WORCESTER, Mass. – Massachusetts will be one over several states holding presidential primaries next Tuesday, but this year’s race doesn’t have the anticipation a presidential election often does.

Worcester State University professor Anthony Dell'Aera said while he's not expecting many surprises in Massachusetts come Super Tuesday, it's still a way to gauge the strength of the campaigns of both frontrunners: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

"It's certainly not a question about whether either of those candidates will secure the victory in each state, but what margin will those victories be by?” Dell-Aera said. “We'll certainly be paying close attention to the Republican race because there is another major candidate in the race in Nikki Haley."

Haley is yet to drop out of the race, despite her being winless in all primaries up to this point, which includes her home state of South Carolina. Dell'Aera said Haley's persistence could have repercussions on her political career.

"If Republicans see her as damaging the parties presumptive nominee and potentially costing the Republican party a presidential election victory in November 2024, that might hurt her future prospects," Dell’Aera said.

Even with Haley still in the race, Dell'Aera does believe the country is headed towards a Trump – Biden rematch.

He points to burnout being a concern, but believes people will turn out to vote on the issues, citing recent elections with ballot initiatives locally and nationwide.

"Republican social policy issues such as abortion rights have been on the ballot,” Dell’Aera said. “We saw record turnouts in those cases."

Burnout or not, Dell'Aera said it's not the people voting for Trump or Biden which make things interesting - it's how many people choose neither. In Tuesday’s primary in Michigan, voters can vote without picking a candidate.

"That would be reflected in the number of voters who either vote uncommitted or vote for one of the other candidates on the ballot,” Dell’Aera said. “I think those are the numbers that are really going to be most revealing to us."