Establishment hopefuls set for clash in New Hampshire

For several Republicans, New Hampshire on February 9 will be the make or break contest of the 2016 primary.

Bernie Sanders supporters view the results in Iowa as a win.

As expected, Governor John Kasich didn’t do well among the Republican presidential candidates in the Iowa caucuses.

Overall, 30% of likely Republican primary voters back Trump, and behind him, the field vying for second includes Texas Sen. Christie and Bush’s PACs, like those supporting most candidates, have run negative ads, including against Kasich.

He’s telling them Tuesday morning, “I’ll be like gum on the bottom of your shoe”. The Florida senator’s solid showing increases pressure on other establishment Republicans to deliver victories here or rally around Rubio’s candidacy in an effort to thwart Cruz and Trump – who have earned the enmity of party stalwarts.

A second hiccup – if his poll lead in New Hampshire fails to translate into votes – could spell political disaster for the man who built his personal brand on the concept of winning, and has always said being second was tantamount to being nowhere.

But Christie is locked in a tight battle with Kasich and Bush, who have gained ground in some recent polls after what looked like a Christie New Hampshire surge.

“You know me. Unlike some of these other candidates I’m not the boy in the bubble. OK?”

Before the Iowa tallies were even released, the contenders from both camps were jetting out to New Hampshire which holds its nomination votes a week from now, with Clinton and Sanders, Trump and Rubio holding competing rallies in the state Tuesday evening.

Like Iowa, New Hampshire is economically robust, weathering the post-recession era better than many states.

Cruz’s unexpected victory is drawing comparisons to past Iowa winners former Sen. In unofficial results, he was 61 votes behind ninth-place finisher Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who quit the race as caucusing took place, tweeting to his supporters: “I am officially suspending my campaign”.

Christie has highlighted his background as a federal prosecutor by criticizing Obama’s handling of law enforcement issues, and by claiming that his history in the courtroom makes him the best candidate to take on Hillary Clinton if she wins the Democratic presidential nomination.

“This guy, love him or hate, is one of the most determined, focused people I’ve ever met, ” O’Scanlon said.

The thrice-married Trump may seem an unusual fit for the conservative Christian voters that play a large role in Iowa. “And so we need to start treating people in this country, not jailing them”.

Christie says they’ve never managed anything – and running the country isn’t something they’re up to. He also said he believes his campaign has spent money wisely, building up staffing slowly and trimming the ad buy to save money.

The stakes in New Hampshire appear to be highest for the Republican candidates aligned with the political establishment. Marco Rubio (Fla.) in Iowa on Monday night puts a potentially significant obstacle in his path.

“Iowa mattered to him until it didn’t matter, ” said state Sen.

Christie finished 10th in the GOP Iowa caucus with 1.76 percent of the vote.

He has made it up to number two in the New Hampshire polls with a message of bipartisan leadership and fiscal restraint. “If I get smoked, I’m going home”, said Kasich.

‘Here we are after a long period of time, ‘ Trump said, reflecting on the year-long arc from presidential whispering to the first-in-the-nation nominating caucuses.

Polls show the Vermont senator leading Clinton in New Hampshire. He pointed to conservative Pat Buchanan’s win in New Hampshire in 1996, after Bob Dole had won Iowa.