Trump is on the march in New Hampshire — and looming over the race for governor

ROCHESTER, N.H. — As former President Donald Trump railed against Chris Sununu at a rally Sunday night, one of the candidates vying to replace the New Hampshire governor stood with the rest of the crowd, looking on.

Former state Sen. Chuck Morse stuck out amid the throng of grassroots Trump backers, and not just because of his bright white hair. Morse is also trying to join Trump on the November ballot, taking on former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte in the Republican primary to replace Sununu, who opted not to run for a fifth two-year term.

As Trump continues his march to the GOP nomination, Republican candidates such as Morse and Ayotte look like they'll once again have to grapple with what it means to run on the same ballot as the polarizing former president. That means trying to not only win support among GOP base voters whoidolize Trump, but also among voters who can’t stand him.

Republicans have struggled to strike that balance in New Hampshire and in battleground territory across the country. After Trump was elected in 2016, Democrats won both of New Hampshire’s Senate and House seats, controlling the congressional delegation for the first time in the state’s history.

One of the seats the GOP lost was Ayotte's, as she and Trump both lost New Hampshire in 2016, after she pulled her support for him over an "Access Hollywood" tape. She has stayed under the radar in recent days as Trump barnstormed the state.

Morse, who is backing Trump in 2024, said in an interview before Trump’s rally that he hasn’t asked for a reciprocal endorsement, given the focus on the first-in-the-nation primary. But he demurred when asked if he would seek it after Tuesday’s contest.

“Listen, I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t want the president,