inspiration.”

Follow Kerry on Twitter