President Donald Trump has been the poll leader for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, by large numbers, for a long time. He’s even leading polls among all those from both parties seeking the presidency this year.

But the race is not protected from surprises, which could happen in New Hampshire since 40% of the voters there are unaffiliated, and they can vote in the GOP primary.

A report from the New Hampshire Star confirmed the primary is open, meaning independent voters can choose to participate in Republican voting.

“Republicans make up significantly fewer voters, 29.82 percent, and Democrats slightly more, at 30.28 percent. Since President Joe Biden has no significant challengers in the state’s Democratic primary, many Democrats were expected to register as independents — known as undeclared voters in the state — to sway the Republican primary,” the report suggested.

The report explains Jay DeLancy of the Voter Integrity Project pointed out the establishment pushes for open primaries in jurisdictions like New Hampshire because the crossover crowds “create the impression a leading conservative candidate doesn’t have as much support.”

Specifically, the report noted that in New Hampshire, or example, if there are a lot of votes for GOP contender Nikki Haley, it would create pressure for Trump to utilize her as a VP candidate.

DeLancy said in the report just that happened in 1980 when George H.W. Bush got so much support from moderates Ronald Reagan took him onto the ticket.

The New Hampshire vote, set for Tuesday, doesn’t have Joe Biden on the Democrat roster because of Biden’s demands that the DNC hold the first primary in South Carolina. New Hampshire, the traditional campaign-starter, refused to cooperate.

This article was originally published by the WND News Center.

This post originally appeared on WND News Center.