Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley is positioning as Donald Trump's top rival in the upcoming primary in New Hampshire.

Haley and fellow Republican Chris Sununu are advocating for younger leadership and a return to pre-Trump principles.

Despite their efforts, Trump still leads in national polls with strong support from Republican primary voters.

Haley's success in the primary depends on her appeal to independent voters, with her non-lawyer background and economic focus resonating with them.

Trump is falsely claiming that Democrats can vote in the Republican primary, a misinformation potentially driven by fear of Haley's strategy to attract non-traditional Republicans.

The issue of open primaries remains contentious among Republicans, some opposing them while others seeing them as a means to build a wider coalition.