In an unexpected turn of events, President Joe Biden has emerged victorious in the New Hampshire primary, according to projections by CNN. This outcome has eased the apprehensions of Democrats who feared that the lack of enthusiasm for his campaign and his absence from the ballot could lead to a humiliating defeat.
These concerns prompted Biden’s loyal supporters to initiate an informal write-in campaign, urging Democrats to demonstrate their support for the incumbent president at the polls. Biden’s name was conspicuously absent from the list of 21 candidates on the ballot, as New Hampshire disregarded the primary calendar established by the national Democratic Party.
While the Biden campaign will undoubtedly view this result as a positive indication of support for the 81-year-old’s reelection bid, the victory is largely symbolic. Due to internal party conflicts, Biden did not register for the primary, and the results will not contribute to his delegate count.
The internal strife led to a tense lead-up to the contest, with fears that the president, already facing challenges in galvanizing the Democratic base, might not garner enough support to avoid a potentially embarrassing outcome. In response to these growing concerns, Biden’s representatives initiated a write-in campaign targeting Democrats in the Granite State and “undeclared” independents who wished to participate in the Democratic primary.
Biden did not personally campaign in New Hampshire. Instead, he and Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a rally for abortion rights in northern Virginia on Tuesday, marking the unofficial start of their 2024 general election campaign.
Biden’s absence from the ballot is the most noticeable repercussion of his and the DNC’s decision to prioritize South Carolina in the primary calendar, acknowledging its diversity and its role in reviving Biden’s 2020 primary campaign. However, New Hampshire chose to schedule its primary ahead of South Carolina’s, in accordance with its own laws, leading to a standoff that resulted in the DNC dismissing the results as “meaningless” before any votes were cast.
The Biden campaign will be closely monitoring the race between Trump and Haley. If Trump secures a decisive victory, Tuesday’s results could signal the beginning of a rematch of the previous presidential election. Haley has been managing her supporters’ expectations, but a poor performance could mark the end of her campaign.
This story has been updated with additional details.