(The Center Square) – Republican presidential hopefuls are descending on the Granite State this weekend to participate in a presidential forum hosted by the New Hampshire Republican Party.
The forum begins Friday and is expected to run through the weekend in Nashua, with several candidates scheduled to speak. Absent from the list is frontrunner and former President Donald Trump.
The First in the National Leadership Summit coincides with this week’s opening for filing for the presidential primary, which has yet to be announced by Secretary of State David Scanlan. He is standing firm on retaining New Hampshire’s first in the nation status despite the Democratic National Committee’s pressure to change the date to go later.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis filed his bid for president Thursday, following North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. DeSantis signed his name, then wrote, “Live free or die,” echoing the state’s motto.
Other candidates, including former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, were expected to file Friday. Candidates have until Oct. 27 to file their candidacy in the Granite State.
Recent polls have Trump with a commanding lead over his competition in the GOP field. Candidates speaking at the summit hope to sway notoriously discerning New Hampshire voters, who could ultimately pave the way to the nomination.
