MANCHESTER, NH – Despite frigid temperatures, supporters of President Joe Biden gathered at the corner of Webster Street and Hooksett Road on Monday morning seeking to show their enthusiasm just hours before polls open in New Hampshire’s First in the Nation Presidential Primary.
This year marks the first time since 1968 that an incumbent president has not appeared on a New Hampshire Presidential Primary ballot, with Biden supporting the decision of the Democratic National Committee to not recognize New Hampshire within its nominating contest calendar.
Despite the lack of Biden’s presence in the Granite State, supporters on Monday were still enthusiastic of his re-election and were uniform in stating that local Democratic voters are also supportive of Biden even though he is not on the ballot.
K.R. Epstein, Manchester-area volunteer lead for the Write-In Biden effort, said that the lack of a candidate’s presence in the state has created a unique situation that has built a special camaraderie.
“I think people are really excited. Although there’s been a lot of conversation on the Republican side, on the Democratic side there are tons of people that are enthusiastic to write in his name tomorrow,” said Epstein. “This weather is crazy, it’s so cold, but it’s worth it because we’re getting the word out.”
Other volunteers like Joe Patry shared Epstein’s view.
“I think people are energized, we’ve got events like this happening all over New Hampshire and people just want to show their support for the President,” he said. “As a Democrat, I want the strongest candidate my party can put up against Donald Trump and that candidate is Joe Biden. The other people running seem to be nice, but I don’t think they can beat Donald Trump.”
Peter Sullivan, another volunteer, had a different perspective. Sullivan has supported Biden since his first run for President in 1988 and sought to show his support in what is likely Biden’s last campaign for President. This time around, Sullivan says that the enthusiasm for both Republicans and Democrats is far lower than normal, but he is confident that Biden will have a good showing on Tuesday.
“The people who I talk to who are staunch Democrats, they’re with Biden. I haven’t heard anyone who’s excited about Dean Phillips,” said Sullivan. “Will (Phillips) get some votes? Probably, because he’s on the ballot and running ads. But the people who I know who are politically engaged either as Democrats or independents are happy with the job Joe Biden has done and as a whole, they will be writing him in.”
U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) was on hand in solidarity with the volunteers. Even though she vociferously opposed the Democratic National Committee’s decision, she made it clear that she is a staunch supporter of Biden and people she has talked to across New Hampshire are also excited for the write-in effort due to Biden’s accomplishments during his first term such as the PACT Act and the CHIPS and Science Act.
“What I hear from a lot of people across New Hampshire, independents, Democrats and even a lot of Republicans, is that we hear so much political infighting and we want to see results, and that’s what you’ve seen with President Biden’s leadership,” she said. “In a closely divided Congress, President Biden has rolled up his sleeves and done.”
