EXETER, New Hampshire – President Biden cruised to victory in the New Hampshire Democratic primary on Tuesday night, despite not being on the ballot and leaving supporters to write in his name.
With more than a quarter of the Democratic vote expected to come in, the 81-year-old incumbent is projected to have more than enough support to unseat his closest challenger, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who got 20% of the vote.
Self-help author Marianne Williamson was a distant third, with 5% of the vote.
Biden refused to register for the New Hampshire primary following a calendar dispute between the Democratic National Committee and state officials.
The DNC had tried to move the nation’s first primary to South Carolina on February 3, but New Hampshire refused to comply, as state law required it to hold its primary at least a week before any other state.
To counter Biden’s rudeness, state Democratic officials are putting their influence behind the “Write-in Biden” initiative, which stations volunteers at polling places, puts up signs and sends out mailers instructing New Hampshire Democrats on what to do on the first day.
Live election results from New Hampshire
Biden launched his re-election campaign in April but has yet to solidify his campaign strategy. AP A supporter of US President Joe Biden holds a sign outside a polling place during the state primary at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, New Hampshire on January 23, 2024. AFP via Getty Images
Longtime Democratic strategists worry that Biden’s absence from the ballot could lead to a repeat of the 1968 primary, when then-President Lyndon B. Johnson was also off the ballot and announced he would not seek another term following a narrower-than-expected term. won over Sen. Eugene McCarthy (D-Minn.)
While Biden’s absence is likely to hurt turnout for him, Tuesday’s finish represents a big improvement from four years ago, when he was in fifth place with about 8% of the vote.
Biden’s victory likely means the end of the road is near for Phillips, who revealed last week he had dropped $5 million of his own money into his campaign.
Democratic presidential candidate US Representative Dean Phillips speaks to the media as he arrives at Londonderry High School during the US presidential primary, in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Reuters
Minnesota lawmakers’ main argument is that the 81-year-old president is too old to hold office and doesn’t have enough support to defeat GOP front-runner Donald Trump.
“The way Donald Trump has degraded many in my lane, the way Joe Biden has not restored the soul of the country, that’s the lack of leadership that I think this country really demands,” the 55-year-old said. told Fox News Tuesday morning.
“Joe Biden is a good man,” Phillips added. “He’s not going to beat Donald Trump … I think both of these guys should retire now.”
Phillips also argued that Biden’s failure to show up in the Granite State shows how much he doesn’t care about voters.
“A sitting American president chose not to be on the ballot in the first major state in the country,” he told The Post in an interview last month. “I think it’s a symptom of a broader disease, and that’s a lack of respect for voters across the country, including here.”
Phillips has vowed to continue to travel to other early states such as Michigan and will continue to fight for access to the ballot in states that do not hold Democratic primaries because of Biden as the incumbent president.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
