WINDHAM, N.H. — Corey Lewandowski made headlines around the world Tuesday after he was charged with assaulting a reporter.

But in New Hampshire Lewandowski, a long-time political operative and the national campaign manager for Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, has the support of many friends and neighbors as he faces a battery charge.

Lewandowski, 42, was charged in Jupiter, Florida, after an incident at a campaign rally March 8 when he was accused of grabbing reporter Michelle Fields while she tried to ask Trump a question. Fields worked for Breitbart News at the time.

Police said a surveillance video shows Lewandowski assaulted the woman — sparking a firestorm of criticism of the outspoken candidate and his campaign.

Lewandowski is to appear in court May 4.

The filing of the misdemeanor charge — punishable by up to a year in prison — has also led to a widespread show of support for Lewandowski and the campaign, and harsh comments toward the media.

The most vocal is Trump himself, along with backers of the billionaire businessman and friends of Lewandowski — a local political activist —  in southern New Hampshire.

“I can’t just stand by and watch a man’s life be destroyed,” Trump told reporters on his plane Tuesday in Wisconsin.

He said Lewandowski has been “very seriously maligned” and he would stand by his trusted adviser.

“No jury, in my opinion, would convict a man and destroy a man’s life over what you witnessed,” Trump said.

The campaign also issued a statement in defense of the Windham, New Hampshire, man and Lowell, Massachusetts, native, saying he was charged but not arrested — a point reiterated by his supporters.  

“Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge,” the campaign said. “He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court. He is completely confident that he will be exonerated.”

Trump said he doubted Fields’ claims she suffered bruises during the incident.

“How do you know those bruises weren’t there before?” he said. 

Earlier in the day, Trump released a series of tweets, saying he feared for his safety after previously indicating the incident never occurred.

“Why is this reporter touching me as I leave a news conference? What is in her hand??” Trump tweeted, along with a photo that appears to show Fields holding a pen.

“Why is she allowed to grab me and shout questions? Can I press charges?” Trump tweeted. 

Fields responded with her own tweet, “My story never changed. Seriously, just stop lying.”

With only a week to go before the Wisconsin primary, Trump’s political opponents, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, said the incident is just another example of what his campaign is all about.

Cruz said it’s “the consequence of the culture of the Trump campaign — the abusive culture when you have a campaign that is built on personal insults, on attacks and now physical violence.”

The anti-Trump group, Our Principles PAC, has aired an ad showing news clips of violence at the candidate’s rallies and images of the reporter’s bruised arm. 

But back in southern New Hampshire, Trump supporters say they have their own doubts about what happened, with some saying it was an incident fueled by the “liberal media.”

“They’re doing everything to belittle the guy,” said Rep. Al Baldasaro, R-Londonderry, New Hampshire. “I think it’s a setup.”

Baldasaro, a key member of the Veterans for Trump Coalition in New Hampshire, campaigned alongside Trump in several states, including Florida, Texas and South Carolina.

While stumping in the Granite State, Trump often called Baldasaro his “favorite veteran” and invited him to stand next to him at his victory rally in Manchester after winning the state’s GOP primary in February.

Baldasaro came to Lewandowski’s defense, saying the video shows he only brushed against the reporter while rushing past her and did not grab the woman.

“There was nothing that he did to her,” Baldasaro said. “He did not throw her.”

“Corey is a great guy — a family guy,” he said, referring to Lewandowski’s wife, Alison, and their four children. She could not be reached for comment.  

Selectman Bruce Breton also defended Lewandowski, who he’s known for at least a decade while active with the Windham Republican Town Committee. Breton served as the group’s chairman.

“It’s just amazing how things get blown out of proportion,” Breton said. “I feel bad for my friend, Corey. He’s such a perfect gentleman.”

Shortly before joining the Trump campaign, Lewandowski served as the New Hampshire director of the conservative group Americans for Prosperity. 

He also ran unsuccessfully for Windham town treasurer in 2012, served as a lobbyist for a Boston public affairs firm, and previously worked on political campaigns in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Ohio.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.   

Ireland writes for the North Andover, Massachusetts Eagle-Tribune.