My Vote: Trump? Haley? Biden? Others? NH supporters share their candidates of choice

New Hampshire primary voters are poised to make a statement when they head to the polls Tuesday, Jan. 23. Today, we are putting supporters of the major candidates in the spotlight.

All eyes will be on the Republican primary, where former president Donald Trump looks to cement his status as the front runner against a challenge from Nikki Haley, a former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor who has been closest to Trump in New Hampshire polls. Also on the ballot is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who placed second in Iowa's caucus. The rest of the top-tier candidates have dropped out.

On the Democratic side, it's an unusual primary. President Joe Biden is running for re-election but his name is not on the New Hampshire ballot due to the Democratic National Committee's flap with the Granite State over its first-in-the-nation primary status. A highly visible write-in campaign is seeking support for Biden, whose top challengers are Dean Phillips, a Minnesota congressman, and author Marianne Williamson.

Each candidate has vocal supporters in New Hampshire. We talked to one for each of the highest profile Republicans and Democrats, and they shared their views. Read on:

Republicans

Linda McGrath, Donald Trump supporter

"I love America’s founding fathers," says Linda McGrath, 64, of Hampton. "Unlike most people on Earth at that time, these men had education, wealth and security, yet they risked everything when signing the Declaration of Independence and pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Check out the fate of those 56 men, most lost everything. I feel that President Donald Trump is making the same sacrifice for our country and our people. He has been investigated and targeted like no one in our history to try and stop his America First agenda."

Read more about McGrath's views on Trump.

Doug Scamman, Nikki Haley supporter

"I support Nikki Haley as the best choice of all running in both political parties in this primary. We need a new generation to deal with Washington," says Scamman, 82, of Stratham, a former Republican New Hampshire House speaker. "As governor of South Carolina, she brought the state from a low economic rating to the top of the list. At the United Nations, she worked well with its members to improve their respect for the United States."

Read more about Scamman's views on Haley.

Ann Marie Banfield, Ron DeSantis supporter

"For me, education is one of the most important issues," says Banfield, 60, a North Hampton resident. "I think Gov. DeSantis is concerned and cares about our public schools as a Republican governor, and I'm just not seeing that around the country at all. I think a lot of the governors give it lip service, but I think he's somebody who actually made changes to their public schools that I think are positive changes."

Read more about Banfield's views on DeSantis.

Democrats

Walter King, Joe Biden supporter

“Although I admire the other candidates who are in the Democratic primary, I know that he is the strongest candidate because he has a record of accomplishment," says King, 73, a Dover resident who is chairman of the Strafford County Democrats and serves on the executive committee of the Write-In Biden political action committee. “I don't think people fully appreciate all the progress we’ve made as a country — the things the Biden administration has done in creating jobs, getting the rescue plan in place, putting money into building infrastructure are huge. For example, everybody talks about lowering drug prices. But he’s done it. The price of insulin has dropped to $35 a month. That’s been a huge issue. … It doesn’t seem like people have an interest in trying to put everything he’s accomplished in the context of the history.”

Read more about King's views on Biden.

Katherine Harake, Dean Phillips supporter

"To save democracy, we need to move on from Trump, Biden and all the baggage that comes with both," says Harake, 51, of Hampton. "We have a record high budget deficit, but we also need Medicare for all, affordable housing and a strategy for how tech can create wealth and be safer. Phillips is planning a bipartisan team of the best minds to tackle these issues. Phillips can unite our divided country. Bernie Sanders’ former campaign manager Jeff Weaver and Andrew Yang also believe that Dean Philips is our best chance to beat Trump."

Read more about Harake's views on Phillips.

David Fine, Marianne Williamson supporter

"The spiritual aspect of her work resonates with me. I have been reading her books for years," says Fine, 78, of Portsmouth, who volunteers with her Williamson's campaign. "Her economic policy is more detailed than any other candidate, her understanding of history is greater than any other candidate. Her social programs from ending poverty to addressing mental health resonate with me. She believes addiction is a medical issue, not a mental issue. I believe in her. She’s informed, sensitive, and it’s time for a woman to be president because men have driven us into a ditch."

Read more about Fine's views on Williamson.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: My Vote: NH supporters share views on their candidates of choice