In the first-in-the-nation primary race held in New Hampshire, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley faced off against former President Donald Trump, resulting in Trump's victory. Despite the loss, Haley's supporters remained optimistic and expressed pride in her performance.

At her watch party in Concord, many guests were all smiles, considering the outcome a defeat for Trump. John Shaw, a voter from Hampton, exclaimed that Haley had shown how weak Trump is, dubbing this round one of a longer battle. Haley herself wasted no time declaring a moral victory, addressing her supporters moments after media outlets called the race for Trump.

The atmosphere at the Grappone Conference Center grew tense as late results from rural areas of the Granite State increased Trump's margin into double digits. However, David Tille, a GOP strategist, compared Haley's strong performance against Trump to Pat Buchanan's showing against President George H.W. Bush in the 1992 Republican primary, indicating that this was just the beginning for her.

Supporters were thrilled with Haley's showing, including Grace Puchaski, a volunteer from North Carolina, who joyously claimed that Trump was likely scared after the unexpected results from New Hampshire, turning the primary into a two-man race. Kim Rice, a Haley backer and former speaker pro tempore of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, praised Haley's work ethic and predicted success in her home state of South Carolina, where she served two terms as governor.

Melanie Sabelhaus, a co-chair of Women for Nikki, agreed that Haley's strategy was to focus on South Carolina, where the candidate was currently polling behind Trump by over 30 percentage points, according to the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.

While celebrating a loss may seem incongruous to expectations set by Haley's supporters earlier in the primary race, the faith in Haley's abilities remained strong. Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, a prominent Haley surrogate, initially predicted a "landslide" victory but later acknowledged the influence of Granite State voters and their encouragement for Haley as she now turns her attention to South Carolina.

Meanwhile, in Nashua, Trump's supporters gathered to celebrate his victory over Haley, whom pundits considered a formidable opponent in the New Hampshire primary. Trump, who is no stranger to claiming victory from his own defeats, took to social media to emphasize his win and highlight Haley's loss.

The animosity between the two camps was evident, with Haley's supporters expressing their opposition to Trump. Some labeled themselves as Never Trumpers, hesitant to back him in a general election against President Biden. They admired Trump's policies but criticized the chaos and drama associated with his presidency, deeming it unfit for America.

As the primary race shifts its focus to South Carolina, Haley faces the challenge of closing the wide gap between her and Trump in the polls. Supporters remain hopeful that her strong track record and connection to the state will help rally the voters to her cause. Only time will tell if Haley can turn the tide in her home state and emerge as a frontrunner in the campaign for the Republican nomination.